The Champions League qualifiers seem sorted for many teams
and many factors, such as the margin of Victory, manager pressure or team news
will be crucial, with some teams far clear from their first leg. The mood at
Lyon has improved greatly since new coach Remi Garde took over with a decent start
to French Ligue 1 which has brought approval from fans in a more attacking
formation.
Lyon won their opening league game 3-1 at Nice before a two
1-1 draws, including at home to Ajaccio. That doesn’t sound like the greatest start
but it leaves them above title rivals Marseille, Lille and Paris Saint-Germain
in the early standings and leaders Montpellier have only 9 points.
The Champions League qualifiers seem sorted for many teams
and many factors, such as the margin of Victory, manager pressure or team news
will be crucial, with some teams far clear from their first leg. The mood at
Lyon has improved greatly since new coach Remi Garde took over with a decent start
to French Ligue 1 which has brought approval from fans in a more attacking
formation.
Lyon won their opening league game 3-1 at Nice before a two
1-1 draws, including at home to Ajaccio. That doesn’t sound like the greatest start
but it leaves them above title rivals Marseille, Lille and Paris Saint-Germain
in the early standings and leaders Montpellier have only 9 points.
This was more evident than ever when they came from behind
to beat Rubin 3-1 at the Stade Gerland when creating plenty of chances and dominating
the ball (57%) and having 5 shots on goal, with 10 on target, while Rubin had
13 overall. They will have to go for it tonight
and that should allow many gaps to open up on the break for the 7 time French
Champions.
Their attacking talent - Michel Bastos, Jimmy Briand Lisandr
and Bafétimbi Gomis – should be able to crave out opportunities even in Russia,
where Kazan have failed to win 6 out of 10 home games and lie fifth in the
table, admittedly behind 4 very good teams.
That said Lyon are clearly the more progressive side and
assuming they stay focused - Lyon have conceded the first goal in all four
matches this season – They can win and are value at 15/8 to do so with this
quote from Bafétimbi Gomis summing things up; “We have an advantage but we're
not through yet because anything can happen in the Champions League”.
In the other night’s games, there’s a slight doubt about whether
Benfica should be 1-2 to beat Twente despite their obvious quality and home advantage,
though the stats speak for a lot.
Benfica have recorded 13 victories from their last 15
European home games, posting five in succession since their only home loss in
that sequence − 2-1 against FC Schalke 04 last year, while Twente have won just
one of their last five European away matches. The 5/6 about both teams to score
does look tempting based on both team’s high scoring exploits of late.
Advice
1 pt Lyon (19/10 Stan James)
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