Get your Europa League bets in hereOlympique Lyonnais will look to make a remarkable comeback in their UEFA Europa League semifinal against Ajax. The teams will meet for the second leg at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday evening, kick-off at 21h05 CAT.
Ajax players celebrate after the 4-1 victory in UEFA Europa League semi-finalThe first leg in Amsterdam last week saw the Dutch side claim an emphatic 4-1 win: a brace from Bertrand Traore sandwiched strikes from Kasper Dolberg and Amin Younes and saw Ajax retain their unbeaten record against Lyon, while the away goal came via diminutive midfielder Mathieu Valbuena.
Lyon's French midfielder Mathieu Valbuena (L) and teammates take part in a training sessionAjax certainly have a healthy advantage, but all is not lost for the French side. Lyon have shown superb home form in the Europa League this season, winning all three matches in which they have been hosts and scoring a whopping 13 goals along the way - there is no doubting that they have the firepower to come back into the tie. Ajax in contrast, haven’t been particularly good outside of Amsterdam: their last away match was a 1-0 loss against Eredivisie rivals PSV Eindhoven, while their last five trips in Europe have brought zero wins, three draws and two defeats.If Lyon can get off to a flying start and find an early goal, nerves will set in amongst the youthful Ajax players. However, history is on the Dutch club’s side: they have lost seven European knockout ties after winning the first leg at home, but only one of them came after a victory margin of more than one goal. The aggregate winners will advance into the UEFA Europa League final on May 24 in Stockholm and face either Manchester United or Celta Vigo.
Ajax v Lyon - head-to-head, European competitionMatches played: 5
Ajax wins: 3
Lyon wins: 0
Draws: 2
Ajax goals: 8
Lyon goals 2
Form guide (last five results, most recent first, all competitions)Ajax - WWLLW
Lyon - WLWLW