Lyon vs Clermont prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-10-21 18:45.
The only two sides yet to win a Ligue 1 game this season meet as Lyon (D3, L5) take on Clermont (D2, L5) with the former’s struggles continuing despite the appointment of manager Fabio Grosso last month. His first point at the helm was a bittersweet one as it came after they relinquished a 3-1 half-time lead over Lorient to draw 3-3 before the international break, following which he admitted with a hint of realism: “We can only fight to stay up.”
That point lifted them off the foot of the table with their opponents here taking their place, and coincidently the manner of their last contest shares similarities with the first-ever top-flight H2H which also saw Lyon 3-1 up at the break in August 2021, before drawing 3-3! Worries of a repeat aside, their current predicament must leave Les Gones fans wondering what has happened to the form that saw them close last season with three straight home league wins while scoring an average of 3.67 goals per game.
Clermont await news on what will happen after their last fixture against Montpellier was abandoned due to the opposing fans throwing a firecracker onto the pitch. Clermont were losing 4-2 at the time, but the game may be replayed or they may be awarded a win, which would certainly be welcome after a dreadful start to their third season in the top flight.
For now, they have a game in hand on Lyon, a side over which they did the double last term with two victories via one-goal margins, and holding reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain to a goalless draw recently should give them heart. However, remarkably enough given their current basement position, PSG are the only side they’ve beaten (at the tailend of last season) across their last six league away fixtures (D2, L3)!
Players to watch: Alexandre Lacazette’s first strike against Lorient came in the 22nd minute, the same time at which he netted the opener in Lyon’s last meeting against Clermont (L 2-1)! Talking of consistency, Clermont’s Cheick Oumar Konaté found the net in the 45th minute against Montpellier having scored in the first minute of first-half injury time against Le Havre two games earlier.
Hot streak: Clermont trailed at half-time in all three of their league away games this term.