Lyon V Bayern Munich Betting: UEFA Champions League6

 

UEFA Champions League: Semi-Final, Second Leg

 

 

Lyon V Bayern Munich

 

 

Tuesday, 27^th April – 19:45 (GMT)

Stade de Gerland, France

TV Coverage: Sky Sports 2

 

 

 

First Leg: Bayern Munich 1-0 Lyon

 

Whenever you see Lyon involved in a two-legged tie you generally expect two tight encounters, so the first leg score of 1-0 to the Germans won’t have surprised too many. However, Bayern Munich could and perhaps should have had a far bigger margin of victory as they fluffed chance after chance at the Allianz Arena, and with the tie now evenly poised heading over to France in Lyon territory, will the German side rue those missed chances as they bid to make their first Champions League final in nearly a decade.

 

Lyon, however, are aiming to make their first Champions League final and will fancy their chances after restricting Bayern to just the one goal in the first leg, what was the away leg for the French side. Lyon manager Claude Puel will need to mastermind Bayern Munich’s downfall without Toulalan while Bayern will be without Franck Ribery after both were dismissed in the first leg for two different offences. The only goal of the came though came via Arjen Robben’s gifted left boot when his long range effort dipped, served and deceived Hugo Lloris in the Lyon goal to finally give Bayern the advantage they craved. That was as good as it got for Bayern Munich, and for the viewing public as the first leg wasn’t a game to write home about.

 

The main reason as to why the first leg wasn’t as entertaining as one might have hoped was Lyon’s organised and disciplined defending. It was clear Claud Puel didn’t want to concede at the Allianz Arena in a bid to make the work in the return leg much easier. However, Robben’s goal for Bayern Munich means Lyon have to come out of the shell in the second and deciding leg and that should make for an entertaining second leg affair. The one goal lead for the German side had led to bookmakers installing Bayern Munich as the overwhelming favourites to make the final as Bayern are a best priced 1.36 with BetFred to knock the French challengers out at the semi-final stage, whereas Lyon’s progression would be a shock according to the bookies as they’re a tasty 3.75 with PaddyPower to progress at Bayern’s Expense.

 

 

 

 

 

Lyon

 

Outright Odds: 13.00 WilliamHill

 

Lyon will look towards their formidable home record at Stade de Gerland for inspiration as they aim to dump their German visitors Bayern Munich out of the competition, and, in the process, make their first Champions League final appearance ever. The French Powerhouse, whom have recently relinquished their stranglehold over Ligue 1, haven’t lost a home game in Europe all season with only Liverpool halting an express of winning results for Claude Puel’s team. Puel has guided Lyon to three successive victories at Stade de Gerland in Europe and will need to make it four in a row if he and Lyon are to make the final in Spain come May.

 

Lyon really have been a force to be reckoned with at home in Europa as they boast the most intimidating home record of all four teams still standing. Liverpool remain the only side not have lost at Stade de Gerland in Europe this season while the same team, Liverpool, and Lyon’s bitter Franch rivals Bordeaux are the only two sides to have even scored away at Lyon in five Champions League proper home matches. So, we will state the obvious by saying Lyon’s successful Champions League has been built upon some solid defensive foundations with their young French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, aged just 23, having conceded just two goals at home and boasting three clean sheets. However, Claude Puel does have a defensive crisis on his hands, as the likes of Boumsong and Cris are doubtful, although the latter should feature, but Toulalan’s suspension doesn’t help their cause whatsoever.

 

Hopefully, at least from a Lyon perspective, the focus won’t be on Lyon’s defence but rather their strike force as Lyon need to win this second leg which means they require a few goals on the night. Puel certainly has the striking prowess up front to call upon in Lisando Lopez, a definite starter for Lyon, Michael Bastos, Miralem Pjanic and the pace of Gomis off the bench. Puel will demand a similar vein of attacking vigour from that of their 3-1 success against Bordeaux in the last round. However, with the exception of Bordeaux, only lowly Debrecen of Hungary has conceded more than one goal at Stade de Gerland, so for all Lyon’s defensive pedigree they lack a lot of cutting edge and guile in the final third if their poor scoring form is anything to go by.

 

We’ve had the pleasure, if pleasure’s the right word of watching several of Lyon’s European encounters at Stade de Gerland this season and haven’t been overly impressed with them if truth be told. They are, however, admirable in how they go about their way in that they use their valuable defensive asset to good affect. They defend resolutely, they’re extremely well organised and usually well disciplined. They approach their European games in the mindset of one goal could be enough to clinch it and it has generally worked for them. However, with Bayern Munich holding all the aces after their 1-0 win in the first leg, Lyon know they need to score twice to stand any chance of making the final so may have to abandon there all out defensive attitude.

 

 

Note of caution: Six players are a yellow card away from missing the final in Spain; Aly Cissokho, Cesar Delgado, Maxime Gonalons, Kim Kallstrom, Cris and Miralem Pjanic.

 

 

 

 

 

Bayern Munich

 

Outright Odds: 3.50 SkyBet

 

It’s been nine years since Bayern ‘s last final appearance in Europe’s Premier club competition, and after Arjen Robben’s delicious strike in the first leg at the Allianz Arena, Louis Van Gaal has took the German league leaders to the periphery of an eighth final where the chance of making the enviable milestone of 5 European Champions Club trophies – the previous name of the competition – while it would be their second Champions League title, their first since 2001.

 

All that stands in Bayern’s way is the French resistance in the form of Claude Puel’s Lyon. They’re a resilient bunch, a team which has dashed the hopes of two of the competitions most prestigious teams in Liverpool and Real Madrid. Bayern Munich are now the most coveted team left in the competition as their 4 titles eclipses that of Barcelona’s 3, but Lyon have had a thirst for those boasting European silverware, and it’s now the job of Louis Van Gaal to ensure Bayern Munich don’t fall foul to a similar fate and become Lyon’s third major victim of the tournament.

 

Bayern Munich do have their fate, destiny if you like, in their own hands as their first leg victory by a scoreline of 1-0 leaves the Germans in the driving seat. They must, however, overcome Lyon’s home advantage first before they can begin plans for the final in Spain. Stade de Gerland is the venue and it’s a stadium which has served their last-four opponents well as Lyon are on the verge of retaining their unbeaten home status should they avoid defeat to Bayern on Tuesday. The Bavarians, though, will care little about Lyon’s formidable home record and will seek out that elusive away goal, one which would see Bayern Munich put one foot in the final should they score the second leg’s first goal. We have no doubts Louis Van Gaal will set his team up to attack from the off in a bid to land the first blow, and with Lyon looking to open up a little more in search of their first goal of the tie, the likes of Arjen Robben, Bastien Scweinstager and Ivica Olic can stretch their legs a bit more thus becoming more of a forward threat than in the first leg due to their being more room for manoeuvre, more space and time on the ball to strut their stuff.

 

We’re predicting an attacking formation from Van Gaal as we think he would be foolish trying to defend Bayern’s narrow 1-0 advantage. An away goal in France and it would leave their rivals, Lyon, need to score three and that will take some doing considering Bayern, what with Lyon then having no alternative but to go all out in a bid to grab the three goals, would be a serious threat against a more exposed Lyon defence, one which will be without a few key personnel. We honestly think this tie is made for Bayern, although they will need to approach this second leg in a professional manner as breaking down an organised Lyon defence is no mean feat.

 

 

Notable Absentee’s: Franck Ribery and Daniel Pjanic, although the defensive pairing of Martin Demichelis and Daniel Van Buyten could be split up as both are worrying doubts ahead of the second leg.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Bayern Munich to WIN – 2.90 PaddyPower

 

I’ve gone a bit mad with my prediction here as I nail my colours to the Bayern mast. Lyon, with home advantage, will of course be more of a threat in an attacking sense than they were in the first leg where they simply defended for the entirety of the leg, but that alone will lead to more space for the Germans and they have the players to exploit the gaps. It may sound a bit stupid but we reckon Bayern Munich will over power the former French powerhouse. They will travel to France feeling good about their one goal advantage and will be a threat going forward throughout, while everyone knows Arjen Robben’s match winning ability, and with Franck Ribery suspended, the spotlight is likely to shine on the silky Dutchman once again.

 

All it takes is one goal from Bayern and Lyon will really be rocking. The German side, the league leaders back home, have scored twice in their two previous knock-out encounters proving not only that they have the class to score away from home in Europe but that they also know how to ride their luck. Louis Van Gaal and his Bayern Munich team have starred exit slap bang in the face on three separate occasions and have come up with some big goals when it really matters. Arjen Robben has been their saviour in their two knock-out encounters so another world-class strike from one of Holland’s finest wouldn’t be a complete surprise.

 

 

Match Odds

 

Lyon – 2.50 SkyBet

Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

Bayern Munich – 2.90 PaddyPower

 

 

 

Our Value Punt: Arjen Robben LGS – 7.00 Ladbrokes