Lyon will try to overturn a three-goal deficit when they face Dutch side Ajax at Parc Olympique Lyonnais in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-finals tie on Thursday. Ajax won the first leg 4-1 in Amsterdam, with a double from Bertrand Traore and goals from Kasper Dolberg and Amin Younes, while Mathieu Valbuena scored to give Lyon a slight chance in the second leg.
Lyon have bounced back from the first-leg defeat with a 3-2 victory over Nantes in Ligue 1 last weekend, a result which consolidates their fourth place in the league table. They have secured some high-scoring victories at home earlier in the competition, beating Roma 4-2 and AZ Alkmaar 7-1, so a fightback wouldn't be out of the question. Alexandre Lacazette is not yet fully fit but he will probably play, while Corentin Tolisso, Mouctar Diakhaby and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa are fitness doubts.
Ajax ended a perfect week with a 4-0 league victory over G.A. Eagles, moving just one point behind leaders Feyenoord with just one match left in the season. Ajax have not won any of their last five away matches in Europe, but they have not lost by three or more goals since a 3-0 defeat at Spartak Moscow in 2011. Daley Sinkgraven is the only injury doubt for the visitors.
Probable line-ups:
Lyon: Lopes - Jallet, Mammana, Diakhaby, Morel - Gonalons, Tousart - Cornet, Tolisso, Valbuena - Lacazette
Ajax: Onana - Veltman, Sanchez, Viergever, Riedewald - Klaassen, Schone, Ziyech - Traore, Dolberg, Younes
My prediction: Lyon to win 3-2.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Lyon win - 1.67
Draw - 4.50
Ajax win - 5.00
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