Lyon vs. Ajax Preview
Where: Parc Olympique Lyonnais – Lyon, France
When: Thursday, May 11, 2017, 3:05 PM ET
Line: Lyon -174 vs. Ajax +325, draw +315; total 3.5 – view all Champions League lines
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 2
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Betting on Lyon (-174)
Lyon have a fair bit of work to do to overturn a heavy 4-1 first-leg beating last week. The French side needs to win by at least three clear goals to win the tie in normal time. But with their first leg loss, they have now failed to beat the Dutch giants in their five European meetings, with three losses and two draws.
However, Lyon have been a much different proposition at home as opposed to on their travels in Europe. They are a perfect 3-0-0 in their three home legs in the competition, while averaging an impressive 4.3 goals in those games.
Lyon should be also encouraged by the fact that Ajax have lost their three away legs during the knockout round. That includes a 2-0 loss to Schalke in the quarterfinals, which forced extra-time.
Alexandre Lacazette—the team’s leading scorer with 30 goals in 36 games—looks good to go after he limped off with a knee injury in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Besiktas. He played 15 minutes in the first leg against Ajax, and all 90 minutes in Lyon’s 3-2 home win against Nantes over the weekend.
Getting Lacazette back to something close to full strength should be a big boost to Lyon and their bid to overcome a huge deficit.
Betting on Ajax Amsterdam (+325)
Ajax Amsterdam are comfortably in the driver’s seat to reach their first European final since 1996. 21-year-old Bertrand Traore—on-loan from English giants Chelsea—starred as he scored twice in their 4-1 home win.
The Dutch don’t really need to go out and attack nearly as much in the second leg thanks to their three-goal cushion. Their chances of preserving that lead should improve with the return of defenders Nick Viergever and Joël Veltman, who both missed the first leg due to suspension.
Ajax will enter the second leg fresh off a confidence-boosting 4-0 home win over Go Ahead Eagles over the weekend. Captain Davy Klaassen will be relatively fresh after playing just a half before getting subbed off.
The Dutch are admittedly not great away from home, and they likely won’t get their first away win in the Europa League in France. Even a two-goal second-leg defeat would suffice for them, though, so expect them to play with a more conservative gameplan.
Writer’s Prediction
Lyon (-174) get the 2-1 home win, but it’s not enough as Ajax advance to the Europa League final.
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