Europa League: an affordable but trashy draw for Lyon

OL will face the Steaua Bucharest in the round of 16 of the Europa League. An affordable, but trampling draw before a possible shock against Manchester United.

Olympique Lyonnais now knows its opponent for the round of 16 of the Europa League: the Steaua Bucharest, now called FCSB. A draw which seems at first glance accessible, but which hides several traps. The first leg will be played in Romania, an always perilous trip, before a return to Groupama Stadium, where the men of Paulo Fonseca will have to validate their ticket for the quarter -finals.

On paper, Lyon is favorite. The club finished in the top 8 of the regular phase, confirming its ambitions in this competition. But caution is in order, because the Steaua is not an opponent to underestimate. Although less present in recent years on the European scene, he remains a former winner of the Champion Clubs Cup in 1986 and has often caused problems for French clubs.

A precedent between Lyon and Bucharest

The two clubs have already faced themselves in the group phase of the 2006-2007 Champions League. At the time, Lyon had dominated his subject with a 3-0 victory outside and a 1-1 draw at home. A performance that the Gones would like to reissue, but which will have to go through a serious trip to Bucharest, where several French clubs have already tripped.

Moreover, AS Monaco (1993), Bastia (1997) and Paris (1997) were all dominated in Romanian land in the European Cup. OL is warned, it will be necessary to be serious to avoid a unpleasant surprise.

Manchester United online in sight?

If Lyon manages to get rid of the FCSB, an XXL shock could wait for it in the quarterfinals: Manchester United. The English club, a big favorite of the competition, faces Real Sociedad in its eighth finals. A possible confrontation with the Red Devils would offer a prestigious poster to Lyonnais, and a much more full -bodied challenge.

But before dreaming bigger, OL will have to focus on the Steaua Bucharest, a team always dangerous when underestimated. The first challenge of a long road to the final, this double confrontation will say a lot about Lyon ambitions in the Europa League.

The Europa League’s final program:

Bodo Glimt vs Olympiakos

Fenerbahçe vs Glasgow Rangers

Ajax vs Eintracht Frankfurt

Steaua Bucharest vs ol

Az Alkmaar vs Tottenham

Real Sociedad vs Manchester United

Viktoria Plzen vs lyon

Bilbao vs roma