The Matchday 1 encounter of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League between Utrecht (Netherlands) and Lyon (France) will take place on September 25 at Galgenwaard Stadium. Utrecht vs. Lyon: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Utrecht
The Dutch team qualified for the Europa League by finishing 4th in their national championship. In this tournament, Ron Jans' side overcame Sheriff (3:1, 4:1), Servette (3:1, 2:1), and Zrinjski (2:0, 0:0). Utrecht rarely appears on the international stage. Their last Europa League appearance was in the 2019/20 season, where they exited in the second qualifying round. The club's best achievement was reaching the group stage of the UEFA Cup in 2002.
- The team is unbeaten in 8 Europa League matches (5 wins, 3 draws).
- Both teams scored in 6 of Utrecht's last 8 matches in this tournament.
- In their last 7 home games in the Europa League, the club has not conceded more than one goal.
Predicted lineup for Utrecht (4-5-1)
Vasilios Barkas – Sibe Horemans, Mike van der Hoorn, Nick Viergever, Souffian El Karouani – Edryen Blake, Jivai Zechiel, Can Bozdogan, Alonzo Tim Engwanda-Onjena, Zidane Iqbal – David Min.
Midfielder Dani de Wit and forward Yoann Cathlin are injured.
Lyon
The French team finished 6th in Ligue 1 last season, marking their second consecutive participation in the Europa League. In the 2024/25 Europa League, Lyon reached the main stage, finished sixth, passed FCSB in the first playoff round, but fell to the eventual finalist in the next stage. The club's best Europa League achievement is reaching the semifinals in the 2016/17 season. Lyon almost missed the tournament due to financial reporting violations, which could have seen them relegated to Ligue 2, but an appeal was successful.
- The French team has scored at least two goals in 7 of their last 9 Europa League matches.
- Lyon is unbeaten in regulation time in their last 13 away matches in this tournament (9 wins, 4 draws).
- The team has conceded in 6 of their last 7 away games in the Europa League.
Predicted lineup for Lyon (3-5-2)
Dominik Greif – Clinton Mata, Moussa Niakate, Nicolas Tagliafico – Tanner Tessmann, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Hales Mera, Adam Karabec, Corentin Tolisso – Malik Fofana, Martin Satriano.
Midfielder Corentin Tolisso is suspended. Goalkeeper Remy Deschamps, midfielder Orel Mangala, forward Ernest Nuamah, and defender Abner are injured.
Referee
Horatiu Fesnic (Romania)
Matches – 12 (International matches, 2024/25 - 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 51;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.2;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 30;
Penalties – 33%.
Utrecht vs. Lyon: Match Prediction
The Dutch side was not fazed by their long absence from the international stage. Utrecht breezed through the qualifying rounds with 5 wins and 1 draw. Ron Jans' men demonstrated excellent scoring prowess, netting at least two goals in 5 of their 6 Europa League 2025/26 matches. Moreover, the draw in the second leg against Zrinjski ended a 7-match scoring streak in this tournament. However, Utrecht lacks defensive reliability: they kept a clean sheet against the aforementioned Montenegrins, but had conceded in the previous 7 Europa League games.
An experienced European competitor should easily exploit the hosts' defensive issues. Lyon scored in 8 of their last 9 Europa League matches, with at least two goals in 7 instances. However, the French team needs to tighten up defensively. In the last Europa League campaign, Lyon conceded in 9 of their 12 matches.
My prediction: Both teams to score – yes
