Which team will get back on the winning track?
The home side can expect a resilient visiting team from Spain in the Lyon vs. Celta Vigo match. The first leg of the Round of 16 ended in a draw (1-1). The Celestes had led for much of the match and were even down a man from the 54th minute onward.
Three minutes before the end of regulation time, the hard-working Endrick capitalized on a goalkeeper error and scored the late equalizer to set the final score. In our Lyon vs. Celta Vigo prediction, we expect a balanced back-and-forth battle with scoring chances on both sides.
The visitors are particularly dangerous thanks to their incisive counterattacks. Javi Rueda successfully finished a lightning-fast attack, launched from his own penalty area, in the 25th minute with a right-footed shot into the open net. It was already the third goal for Claudio Giraldet’s side following a direct attack this Europa League season—the third-best tally among all participants.
However, in their first meeting, the home side certainly revealed their vulnerability to the Spanish side’s quick attacks. Added to this is a certain dip in form, which has been particularly noticeable in defense. Head coach Paulo Fonseca and his players have been waiting for a win for six competitive matches now.
On the other side, the Sky Blues have also gone three competitive matches without a win (2 draws, 1 loss)—and their last four matches have all ended with both teams scoring.
Lyon – Celta Vigo Head-to-Head Record
French opponents have appeared frequently on the Celestes’ schedule this Europa League season. So far, the Spaniards have had mostly positive experiences in these matchups. During the league phase, Giraldez’s squad defeated both Nice (2-1) and OSC Lille (2-1).
Both matches featured goals from both sides, as did the first-leg clash against Lyon (1-1). In addition, many of Celta Vigo’s Europa League appearances so far have been evenly matched. On average, the visitors’ EL matches this season have ended with an expected goal difference of 1.31:1.23.
Lyon – Celta Vigo Prediction
We expect the matchup at Groupama Stadium to be similarly balanced. As the hosts and the top team from the group stage, Les Gones are considered slight favorites by many experts. However, this advantage isn’t too significant—Celta Vigo is regarded as a dangerous opponent.
The Fonseca squad faces particular danger in this Europa League campaign from opposing set pieces. No other EL team has conceded a higher percentage of goals from set pieces than OL (66.67 percent). Additionally, Lyon appeared vulnerable to targeted counterattacks in the first leg on Spanish soil.
However, Fonseca’s squad is always capable of scoring itself. Olympique Lyon has earned 2.07 expected goals per game—the second-best figure in the current competition. Additionally, they have created many high-quality scoring opportunities, averaging 0.13 expected goals per shot—one of the best figures in this Europa League season.
