Manchester City vs Lyon Predictions

• Both teams scored in 100% of Man City’s last six UCL matches.
• Lyon scored in all but one of their eight Champions League fixtures this season.
• Man City are undefeated in this season’s Champions League (six wins, two draws).
• City are averaging 2.5 goals per 90 minutes in the Champions League this term.

City renew their quest for continental honours

Tournament favourites Manchester City are desperate to land their first ever Champions League title this season, and their impressive two-legged win over serial winners Real Madrid in the last round suggested they are ready to make the final leap after years of disappointment in the competition.

Lyon – conquerors of a fancied Juventus team in the Last 16 – will be no pushovers however, and the Ligue 1 outfit should prove tricky opponents for the Citizens to overcome.

Having relinquished their Premier League and FA Cup title this season, continental glory is of paramount importance to City boss Pep Guardiola, and the Manchester giants – who are unbeaten in eight Champions League fixtures this season – will be confident that they can progress at Les Gones’ expense.

Even without the poaching expertise of the injured Sergio Aguero, City have had little trouble creating and plundering goals in the final third this term, though their record of conceding in each of their last six UCL assignments shines a light on the team’s continuing problems in defence.

Lyon hoping to spring another surprise

Lyon are among the lowest profile clubs left in this season’s Champions League, though dangerous French underdogs showed in their double-legged victory over Juventus in the Last 16, that they are capable of upsetting the odds.

Running parallel to their disappointing Ligue 1 campaign that ended with Lyon all the way down in 7^th spot, Rudi Garcia’s young team enjoyed a more productive year on the continent, though their Last 16 first leg win over Juventus was only their third win from eight ties in the competition.

Outside France, Lyon were turned over in each of their last three Champions League away assignments however, conceding twice on each occasion, though it’s worth noting that OL made an impact on the scoresheet in all but one of their eight tournament tussles overall this season.

Goals at both ends anticipated

While the match result markets are weighted far too heavily in Man City’s favour this weekend, punters can find plenty of value in the goals prices this week.

With six wins and two draws from eight Champions League outings this term, City have been one of the competition’s most consistent teams, though there is a real weakeness in defensive areas that most of their opponents have been able to exploit.

As we touched on in the section above, City conceded in each of their last six Champions League fixtures in contests where goals were plundered at either end, and backing both teams to score again on Saturday looks a smart play at the prices quoted.

With Maxwel Cornet, Moussa Dembele and fit again Memphis Depay in tow, Lyon have enough menace to cause City problems this week, and we expect Les Gones to register.

Keeping City’s star-studded attack out at the other end should prove next to impossible however. The Citizens are averaging 2.5 goals per 90 minutes in the Champions League this season, and Guardiola’s charges have sufficient class to tear holes in a Lyon rearguard that shipped two goals in three of their last four games in the competition.

With that considered, our correct score prediction forecasts a 2-1 City win alongside our both teams to score tip. The Citizens notched twice in both legs in the last round against Real Madrid, and another double on Saturday should be enough to book their place in the semi-finals.