Benfica vs Lyon
Portugal’s runners-up meet Ligue 1’s third-placed team in the next ICC match-up, in what we expect to be a hard-fought contest.
Bruno Genesio’s Olympique Lyonnais makes a debut at ICC 2018 in Portugal, where Benfica vs Lyon is the big game at the Estadio Algarve. And there’s not much to choose between the two teams.
Lyon are a late arrival in the ICC, having replaced Sevilla as the Spanish side is occupied by Europa League commitments. But Genesio’s team is well capable of living and thriving in this company.
Talking Points
This is a good opportunity for Rui Vitoria to fine-tune his Benfica line-up before a crucial Champions League qualifier against Turkish side Fenerbahce, who finished runners-up to Galatasaray last season.
It’s the first time Benfica had to qualify for Europe’s premier competition for years, having been champions for so long, but the new reality will hit home next week. In the meantime, Lyon will present a good test of where Vitoria’s team currently is.
His side has had a good pre-season so far, drawing against Italian champions Juventus and the Bundesliga’s biggest side, Borussia Dortmund.
Alex Grimaldo scored a beauty in the ICC 2018 highlights the Bianconeri last week, and the £53-million-rated wingback could be a key player for the Portuguese side this season, assuming he’s still there on transfer deadline day. Liverpool were rumoured to be interested in the Spanish star earlier in the close season.
New striker Facundo Ferreyra, recruited from Shakhtar Donetsk, is likely to be rested having been taken off against Juventus after a nasty clash of heads. So Vitoria is likely to give experienced forward Jonas some game time, and it could also be a busy night for Benfica’s dependable defender Andre Almeida as he comes up against a confident Lyon striker in Memphis Depay.
With the Netherlands missing out on Russia 2018, Depay has had a longer summer break than most, and he’ll be itching to get back to competitive action after an impressive season last year. The Dutch striker has found his mojo again in France after flopping at Old Trafford, and he rounded off the season with a hat-trick against Nice to secure Champions League football for Lyon.
The former Manchester United man did have a painful moment in Lyon’s recent friendly with Huddersfield when he dislocated a finger. But with that safely popped back into place, he’s ready to give the Benfica defence a tough examination with his pace and trickery.
Vitoria’s men won’t have to face Lyon’s other big threat as there will be no Nabil Fekir on the pitch. The France striker’s proposed move to Liverpool is in the balance after doubts over his medical, and he is still on his way back from his World Cup triumph. He may return in time for Lyon’s next two run-outs in the ICC, against Inter Milan and Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Rui Vitoria’s team has its big match with Fenerbahce to tackle.
History
The hosts have acquitted themselves well at ICC 2018. Benfica drew with Borussia Dortmund — which was no mean feat after the German side had already beaten Premier League favourites Liverpool and Manchester City — before the stalemate with Juventus.
Lyon warmed up with a win against Wolfsburg and a 4-0 thumping of Premier League new boys Fulham, as well as a defeat to Huddersfield Town
Head-to-heads are just in Lyon’s favour by two wins to one. The last meeting was a home win for the French side in a friendly in 2016, but the two teams did meet competitively in the group stages of the Champions league in 2010, winning one match each.
Both teams have won four of the last seven games in all competitions and come into this game in decent pre-season form.
What are the odds?
My goodness; this one is too close to call to make any ICC 2018 predictions with a great amount of confidence. There isn’t much to choose between the three possible results.
Our SBOBET tips have installed home side Benfica as favourites by the finest of margins; the Portuguese are at 2.54 while their French counterparts are at 2.64, with the draw out there at 3.25.
The Draw No Bet market has Benfica at 1.92 and Lyon at 2.00.
We think there will be goals in this game with Over 2.50 at 1.82, while Under 2.50 offers a bigger price of 2.08.
If you can’t take a pick, then get ready for another penalty shootout: the most likely scoreline is 1-1 at odds of 5.60, but how about 2-2 at 11.50?
We’ll see you back here at SBOBET with all the Benfica vs Lyon updates.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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