Juventus to take quarter-final initiative over depleted Lyon
Published:There may not be any English interest left in the Europa League but that won’t stop its quarter-final matches flooding our TV screens on Thursday night.
Neither side come into the match with a recent win tucked under their belt, with Remi Garde’s French side losing to St Etienne last time out and Juventus losing their 14-game unbeaten run to Napoli.
However, Lyon’s chances of staying in the tie by the halfway stage are rendered almost zilch given their battered and bruised squad.
The former French dominators are without three first-choice defenders and back up option Mouhamadou Dabo, while in midfield influential duo Clement Grenier and Yoann Gourcuff are also left in the physio room.
Those missing men suddenly make Juventus’ price to win the match all the more alluring, especially as they’ve won three of their four matches since entering the competition and have the dream of playing the competition’s final in their own stadium driving them on.
Although depleted themselves – they are without five first teamers – Juventus have proven themselves to be big fish in a tiny pond since their shock exit from the Champions League.
They have conceded just one goal in Uefa’s B-list competition and with Lyon losing their last two home outings as well as their last game in the Europa League, should prove too strong for Les Gones.
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