Lyon vs Bayern Munich: Preview

The focus shifts to Lisbon when Bayern Munich goes face to face in the long-anticipated semi-final Champions League clash versus OL Lyon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

The semi-final on Thursday, 20^th of August (12:30AM Indian Standard Time) would be their 9th encounter in the Champions League history.

Following the match between PSG and RB Leipzig of Ligue 1 and Bundesliga respectively, another semi-final sets a foot between the German and French teams.

Thus far, both Bayern and Lyon have proven outstanding in the top-level competition in Europe, with their unique formulation.

Although Bayern Munich has almost silently swept teams aside, Lyon carries on to be the underdogs even though they beat the likes of Juventus and Manchester City.

What the Champions League run has been for Lyon?

Lyon defeated Manchester City side and registered themselves as the second French team in the semi-finals this season as they go in exciting final-four clash in Lisbon.

The boss Rudi Garcia and his players built a great working atmosphere, a sense of purpose and a mental resilience that carried them to the semi-finals this season.

Moussa Dembele, who’s been quite frequently than not brilliant off the bench in the Champions League, should fight for a place in start XI. Lyon has no fresh injuries anywhere, so is expected to field the same line-up for the season.

Karl Toko Ekambi apparently began the last two matches of Lyon’s Champions League ahead of Moussa Dembele. Dembele who turned out to be a super sub versus Manchester City scored a brace in a 3-1 historic win.

Unbelievably, when they beat Dinamo Zagreb and APOEL, Lyon hasn’t won consecutive Champions League matches in a single campaign since then back in 2011-12 season.

Lyon manager Rudi Garcia is looking to become just the second French manager to lead a French team to the Champions League Final following Didier Deschamps with Monaco back in 2003-04.

What it has been for Bayern Munich?

Bayern Munich are extremely dominant this campaign. In the quarter-finals, Bayern cut Barcelona to bits with an 8-2 win that brought back memories of Brazil’s 7-1 thrashing of Germany at the 2014 World Cup.

Since being the first side to score eight goals in a single match in the Champions League knockout stage, it is now impossible to see just which team can deter them from achieving a prestigious treble.

Benjamin Pavard, the only one previously unavailable with Bayern Munich, is now back in moderate preparation. Summer signing Leroy Sane cannot play for Bayern until the 2020/21 campaign starts.

This will be Bayern’s 12^th appearance in the semi-finals of the Champions League only behind to Real Madrid’s 13.

FC Bayern Munich would equal the record of 10 consecutive wins in the Champions League history of their feat in 2013 and Real Madrid 10 wins in 2015.

Bayern are the absolute favourites to win their 6th Champions League title after failing to progress from each of their last four semi-finals, since winning the competition in 2012-13.

Predictions:

Bayern are definitely the clear favourites, but Lyon cannot be overlooked as in the last two stages of the season as they took out Juventus and Barcelona.

While Bayern observed they are weak at the back against Barcelona, they definitely have far too much offensive capacity to overcome Lyon.

Bayern will win the match 3 goals to nil.

Also read: Official: Ronald Koeman appointed as new manager of Barcelona