Lyon vs FCSB Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Malick Fofana’s late brace has handed Lyon a 1-3 aggregate advantage ahead of the return leg in France.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday March 13th 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 4:00pm / US PT – 1:00pm

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

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

Key stats:

• Lyon have won six of their previous eight UEFA competition matches against Romanian teams (D1 L1).
• Lyon have lost only one of their previous nine UEFA Europa League matches this season (W5 D3).
• Lyon have lost only two of their last 19 UEFA competition matches (W11 D6).
• Lyon have won three of their previous four UEFA Europa League round of 16 ties.
• Lyon have won five of their last six matches in all competitions (L1).
• Lyon have lost only one of their last ten home matches in all competitions (W6 D3).
• FCSB have lost only one of their last nine UEFA competition matches away from home (W5 D3).
• 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’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).
• FCSB have won the second leg in eight of their last ten UEFA competition two-legged ties (L2).
• FCSB have won six of their last eight matches in all competitions (D1 L1).
• FCSB have kept six clean sheets in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Lyon vs FCSB Prediction

When assessing both these two teams both from an individual and team perspective, Lyon appears to be the better side and that was reflected in the first-leg. The French side triumphed by three goals to one away from home and have one foot in the quarter-finals already. It’s a mountain for FCSB to climb at this point, especially as you have to factor Lyon’s attacking players, who should create more chances for themselves.

On their own ground, the chances of Lyon blowing a two-goal aggregate lead are extremely slim and it’s more likely that they extend the margin and move on to the last eight relatively comfortably. Therefore, back a Lyon victory in this one by at least two goals, as we saw back in the first-leg.

Lyon vs FCSB Tip: Lyon to win with -1 handicap