West Ham United v Olympic Lyonnais predictions: Hammers can step up

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for West Ham v Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm Thursday

Best bet

West Ham
1pt 21-20 general

Team news

West Ham
Manuel Lanzini is suspended after an accumulation of bookings in this competition while Angelo Ogbonna (knee) and Ben Johnson (hamstring) are doubts.

Lyon
Lenny Pintor, Rayan Cherki and Sinaly Diomande are all out and Maxence Caqueret is a doubt.

Match preview

It has been 41 years since West Ham were last involved in a major European quarter-final and the Hammers can make the most of the occasion when they face Lyon in the last eight of the Europa League.

Both West Ham and Lyon topped their groups earlier in the campaign and saw off strong Sevilla and Porto sides respectively in the last 16, so it could be a tight first leg at the London Stadium.

But David Moyes's men will be eager to make the most of what is sure to be an electric atmosphere in the capital and nine of their 15 Premier League wins have come on home soil this term.

A rocking crowd coupled with the fact Lyon could be missing an integral part of their midfield in Maxence Caqueret should swing the first match in the favour of West Ham, who look a value bet at odds-against.

Lyon have excelled in Europe but domestically it has been a season to forget with the club currently locked in mid-table obscurity in Ligue 1.

They have found life particularly tough in matches against bigger clubs domestically, losing to Rennes, Lille and Monaco since the start of the year.

A 3-2 win over Angers last time out was only their second victory in their last six league assignments, so they do not go into this match in the best of form, whereas West Ham are fresh from boosting their top-four hopes in the Premier League with a 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday.

Key stat

Lyon have managed only one win in their last four matches in all competitions.

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