Bayern Munich V Lyon Betting: UEFA Champions League (LIVE on ITV1)

 

Champions League 2009/2010: Semi-Final, First Leg

 

 

Bayern Munich V Lyon

 

 

Wednesday, 21st April – 19:45 (GMT)

Allianz Arena, Germany

LIVE on ITV1

 

 

 

Bayern Munich

 

Outright Odds: 5.50 SportingBet

 

As German side Bayern Munich close in on their first major European final since 2001 when they last lifted the trophy, they will first have to overcome a tricky French opponent in Lyon while also fending off the bad charms from this being their 13^th semi-final in Europe’s elite club competition. The omens are good however, as the team they beat in the previous round, Manchester United, was the same side they beat at the very same stage – Quarter-Finals – back in 2001 in a winning Champions League year for the Germans. Can they relive the 2001 dream after a nearly a decade of heartache and disappointment.

 

If the Bayern players were feeling a touch of the nerves before this tense semi-final encounter, by far and away their biggest fixture of the season thus far, they certainly aren’t showing it after their prep match was despatched in emphatic fashion. The Munich based club are currently fixed in a heated battle for their 21^st league title which means Louis Van Gaal simply cannot afford to rest players from now until the end of the season whatever the competition. However, his team were showing little sign of fatigue as they swept Hannover 96 to one side on Saturday in a sensational 7-0 romp at the Allianz Arena just days before they meet with Lyon at the very same venue. How’z that for preparation?

 

Bayern were in a free-scoring type of mood at the weekend as seven were put past Hannover 96 in a game which will have undoubtedly lifted both the confidence of the Munich camp and the expectation levels of the fans. This Bayern side has always had the potential to score bags of goals and yet the tie with Lyon has left many doubting Bayern’s capabilities of scoring past what will be a stern, reliant and resilient Lyon defence on Wednesday night. Their doubters will be cowering in the corner after that emphatic display from the German frontrunners as the likes of Olic, Ribery and Robben, with the latter having scored a hat-trick in Saturday’s 7-0 romp, now have a keen eye for goal. However, Bayern have yet to surpass even two goals in a home game in Europe this season so there are still some questions waiting, or should we say ‘need’ answering before we even begin to get audacious and etch Bayern’s name into the final set up.

 

The grey area with Bayern Munich has been their poor form on the road in this seasons Champions League and their tendency to have to rely upon their big names, more notably Arjen Robeen, to get them out of trouble. The German side have lost on three separate occasions away from home in Europe this season, two of those coming in the knock-out stages in defeats at Fiorentina, Italy, (3-2) and Manchester United, England, (3-2). A pattern is beginning to form however in that Bayern seemingly end up losing their away encounters, which has just so happened to be their second leg on each occasion, but still qualify by virtue of a first leg win in Germany. With their tendency to lose the second leg, the away leg, the pressure will mount on Bayern Munich attaining at least a victory on Wednesday night, preferably a margin big enough to avoid any familiar scares in the second, away leg.

 

 

 

 

 

Lyon

 

Outright Odds: 9.00 bWin

 

Lyon’s opponents in this last-four tie maybe entering into their 13^th semi-final but this is just the French clubs first ever appearance in a Champions Leagues semi-final and it will be unfamiliar terrain for Claude Puel, his players and the club itself. Don’t naturally expect the French side to be over roared by the occasion however, as Lyon have been in many daunting matches along this fruitful campaign of theirs and will be supremely confident that they can do more than just hold their own against the more experienced Germans.

 

If this tie were to be settled on experience and European pedigree alone then sure, Lyon would leave empty handed. Fortunately that isn’t how the two teams will be judged but instead on a whoever scores more basis. In fairness, we have two stingy sides in terms of defences so it could be a close tie to call. Should this be the case then you would have to fancy Lyon’s chances as they are somewhat the master of doing just enou8gh and scraping through two-legged ties by a single goal. They’ve done this in their previous two knock-out encounters beating Real Madrid 2-1 and Bordeaux 3-2. The bad news is Lyon don’t score an awful lot away from home in Europe so they’ll need to double their defensive efforts in order to keep what has been a ruthless Bayern offence at arms length.

 

Lyon’s prep match ahead of this crunch last-four encounter was against a team they beat in the quarter’s, Bordeaux, the reigning French champions and a side touted as the Champions League’s dark horses for this seasons trophy. Lyon piled more woes on the defending French champions by drawing 2-2 at Bordeaux. Puel fielded a strong team for that clash in a bid to close the gap on Marseille at the top of Ligue 1, with only Lisandro Lopez rested, although he was used as a second half sub. That encounter was on Saturday, a good five days ago, so there should be no excuses over tired legs, although Lyon did have to work extremely hard just for their point as twice they came from a goal behind to level, and it’s that sort of adversity and courage Puel will demand from his entire squad as he takes them to the German capital where the German league leaders await them.

 

Lyon have been the Real Madrid’s famous Bernabeu stadium and avoided defeat earlier in the competition, knocking the Spanish side out at the last-sixteen stage. So a visit to the Allianz Arena shouldn’t be a daunting prospect in reality. However, the slight niggle of concern, or big one we should say, is in Lyon’s previous knock-out victories they played the first leg at home. That’s crucial especially for a team like Lyon who use tactics to get through overwhelming ties. It means Lyon cannot reply upon taking a narrow advantage from the home leg into the reverse leg away in Germany. They will instead be in a completely different mindset, aware of the fact that a big defeat in Germany could cost them any chance of a place in the final and leave them with too much to do back at home.

 

Claude Puel will of course set Lyon up in their familiar solid manner, putting 10 men behind the ball in an organised and efficient manner. However, the players will still be in an unfamiliar scenario in that they don’t know for sure what result would be deemed satisfactory. We reckon they’ll settle for a 0-0 but it’s hard to see Bayern not scoring at least one on the night so, at some point Lyon will need to come out of their shell you feel in order to grab a pivotal away goal.

 

 

Champions League Statistics:

 

Bayern Munich

 

Overall Record: 5-1-4

Home Record: 3-1-1

Offensive Record at Home: 5

Defensive Record at Home: 4

Current form: WWLWL

 

Lyon

 

Overall Record: 6-2-2

Away Record: 2-1-2

Away Offensive Record: 7

Away Defensive Record: 4

Current form: WWDWL

 

Stand out Statistics:

 

Bayern Munich have won three consecutive games at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League, beating Maccabi Haifa 1-0, Fiorentina 2-1 and Manchester United 2-1.

 

Bayern Munich have won both their home ties in the knock-out stage of the competition by a 2-1 scoreline.

 

Arjen Robben has scored the tie winning goal in both of Munich’s knock-out encounters of which both were in 3-2 defeats away from home.

 

Lyon haven’t won away from home in the Champions League since their memorable victory at Anfield, Liverpool, four away matches ago. That was also the only occasion where Lyon had scored on more than one occasions in an away Champions League proper fixture.

 

Lyon have conceded EXACTLY 1 goal in four of their five away encounters in this seasons Champions League, with Liverpool, Fiorentina, Real Madrid and Bordeaux all scoring one goal against them.

 

Four of Lyon’s five away games have finished Under 2.5 Goals (Less than 3 Goals).

 

 

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Bayern Munich to WIN – 1.80 WilliamHill

 

Lyon undoubtedly have the necessary inventory to frustrate Bayern for long periods of time. The fact that the German side like to retain possession for long periods of time, in a patient manner, will also play in Lyon’s hands. However, Bayern’s success against Manchester United in the last round was amply backed up by a resounding 7-0 win at the weekend. The Bayern team will be in high spirit and will be hungry for more goals. Moreover, Louis Van Gaal will know full well that Lyon will set out to frustrate his team with a defensive attitude, and with that, Van Gaal will likely opt for a very Offensive attitude.

 

Bayern Munich have to win this first leg as getting a result over in France will be tough. They are playing a side who know how to capitalize and build upon a first leg advantage, and while an away win does look out of the question, even a draw would play into Lyon’s hand heading into the deciding second leg a week later. We reckon Louis Van Gaal will spare nothing in a bid to not only win this first leg but to win in a comprehensive fashion. We expect an attacking formation, an attacking line-up and a quick start ti proceedings. They must put this organised Lyon defence on the back foot and under pressure right from the off. If they let the French side settle, Bayern will be in for a long game.

 

We reckon Bayern will get their first leg lead, although we’re unsure as to whether they’ll take a big margin of victory over to France. They’ll need an early goal in order to entice Lyon out of their own third. If they score early on, Bayern will have a golden opportunity to stamp their authority in this first leg with a big win.

 

 

 

Match Odds

 

Bayern Munich – 1.80 WilliamHill

Draw – 3.70 bWin

Lyon – 5.00 Bet365