Remi Garde’s men will grace the lawns of Stade de Gerland in a bid to maintain their 100% record in this season’s edition of the Europa League at the expense of struggling Athletic Bilbao
Match background
Remi Garde would be looking to make sure that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 make it three out of three in Group I of the Europa League when they host Spanish La Liga side, Athletic Bilbao in their third game of the Europa League group stages.
Both clubs head into this vital group game with a perfect record in the group. Apart from these two, only FC Dnipro have won all of their games.
However, Remi Garde should be aware of the fact that his side has been unable to register a victory over Spanish opposition in the last five outings. This is the first time the two sides will play each other in a UEFA club competition so nothing can be said
for sure.
Athletic Bilbao on the other hand, have not been able to come back home with three points in their previous five European outings. That included a defeat in last season’s final of the Europa League against fellow La Liga outfit, Atletico Madrid.
Team facts
Lyon defender, Anthony Reveillere, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863, Seville and Real Betis Balompie respectively.
Lyon coach, Remi Garde replaced Claude Puel at the helm back in June last year. Before that, the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Karim-Benzema-c20350 and
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hatem-Ben-Arfa-c15884.
Garde also played for Lyon and finished his career at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 FC back in 1999 due to persistent injury problems.
Les Leones coach, Macelo Bielsa started his coaching career with Argentine side CA Newell’s Old Boys before managing the Argentine national side from 1998 to 2003. The studious South American managed http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chile-c2871 before joining Bilbao.
FARE Action Week
This is UEFA’s FARE Action Week in which the European football governing body will give support to the continent’s anti-discrimination campaign. Before each Champions League and Europa League game, there will be activities witnessed by fans in stadiums and
those who are watching the games on television.
Every team which heads out of the tunnel with children will wear the Unite Against Racism T-shirts and all club captains will be required to wear a Unite Against Racism armband.
Players to watch out for
Olympique Lyonnais
Lisandro Lopez
The Argentine international is one of the most recognisable faces of European football and has been Les Gones’ most consistent performers in recent times. Despite attracting a lot of interest from clubs in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749, Licha, as he is affectionately
called by his fans, chose to stay with the Rhone side where he is enjoying a cult status.
In a match against a very good side in the form of Bilbao, Remi Garde would be hoping to see his star man set the ground running and becoming an inspiration for the rest of his teammates.
Athletic Bilbao
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fernando-Llorente-c13671
The Spanish international striker’s future at the club has been under a lot of scrutiny in recent games with the player being completely left out of the squad in the earlier games of the competition. However, El Rey Leon (The Lion King) is yet to open his
European account this season but one cannot count out the importance of the striker who might be playing his last season for the Basque club.
Predictions
Although both sides have their own respective issues to look at, Olympique Lyonnais would be looking to draw inspiration from their fantastic crowd in order to register another win in the competition at the expense of a team that’s not performing the way
it did last season.
Predicted final score: Lyon 2-1 Bilbao
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