Saint-Etienne vs Lyon Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
We have a fierce derby in France this weekend as Derby Rhone-Alpes between Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais features two sides desperate for a much-needed victory this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 20th April, 2025: UK – 7:45pm / US ET – 2:45pm / US PT – 11:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
Saint-Etienne Preview: ASSE need a win
In the winter break, Saint-Etienne appointed Eirik Horneland to replace Olivier Dall’Oglio and things have hardly improved as the Greens remain tucked inside the bottom two and the automatic relegation places in Ligue 1 ahead of this weekend’s round of fixtures.
They earned themselves a thrilling 3-3 draw with Stade Brest at Stade Geoffrey-Guichard in their most recent outing last weekend as they came from 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 down thanks to a strike from Irvin Cardona as well as a brace scored by Irvin Cardona.
Lyon Preview: Lyon’s heartache
In midweek, Olympique Lyonnais went 2-0 down and 4-2 down on aggregate in the first-half of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final second-leg away to Manchester United before fighting back to make it 2-2 on the night before having a man sent off before going into extra-time.
Despite being down to ten men in extra-time, Lyon managed to punish United and end up going 4-2 up at Old Trafford but Paulo Fonseca’s side then suffered one of the most remarkable comebacks with Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire scoring late on for United.
Saint-Etienne Team News: Macon suspended
Ahead of the derby and the visit of Lyon this weekend, Saint-Etienne are without Yvann Macon as he is missing through suspension for this one. Augustine Boakye is also unavailable due to injury, whilst Pierre Cornud is a doubt for the hosts.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Larsonneur; Appiah, Bernauer, Nade, Petrot; Bouchouari, Ekwah, Moueffek; Cardona, Stassin, Davitashvili
Unavailable: Macon (Suspended), Boakye (Injured)
Questionable: Cornud (Injured)
Lyon Team News: Still no Nuamah
Belgium international attacker Malick Fofana has returned from a knee injury for Lyon this weekend so he will be able to be involved for this one but his fellow attacker, Ghana international Ernest Nuamah, is still dealing with a knee injury of his own.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Perri; Kumbedi, Caleta-Car, Niakhate, Abner; Tolisso, Matic; Cherki, Almada, Mikautadze; Lacazette
Unavailable: Nuamah (Injured)
Questionable:
Saint-Etienne vs Lyon Prediction
In their battle against the drop, Saint-Etienne showed some real fight last weekend and the ability to hurt one of the more defensively sound side in France against Brest. They now face a Lyon side that will need to get their heads back in the game after the chaotic heartache of midweek as they still push for a top four finish and potential UEFA Champions League qualification in Ligue 1. In a game that means a lot when there is little riding on it, this should be a feisty and fun affair.
Saint-Etienne vs Lyon Tip: Over 2.5 goals