Is FC Porto still able to make a comeback?
Fc Porto has not yet ticked off the Europa League. Despite losing the first leg at home, there are still realistic chances for FCP to reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League. After all, a 1-0 win in the second leg in Lyon is enough to force extra time against their French eighth-final opponents.
Last week, FC Porto came within a whisker of a draw against Olympique Lyon. A last-minute goal by the Portuguese side was disallowed after a VAR decision – much to the displeasure of FCP coach Conceicao.
Olympique Lyon recently suffered a heavy defeat in Ligue 1, going down 4-2 to league rivals Rennes and conceding four goals in a competitive match for the second time this season. Therefore, it can not be ruled out that the next setback for “OL” will follow during the week.
Lyon – statistics & current form
In Ligue 1, Olympique Lyon continues to lag behind the high expectations and will – at least the interim conclusion ten matchdays before the end of the season – miss a season finish among the top three teams. Last week, Lyon dropped important points against a direct competitor in the race for the international starting places.
For the team of OL coach Peter Bosz, it was already the eighth league defeat this season. In total, Lyon has a record of 11-9-8 after 28 match days. During this period, the defense of the “Gones” in particular left a disastrous impression, after all, there have already been 37 goals conceded for Olympique Lyon.
Five of the 37 goals conceded came in the last two home games in Ligue 1. Bosz’s team was unable to score against either Lille (0:1) or Rennes (2:4). The “Gones” may be facing the next setback during the week. Lyon has only won once against FCP in five attempts so far. That victory came last week in Porto.
Will Lyon fold against FCP despite home advantage?
Overall, Olympique Lyon have a record of 7-4-9 in 20 competitive matches against teams from Portugal. However, ahead of the second leg against FCP, it is the record on the international stage this season that is most encouraging. In the Europa League, Lyon have remained unbeaten in seven competitive matches so far. OL has even won six of the seven matches.
Only against the Rangers from Glasgow remained a victory for the “Gones”. Bettors, who also tend to a victory of the French representative this time, can currently pick up betting odds of up to 2.25 for Lyon vs. Porto for tip 1.
Head coach Peter Bosz will have to do without a total of four players due to injury. In addition to Boateng, Cherki, Denayer and Diomande are still in the hospital of the “Gones”. Major changes compared to the last starting eleven will not be expected at Lyon.
Predicted lineup of Lyon:
Lopes – Dubois, Mendes, Lukeba, Emerson – Ndombele, Caqueret – Faivre, Paqueta, Toko Ekambi – Dembele
Last matches played by Lyon:
Ligue 1
03/13 2022 – Lyon 2 – 4 Rennes
Europa League Final Stage
03/09 2022 – FC Porto 0 – 1 Lyon
Ligue 1
03/04 2022 – Lorient 1 – 4 Lyon
02/27 2022 – Lyon 0 – 1 Lille
02/19 2022 – Lens 1 – 1 Lyon
Porto – Statistics & current form
In Liga Portugal, FC Porto is on course for the championship. With ten matchdays to go, FCP are at the top of the table and have already built up a six-point lead over their rivals from Lisbon. Internationally, however, things did not go well for FC Porto.
In the Champions League, the Portuguese only missed out on a place in the round of 16 in the showdown against Atletico Madrid on the last matchday of the group stage. As losers in the Champions League, FC Porto slipped into the Europa League and were handed a tough draw in the round of 32 in the form of Lazio Roma.
With a win in the first leg and a draw away from home, head coach Conceicao’s team successfully prevailed against the Italians. In the process, there was an aggregate score of 4:3 against Lazio Roma. In both matches, FC Porto scored twice each.
FCP offense warmed up
Therefore, the result in the round of 16 first leg against Olympique Lyon was all the more surprising. For long stretches, the Portuguese offense stumbled. For the first time since April 2021, FCP failed to score in a competitive international match at home.
Nevertheless, the “Azuis e brancos” will go into the second leg with a broad chest. In 29 competitive matches against teams from France, FC Porto has only lost seven times. Therefore, head coach Conceicao’s team is likely to win the second leg in Lyon.
Especially since the Portuguese have already warmed up before the second leg. In the Liga Portugal, FCP celebrated a comfortable victory against Tondela last weekend, flexing their offensive muscles in a 4-0 win. A similar starting eleven is obvious against Lyon. Pepe, Manafa and Otavio will miss the match in France.
Predicted Porto lineup:
Costa – Mario, Mbemba, Cardoso, Wendell – Otavio, Ferreira, Uribe, Pepe – Evanilson, Taremi
Last matches played by Porto:
Liga Portugal
03/13 2022 – FC Porto 4 – 0 Tondela
Europa League Final Stage
03/09 2022 – FC Porto 0 – 1 Lyon
Liga Portugal
03/06 2022 – Pacos de Ferreira 2 – 4 FC Porto
Cup
03/02 2022 – Sporting CP 1 – 2 FC Porto
Liga Portugal
02/27 2022 – FC Porto 1 – 1 Gil Vicente
Lyon – Porto Direct comparison / H2H balance
Lyon and Porto are meeting for the sixth time in a competitive match. So far, FCP leads the direct comparison against the French opponent with a record of 3-1-1. The “Gones” celebrated the only victory against Porto in the first leg of the current round of 16.
The last time Lyon hosted FCP at home in a competitive match was in April 2004, when they played out a high-scoring draw and even broke the four-goal mark. Although the first leg ended in a 0-1 draw, it is not impossible that the three-goal mark will be broken in the second leg. There is enough potential for this in both offensive lines.
Lyon – Porto tip
Although Olympique Lyon successfully mastered the first leg in Porto, the result just under a week ago should not be overrated. As the recent match of “OL” showed, the French representative is not in good shape. The “Gones” recently suffered a bitter defeat in Ligue 1, in which Lyon scored four times.
Porto, on the other hand, has warmed up ahead of the second leg in the Europa League and won the Liga Portugal match 4-0. If the Portuguese take the momentum with them, a surprise in Lyon cannot be ruled out. In any case, FCP has only lost once against the “Gones” in five attempts so far.
In view of this, we see value in the high odds on a Portuguese victory and therefore dare a prediction on the FCP with a stake of four units. Already in the first leg, it was a match of equals, in which the “Azuis e brancos” only missed a goal against Olympique Lyon by the narrowest of margins.
It’s possible that this time they’ll work on their poor use of chances.
