Anderlecht vs Lyon Prediction 16 September 2026
🔊 Anderlecht are back in European football for the first time since February 2025, having come through six qualifying matches to get there. Lyon took a different route: they dropped into the Europa League from Champions League qualifying, and a year ago they won the league phase of this competition. In Belgium, the hosts currently sit seventh, though they did beat Mechelen 1-0 on Friday.
🔁 We will update this prediction as new information about the teams becomes available. Check back just before kick-off so you don't miss any important changes.
Head-to-Head
📊 The two clubs last met 17 years ago: Anderlecht lost to Lyon in the Champions League qualifying play-offs over two legs (2-8 on aggregate). They have met four times in total, with the French side winning three of them. Anderlecht's only victory came at home, in the 2003 Champions League group stage.
Head-to-head statistics Anderlecht - Lyon
RSC Anderlecht Team Overview
Anderlecht are Belgium's most decorated club, but last season they had no European football. In the summer, Vitor Bruno took charge - the Portuguese coach had worked as an assistant to Sérgio Conceição before taking over Porto in 2024. They had to start from qualifying, and the Belgians came through all three rounds - against Hammarby, PAOK and Kairat - winning five and drawing one of their six matches. Reaching the league phase earned the club around ten million euros, roughly twice what the Conference League would have brought.
The domestic picture is different. After six rounds, Anderlecht have ten points and sit seventh, and at the end of August they lost 3-0 to Union. Since then they have gone three matches without defeat, and they picked up their first away win of the season in Mechelen. The decisive goal there was scored by Taoufik Bentaïeb, before half-time. In qualifying, Danilo Sikan was the key figure: five goals in six Europa League matches.
Match Results: RSC Anderlecht
Olympique Lyon Team Overview
Lyon finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season, one point behind Lille. In August, Paulo Fonseca's side beat Sparta, but in the Champions League qualifying play-offs they lost at home to Fenerbahçe and missed out on the main tournament. Their Ligue 1 start has been steady - wins over Toulouse and Auxerre, draws with Le Havre and Paris FC, eight points from a possible 12.
Fonseca's attack clicked straight away: six goals in the first three rounds, though in the last round in Paris, Lyon failed to score for the first time. Loïs Openda was added up front in the summer, and the Belgian has already scored twice and now returns to play in his home country. The defence has held up so far - Lyon have conceded just twice in four Ligue 1 rounds.
Match Results: Olympique Lyon
Latest news
RSC Anderlecht
❌ The hosts have a notable injury list, and it is entirely defensive. Lucas Hay is out with a broken leg, while Killian Sardella and Elias Cobbaut have both been sidelined for some time. Julian Bianconé picked up an injury in the Mechelen match, and there are also doubts over Lucas Ambrose. If the centre-back does not recover in time for Wednesday, Andrew Omobamidele is likely to partner Leo Petro - Bruno does not have many other options in central defence.
Olympique Lyon
❓ The visitors have no confirmed absentees. The only doubt is Julien Duranville, who joined from Dortmund and has already picked up an injury. On the transfer front, after the main window closed the club completed the signing of Keito Nakamura from Reims. Tanner Tessmann could feature in midfield on Wednesday.
🔁 Update, 16 September, 12:45 UTC:
- Paulo Fonseca confirmed that he plans to give more playing time in the Europa League match to players who have seen limited action at the start of the season. The Lyon head coach cited the busy schedule and the upcoming Saturday league match against Rennes as reasons. The players who have featured most in Lyon's opening matches this season are Tyler Morton (968 minutes), Corentin Tolisso (829) and Abner Vinicius (811).
Predicted Lineups
📋 Predicted Anderlecht starting XI: Coosemans - Maamar, Biancone, Petrot, Augustinsson - Kana, Koutsoupias, Winkler, Antman - Bentayeb, Sikan.
📋 Predicted Lyon starting XI: Greif - Athekame, Bacher, Niakhaté, Abner Vinicius - Tolisso, Morton, Bidstrup - Nuamah, Sulc - Openda.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
Anderlecht have scored in 12 of their last 13 home matches. Lyon have yet to concede away from home in Ligue 1, but their opponents there were Toulouse and Paris FC. Meanwhile, Anderlecht won all three of their home qualification matches while scoring three goals in each. The pick is Anderlecht to Score at 1.35*.
🚩 Corners Prediction
Over their last ten matches, Anderlecht have averaged 9.7 corners per game, while Lyon's matches have averaged 12.3. Anderlecht earn 5.9 corners per match themselves, with Lyon averaging 7.1. Opponents concede fewer corners against each side - 3.8 against Anderlecht and 5.2 against Lyon. But combining the home and away corners figures for this fixture points to around 11 corners. The bet is Total Corners - Over 9.5.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
The referee is Spaniard Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea - one of the most lenient officials on the continent. Across 10 matches he averages just 3.2 yellow cards, and across 100 matches 3.9. Looking at Anderlecht's last 10 matches, referees have shown an average of 4.2 yellow cards per game; for Lyon's last 10 it is 3.5. Anderlecht themselves pick up 2.5 bookings per match, while Lyon's opponents receive 2.4, and combining those figures with the corresponding returns gives close to four yellows per game. The bet is Total Yellow Cards - Over 3.5.
*Odds are indicative and may vary across different bookmakers
⭐️ Editorial Prediction
Anderlecht have had fewer than four goals in seven consecutive matches. Lyon's run on the road is even longer - nine matches. Lyon are probably the only side capable of pushing the score up, but they haven't scored more than two goals away from home in 12 matches in a row. We're expecting a cautious game with few clear chances. The bet is Total Goals - Under 3.5. Predicted score: 1-1.
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Betting Tips: RSC Anderlecht - Olympique Lyon
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