Hapoel Tel Aviv’s Champions League debut ended ultimately in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Benfica in Lisbon, but the Israeli champions did their reputation no harm at all with a competitive performance against os Aguias. Back on home soil, coach Eli Guttman will be aware that at least a point is needed against Olympique Lyonnais to keep their dreams of progression seriously burning.
The Red Demons have started the defence of their domestic title in an inauspicious manner, picking up just four points from their opening four matches and suffering a humbling 4-2 reverse at the hands of Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona at the weekend.
On the continent they have shown a very different face since starting their Champions League campaign in the second qualifying round against Zeljeznicar, who were dispatched 6-0 on aggregate. A fancied Aktobe unit were then edged out 3-2 before Salzburg were surprisingly eliminated in the play-off stage 4-3.
Guttman’s side have been tearing up the formbook in the Champions League thus far, and after losing their only two previous home ties against French opponents, they will have to do exactly the same once more if they are to upset les Gones.
Underachieving
Few teams can match the European pedigree that Olympique Lyonnais boast since the turn of the millennium. Participants in every Champions League group stage since 2000, les Gones hit a high water mark last term when they scrambled their way to the semi-finals of the competition where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich.
Although Schalke were defeated by a Michel Bastos goal to nil at Stade Gerland a fortnight ago, the signs are already that the Rhone Valley club will fail to match that success. Les Gones’ form domestically has been lamentable, and they sit 18th in Ligue 1, having lost their fiercely competitive Derby du Rhone encounter against Saint-Etienne last Saturday.
Opposition in the stands to general manager Claude Puel is growing, with the fans staying behind until after midnight on Saturday for president Jean-Michel Aulas to address them. Additionally, there are reports that the squad is unsettled behind the scenes, with Puel’s man management techniques having been questioned to such an extent that substitute goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre is now charged with creating a good atmosphere in the dressing room.
A greater emphasis is set to be placed on pleasure and fluidity as opposed to Puel’s more traditional values of organisation and defence, though of course there will be no immediate wholesale change.
Anything but three points in Israel will place the coach’s head even more firmly on the chopping block and increase the pressure on stoical president Aulas to make changes.
TEAM NEWS
Hapoel
Mahran Lala is the big injury concern for Hapoel as he is set to miss the entire season due to knee ligament damage. Meanwhile, Eran Zahavi broke his nose on September 11 but hasn’t let that prevent him from taking part in regular action.
Lyon
Hamstring injuries have been a hot topic of conversation around the Rhone Valley, with Cris, Cesar Delgado and Ederson all missing from this fixture due to such problems of varying severity.
Perhaps crucially, ace striker Lisandro Lopez is missing once again due to a thigh problem, while Jean Makoun hasn’t travelled because of a similar ailment.
Prediction
Though Lyon have been struggling for wins, they didn’t play too badly at the weekend and cannot continue to be so luckless in front of goal. Additionally, les Gones command the kind of Champions League experience that is completely alien to Hapoel, so even in front of an intimidating home crowd the French underperformers should be able to best the Red Demons.
Hapoel 1-2 O. Lyon 
