Lyon v Dinamo Zagreb: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Article summary
Coach Bruno Genesio is backing Lyon, who lost all three home games in last season's competition, to cope with several high-profile injury absentees as Dinamo Zagreb visit.
Article top media content
Article body
- Bruno Genesio confident Lyon can cope with injury crisis
- Lyon lost all three home games in last season's group stage, scoring only once
- Dinamo Zagreb looking to qualify from group stage at sixth attempt
- Both teams suffered league defeats at weekend
- Don't forget to pick your Fantasy Football team before deadline
Possible line-ups
Lyon: Lopes; Nkoulou, Yanga-Mbiwa, Morel; Rafael, Ferri, Gonalons, Darder, Rybus; Tolisso; Cornet.
Out: Kalulu (suspended), Lacazette (hamstring), Fekir (knee), Valbuena (groin), Grenier (fractured leg), Jallet (back)
Dinamo: Šemper; Stojanovič, Sigali, Schildenfeld, Pivarić; Machado, Jonas; Soudani, Ćorić, Fernandes; Henriquez.
Out: Antolić (knee), Mățel (groin)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Bruno Genesio, Lyon coach
Difficulties such as results and injuries are part of life at a club. Great players, coaches and clubs manage to overcome these difficulties. We've done it in the past, like when we won at Paris Saint-Germain in the league last season. We need to find the physical, mental and tactical resources in order to win our opening game in the competition.
I have wanted to utilise the qualities of the players at my disposal. It's a possibility we'll go with the 3-5-1-1 system I read about in the papers this morning. But it's not definitive. You'll find out tomorrow night. We need to be able to play different systems.
Zlatko Kranjčar, Dinamo coach
We know what we're up against and my team are ready. We know what happened five years ago [Lyon won 7-1 in Zagreb on matchday six] but it's not the same team. We know Lyon are strong. We're here to play. I think we'll play well, we believe in ourselves.
I wasn't coach five years ago. We're not out for revenge. I don't think it will be the same result. My team are very mobile. We're not playing in Zagreb, we're playing in Lyon and we don't have much to lose here. My team will be fine.
I don't think we have an advantage because Lyon lost their last league game. On the contrary, it will give them extra motivation to kick off the Champions League campaign in the best manner.
Weekend results
Lyon 1-3 Bordeaux (A Kalulu 2; Malcom 33, Sertic 71, Ménez 90)
Lyon sustained a second successive Ligue 1 defeat despite an early goal against Bordeaux. Captain Maxime Gonalons was sent off four minutes before Bordeaux went 2-1 up, as OL's 12-match unbeaten home run ended.
Dinamo 0-1 Osijek (Knežević 2)
Dinamo suffered their first home league loss since 31 July 2010, a sequence of 103 fixtures. The reverse also halted Dinamo's 23-game unbeaten streak; their previous Maksimir defeat had come against Bayern in the UEFA Champions League last December.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)*
Lyon: LWWDWL
Osijek: LLWW
*This season only
Reporter's view: David Crossan (@UEFAcomDavidC)
Genesio is set to employ an untested 3-5-1-1 formation – rather than his usual 4-3-3 – as he attempts to cope with an injury crisis. The absence of star striker Alexandre Lacazette will be most keenly felt. Confidence is low in the Lyon camp following Ligue 1 defeats by Dijon and Bordeaux, though this is still a talented young side and Corentin Tolisso offers real cause for optimism.
Did you know?
Dinamo forward Davor Lovren's brother played for Lyon from 2010–13 – what is his name? Read more in our extensive match background.
