FCSB vs Lyon Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Romanian giants FCSB, formerly known as Steaua Bucharest, now take on the entertaining chaos of Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais in the Romanian capital this week.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 6th March, 2025: UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Key Stats

• All the four previous meetings between these teams were in the UEFA Champions League group stage. In 2006/07, a 3-0 away win for Lyon was followed by a 1-1 draw in France. In 2008/09, Lyon won 5-3 in Bucharest and 2-0 at home.
• FCSB have won only one of their previous seven UEFA competition two-legged ties against French teams. That was a victory on away goals against SC Bastia in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup second round (1-0 h, 2-3 a) – their most recent knockout tie against a French team.
• FCSB have lost only two of their last 12 UEFA competition matches (W7 D3).
• FCSB have not lost the first leg in their last seven UEFA competition two-legged ties (W3 D4).
• FCSB have won four of their last six UEFA competition home matches (D1 L1).
• FCSB have kept three clean sheets in their last four UEFA Europa League home matches.
• FCSB’s previous appearance in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 was a 2-3 aggregate defeat against Chelsea in 2012/13 (1-0 h, 1-3 a).
• Lyon have won five of their previous seven UEFA competition matches against Romanian teams (D1 L1).
• Lyon’s only previous UEFA competition two-legged tie against a Romanian team was a defeat on away goals against FC Astra Giurgiu in the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League qualifying play-off round (1-2 h, 1-0 a).
• Lyon have won their previous four UEFA competition matches away from home against Romanian teams. Includes two wins against FCSB (3-0 and 5-3, both in the UEFA Champions League group stage).
• Lyon have lost only one of their previous eight UEFA Europa League matches this season (W4 D3).
• Lyon have lost the first leg in only one of their last ten UEFA competition two-legged ties (W7 D2).
• Lyon have won three of their previous four UEFA Europa League round of 16 ties.
• Lyon won the first leg in all their previous four UEFA Europa League round of 16 ties.
• Lyon are unbeaten in their last 11 UEFA Europa League away matches (W8 D3). Since a 0-1 defeat at Atalanta in the group stage in December 2017.

FCSB vs Lyon Prediction

FCSB have shown themselves difficult to beat throughout the UEFA Europa League campaign and they were impressive to defeat PAOK Salonika in the knockout playoff round as they now face a very entertaining Olympique Lyonnais side in the Round of 16.

Under the management of Elias Charalambous, FCSB shared a goalless draw with Rapid Bucharest in the derby at the weekend. They remain at the top-of-the-table in the Romanian SuperLiga. In the knockout playoff round of the UEFA Europa League, they eased themselves past PAOK Salonika with a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Paulo Fonseca saw red at the weekend, both literally and figuratively, as Lyon managed to come from behind to defeat Stade Brest by two goals to one thanks to a brace from Alexandre Lacazette. They have been thrilling to watch under Fonseca with their five matches under his management consisting of 22 goals.

Lyon’s chaos may well suit FCSB because they will fancy their chances of scoring but also believe they can, as they often do, restrict a Lyon side that are gung-ho at the best of times.

FCSB vs Lyon Tip: Double chance – FCSB to win or draw