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West Ham and Lyon lock horns once more in the second leg of their Europa League quarter final after a feisty first leg last week. Aaron Cresswell was controversially sent off for a foul on Moussa Dembele who gave it the Cristiano Ronaldo wink to the bench in the aftermath.
David Moyes’ boys rallied and actually took the lead before Lyon’s on-loan Spurs midfielder Tanguy Ndombele levelled it up to mean we’re all square coming into this tasty clash. I’m really looking forward to this one, it’s got it all.
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Lyon v West Ham: Thursday, April 14: 8pm
BT Sport 1
The Hammers come here weakened by the loss of Cresswell but fired up from the sense of injustice. Lyon will be smarting as well. Despite a Hammers fan running onto the pitch to halt one of the home side’s best chances of an attack in the second half, they dominated the 10 men.
But they didn’t create a barrage of chances and most were from range. Both sides’ poor league form means this competition will be their best route to the Champions League and both will be giving everything. Can I find you a winning Bet Builder for this one? Let’s try our luck!
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Lyon to Qualify
Lyon have saved their best form this season for the Europa League, they’re unbeaten in nine games while The Hammers have lost twice, once when the group was wrapped up and then away to Sevilla in the last 16. I was so tempted to go for The Draw within 90 minutes here but it’s that West Ham away form that’s hard to ignore. In the Premier League they’ve now lost four of their last five, drawing once with Leicester.
With all competitions thrown into the mix it’s even worse and reads a sorry return of six losses in eight with two draws inside the 90 – one of which was against Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup from the 6th tier of English football. Lyon’s home form is not absolutely fearsome and I wouldn’t put anyone off any of these three results within the 90 here but the numbers are pointing towards Lyon making it through one way or another.
West Ham’s away form, added to Lyon’s Europa League performances this season, means it could be the end of the east London side’s European Tour as Lyon Qualify here, even if it takes extra time and penalties.
Under 2.5 Goals
The numbers are indicating that this should be a tight contest. While the French side had plenty of goals in their group games, the bulk of those came in the four matches with Brondby and Sparta Prague. In their games against Rangers in the group, and then Porto and West Ham in the knockouts. they’ve witnessed nine goals in five, an average of 1.8 goals per game with Under 2.5 Goals landing 100% of the time. For The Hammers it’s a similar story.
In their nine Europa League matches this season Overs has only clicked twice and they’ve seen 18 goals across nine games (inside the 90 minutes), an average of 2.0. Under 2.5 Goals has clicked in their last five European matches and there’s a good chance we see anther tight, nervy game with both sides having everything to lose.
Moussa Dembele to Score Anytime
Moussa Dembele firmly ensconced himself as the pantomime villain in the first leg with that aforementioned wink after the questionable contact from Cresswell which saw the Hammers defender dismissed at the end of the first half. West Ham fans have already had to endure a Spurs player scoring against them and the football gods, if you believe in such things, will surely be drawing up a plan where Dembele plays another decisive role here.
There’s logic behind this as well, other than just plain old Sod’s Law. Dembele is the French side’s top scorer if you average it out on goals per game. Karl Toko-Ekambi has one more than Dembele (14) but has played five games more. Some things are just written in the stars so I’ll have a go on Dembele to Score Anytime.
West Ham to Have 4 or More Shots on Target
If this goes the way I think it might then I can see West Ham piling on the pressure as the game goes on and they look for a goal to get back into the contest. They mustered three on target with 10 men in the first leg, though that’s about the average they’ve been managing in the latter stages of this competition.
Given that this is a knockout, caution will be thrown to the wind as the clock ticks down. Corners, free kicks, pot-shots from range. They all count as long as the keeper has to stop it tricking over the line. It’s not beyond the realms of reasonable doubt that we see West Ham Have 4 or More Shots on Target here.
Lyon v West Ham tips
Lyon to Qualify
Under 2.5 Goals
Moussa Dembele to Score Anytime
West Ham to Have 4 or More Shots on Target
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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