Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
Olympique Lyon's winning streak, which began at the start of their European campaign, should not be misleading going into their clash with Beşiktaş. While Lyon will likely have more opportunities at home, the Istanbul side are capable of stealing even three points from the hosts, so it's worth considering the odds for goal totals.
Olympique Lyon
In the Europa League, Olympique Lyon surprisingly eased past Olympiacos (2:0) and Rangers (4:1), despite not fielding their strongest lineup. In Glasgow, they relied on the Alexandre Lacazette—Malick Fofana pairing, with Rayan Cherki constantly supplying them with chances, resulting in 2.81 xG from 15 shots. Against Ligue 1 basement side Le Havre (4:0), Lyon secured their fifth consecutive victory, although the underdogs posed a threat on counterattacks—highlighting possible vulnerabilities in the Clinton Mata-Moussa—Niakhaté duo.
Beşiktaş
Despite heavy defeats to Ajax (0:4) and Eintracht Frankfurt (1:3) in the Europa League, Beşiktaş have not deviated from their usual aggressive approach. Against the German club, the team generated 1.94 xG with 28 shots, maintaining 62% possession. After the international break, Beşiktaş overcame Konyaspor (2:0) with goals from Ciro Immobile and Rafa Silva, with both players in fine form.
Olympique Lyon vs Beşiktaş Prediction
Olympique Lyon's attacking momentum is likely to force Beşiktaş into making mistakes on the foreign field. It's probable that the teams will score two or three goals within the first 45 minutes and keep up the pace thereafter.
