The second leg of the 2024/25 Europa League Round of 16 between Lyon (France) and FCSB (Romania) will take place on March 12 at the National Arena in Bucharest. The first match ended 3-1 in favor of Lyon. Lyon vs. FCSB: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Lyon
The French side secured a comfortable advantage in the first leg with a 3-1 victory. Paulo Fonseca's team remains unbeaten in six Europa League matches (3 wins, 3 draws). However, it's worth noting that they have kept a clean sheet in only one of those games. To advance to the quarter-finals, Lyon can afford to lose by a minimal margin. In the current Europa League campaign, they have suffered just one defeat – a 0-1 loss to Besiktas.
- Both teams scored in 5 of Lyon's last 6 matches in this European competition.
- At home, the team has not won 5 of their last 7 Europa League games (3 draws, 2 losses).
- In 5 of their last 7 home matches in the Europa League, Lyon has not scored more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Lyon (4-4-2)
Lucas Perry – Nicolas Tagliafico, Moussa Niakhate, Clinton Mata, Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Rayan Cherki, Tanner Tessmann, Nemanja Matic, Corentin Tolisso – Ernest Nuamah, Georges Mikautadze.
FCSB
The defeat in the last match was only the second for the Romanians in their last eight Europa League encounters (4 wins, 2 draws), but it has almost eliminated their chances of advancing to the next round. In the return leg, Elias Charalambous' team needs to win by at least three goals. FCSB's last four big victories in this tournament were achieved in the qualification rounds, and they haven't thrashed an opponent in the main round of the Europa League since 2017. If the Romanians beat the French side by a two-goal margin, extra time will be needed.
- FCSB scored in 4 of their last 5 Europa League matches.
- Away in this tournament, the team has not lost in 6 of their last 7 matches (in regular time 3 wins and 3 draws).
- In 8 of their last 11 away games in the Europa League, the Romanians have not conceded more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for FCSB (4-5-1)
Stefan Tarnovanu – Risto Radunovic, Siyabonga Ngezana, Mihai Popescu, Joyskim Dawa – Adrian Sut, Baba Alhassan, Florin Tanase, Yuri Chisotti, Malcom Edjouma – David Miculescu.
Forward Daniel Birlighea, midfielders Darius Olaru, Florin Tanase, and Octavian Popescu are injured.
Referee
Anthony Taylor (England)
Matches – 7 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 32;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.6;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 24;
Penalties – 29%.
Lyon vs. FCSB: Match Prediction
The French team secured a victory in the first match with class. However, if not for lineup issues, the Romanians would likely have scored more than once. Lyon's defense lacks reliability. As long as there's a chance to advance, Elias Charalambous' team will continue to press forward.
FCSB has scored in 4 of their last 5 Europa League matches. Away in this tournament, the team has scored in 9 of their last 12 encounters. Given that the Romanians need to overcome a two-goal deficit, they will spend a lot of time in attack.
Lyon has kept a clean sheet only twice in the 2024/25 Europa League, the fewest among the Round of 16 participants. Even at home, they struggle to shut out opponents, conceding in 6 of their last 7 Europa League matches. The comfortable scoreline from the first leg might lead to complacency for Paulo Fonseca's team.
My prediction: FCSB individual total over 0.5
