Lyon Hit by Team Changes Ahead of Europa League Fixture Against Ludogorets
This isn’t the smooth run-up that Lyon fans were hoping for ahead of their crucial Europa League match with Ludogorets Razgrad. Two big names, Malick Fofana and Saïd Benrahma, will be nowhere near the starting lineup, and not for tactical reasons. Fofana’s hip issue has sidelined him yet again, a blow for a team that relies heavily on his movement down the wings. Meanwhile, Benrahma is packing his bags, locked in transfer talks with a Saudi club, leaving Lyon’s flanks alarmingly thin for one of their biggest European nights so far this season.
With both wide options gone, all eyes fall on Rayan Cherki. If there’s one silver lining, it’s this: Cherki thrives under pressure, especially when given license to create. He’s already chalked up four assists and a whopping 25 goal opportunities for teammates in Lyon’s European campaign. There’s a clear expectation for him to deliver again—this time as the squad’s primary playmaker. Lyon’s roster, as it stands, is forced into new combinations and less familiar territory not just on the wings but across midfield too.
Fresh Faces, New Challenges and Ludogorets’ Lineup Woes
Adding to the shuffle, new arrival Thiago Almada, who just made his Ligue 1 debut after joining from Botafogo, has to sit this one out. UEFA’s registration rules mean fans won’t see him in European action until the knockout rounds, even though many were hoping his energy might soften the sting of losing Fofana and Benrahma.
So what’s likely for Lyon’s XI? Expect Lucas Perri to hold steady in goal, backed by Saël Kumbedi and Nicolas Tagliafico on the flanks, with Clinton Mata and Moussa Niakhate as center backs. Corentin Tolisso, Jordan Veretout, and Nemanja Matić look set to battle in midfield. Up front, Alexandre Lacazette, Georges Mikautadze, and Cherki form a reshuffled but dangerous attack.
Ludogorets Razgrad aren’t coming in with a full deck either. Pedro Naressi returns after suspension, a lift for their midfield, but they’re missing several key players, including attacker Kwadwo Duah and winger Bernard Tekpetey. Keeper Bonmann anchors a defense led by Olivier Verdon, with Caio providing an attacking threat up front. Ludogorets are expected to rely on set pieces and tight defense to keep Lyon in check, knowing their own firepower is thinned by injuries and bans.
It’s not just a tactical tussle but a test of depth, especially when Lyon have conceded only eight times in their last 15 European home games. Both managers head into this one looking for answers—Lyon banking on Cherki to unlock a stubborn Ludogorets defense, while the visitors hope to steal something on the counter or from dead-ball situations.
The stage is set for a gritty, high-stakes match where creativity and discipline might matter even more than raw talent—and where every absence feels that much bigger under the European floodlights.
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