West Ham can demolish Lyon by exposing key tactical problem
West Ham United welcome Lyon to the London Stadium on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.
The Irons edged past six-time competition winners Sevilla in the previous round while the French side were made to sweat by FC Porto.
David Moyes will have his sights almost fully set on the Hammes’ continental escapades this season with the prospects of lifting the trophy not at all a vague possibility.
If West Ham are to knock the Ligue 1 side out of Europe, they need to be at their best and keep their key players fit which might even mean they are rested in the Premier League.
Luckily for Moyes, Lyon have a glaring problem in their tactics that Porto were able to exploit in the round of 16 and if they can follow in their tracks, it could be game over very quickly.
Their biggest issue in the previous round of the Europa League was being caught on the counter-attack but Porto did not have the ability to properly punish them.
As can be seen above, Lyon tend to leave just the two central defenders back at any given time which can sometimes gain them an extra goal with so many in the attacking third but leaves them horribly exposed.
With the quality of Michail Antonio’s hold up play and the willing runners of Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma, it could become a bloodbath at the London Stadium if they are clinical.
It won’t be all plain sailing though as Lyon possess their own threats in star striker Moussa Dembele.
The French attacker is brilliant at bursting in behind the defence as seen here when he broke the offside trap against the Portuguese side.
Even under pressure from the defender, he was able to keep his cool and slot the ball home for what turned out to be a crucial goal in the context of the tie.
Whoever starts in defence will have to remain on their toes to prevent Lyon’s most prominent attacking threat.
In other West Ham news, a recent development at the French club is entirely unfair on the Hammers and it shouldn’t be allowed.
Be sure to follow West Ham Zone on Facebook for 24/7 updates on the Hammers plus more exclusive interviews with Frank McAvennie.