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UEL Preview: Lyon host Eintracht, Nice at USG

After a fine set of matches in the UEFA Champions League this week, with three of the four Ligue 1 McDonald's sides pocketing a victory and Lille and Brest all but assured of a place in the knockout rounds following their victories, it's time once more for the Europa League, a competition which has had two faces for French teams. Olympique Lyonnais have largely been excellent, and are just a win away from a place in the next round, while OGC Nice, with just two points, have their work cut out for them over the next three matchdays if they hope to continue their European adventure. Ahead of tomorrow's two matches, here's our look at what's to come for the two sides
E. DEVIN
Published on 12/12/2024 at 03:00
2-minute read
In-form Malick Fofana will hope to help Lyon seal a place in the knockout rounds

A test before PSG

After a stuttering start to the season domestically, Lyon have grown into the competition, and are unbeaten since September, sitting just a point off the top four. Much of this is down to the improved play of Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette -- after a busy summer featuring in the Olympics, the two are back in form and driving a run of matches that has seen the best from both. Much of that is down to Cherki being given more of a chance to shine in the Europa League, allowing him to come back into the fold under Pierre Sage after being frequently left out of the eleven last season. 

Speaking yesterday ahead of the match, Sage was quick to praise his young playmaker on his recent purple patch, saying, "When Rayan Cherki extended his contract and committed himself fully to our season, we entered “project” mode with him. The aim is to help him become the player he can be."  Having racked up five goals and four assists since returning to the first-team fold, there scarcely seems to be a limit on said player, and even with PSG looming at the weekend, Lyon will field a full-strength side here, eager to seal a place in the knockout rounds against Eintracht Frankfurt after racking up ten points from their first five matches.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhaté (or Caleta-Car), Tagliafico; Veretout, Matic, Tolisso; Cherki, Lacazette, Fofana

Last-chance saloon for Nice? 

As much as Lyon have prospered in the Europa League, with a narrow loss against Besiktas the only blot on their copybook, Nice have struggled. Injuries have played an outsize role in the play of Franck Haise's side, and so has a tough fixture list that's included Real Sociedad, Lazio and Rangers, but against Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, a win is imperative, or Les Aiglons will face elimination, as they sit 35th out of 36 sides ahead of the day's fixtures.

At this point, too, the list of players unavailable to Haise may be longer than the one that is, with Jérémie Boga the latest to join a very crowded treatment table. To take on the Belgians, Franck Haise will likely deploy a makeshift eleven similar to the one that beat Le Havre at the weekend, with youngsters Yaël Nandjou and Tom Louchet deputizing as fullbacks and fit-again Gaëtan Laborde partnering Evann Guessand in attack. 

Predicted XI (4-3-1-2): Bulka; Louchet, Bombito, Rosario, Nandjou; Diop, Boudaoui, Ndombélé; Bouanani; Laborde, Guessand 

Read more:

>> Rayan Cherki's continued rise

>> UCL Recap: Haraldsson's late goal lifts Lille

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