In search of their first triumph in this portion of the Europa League campaign Maccabi Tel Aviv will welcome Lyon to TSC Arena in Serbia on Thursday evening.
The Israeli club sit third from the bottom in the League Phase, dropping a 2-0 decision to Aston Villa on matchday four, while OL are seventh despite a 2-0 defeat at Real Betis the last time out.
Match preview
The hope of getting out of the group stage of this tournament for the first time since 2020-21 is fading fast for Maccabi, who have just a single point in this phase after four matchdays.
Zarko Lazetic has seen them lose three successive matches in this competition, leaving them four points behind a spot in the knockout round and seven points adrift of an automatic berth in the last 16.
Meanwhile, they are currently on a two-match losing run across all competitions, conceding a combined eight goals over that stretch, while scoring only two.
If they are to get back into the race for a knockout spot, they need to be more decisive in the attacking third, netting just once in this phase, the joint-fewest among teams remaining in the tournament.
A win on Thursday would not only rekindle the hope that they can make a comeback in the competition, but it would also mark their first League Phase triumph since a 2-1 win over Latvian side FK RSS last season.
The Yellows’ previous victory against a French team occurred in a 2022 Conference League clash with Nice, claiming a 1-0 triumph against them in the qualifying round.
© Imago / Sportsphoto
Olympique Lyonnais saw their perfect record in this phase of the tournament come to a halt on matchday four, as they dropped points for the first time.
It was also the first time they had conceded in the competition this season, while they failed to find the back of the net for the first time as well.
Paulo Fonseca’s men will enter this clash on a five-match winless run across all competitions, failing to score on three of those occasions, though they are holding down one of the eight automatic spots in the last 16.
On Thursday, they will aim to avoid losing consecutive Europa League group fixtures for the first time this century and end a five-match winless run away from home.
Lyon have never lost a group stage encounter in the competition this century when scoring the opening goal, posting a shutout victory in all three of those instances this season.
Les Gones have never lost a competitive fixture versus a club from Israel, boasting a 100% away record against them in European competitions.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League form:
Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions):
Lyon Europa League form:
Lyon form (all competitions):
Team News
© Imago
From matchday three to four, we saw just one chance to the Maccabi starting 11, with Helio Varela coming into the fold against Villa in place of Kervin Adrade.
Sayed Abu Farchi has the only goal for the Israeli squad in this phase of the tournament, while captain Dor Peretz and Ido Sharar each netted twice in the qualifying stages.
As for Lyon, Orel Mangala and Ernest Nuamah are out with cruciate ligament issues, Malick Fofana and Ruben Kluivert have sore ankles, while Rachid Ghezzal is doubtful due to hamstring strains.
Pavel Sulc could return to the starting 11 on Thursday, coming on in place of Khalis Merah over the weekend in their 0-0 draw in Ligue 1 at Auxerre after previously missing time with a sore hamstring.
Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:
Mishpati; Asante, Shlomo, Heitor, Revivo; Madmon, Sissokho, Noy; Varela, Peretz, Andrade
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Greif; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Abner; Morton, De Carvalho, Sulc; Karabec, Satriano, Molebe
We say: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-2 Lyon
The environment is sure to be a little hostile for Lyon, but we trust that their stable and steady backline will have a comfortable time defensing against a side that are often out of sorts on both ends of the pitch.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
