Coupe de France Semifinal: Lyon vs Valenciennes Odds

Second Tier Valenciennes Looking to Play Spoiler

Lyon have qualified for four of the last five Coupe de France Semifinals but they haven’t won the title since 2012. They have a chance to make the final for the first time since then when they take on second tier side Valenciennes on Tuesday. Valenciennes, who have had a rough season otherwise, are in the Coupe de France Semis for the first time in 54 years. This is a big occasion for them and their fans but Lyon will host Tuesday’s match. Ahead of the action, we’ll check out the Lyon vs Valenciennes odds.

Lyon vs Valenciennes Head-to-Head

This is the first opportunity to bet on the Lyon vs Valenciennes odds since April 2014. Since then, Valenciennes have played in Ligue 2. Heading into this match, Lyon are on a five game unbeaten streak vs. Valenciennes and OL won the last meeting, 2-1. Valenciennes haven’t won any of their last 13 matches on the road at Lyon. OL last fell to Valenciennes at home in 1977. In two previous Coupe de France fixtures, Lyon are 2-0 vs. Valenciennes.

Lyon Have Turned Season Around

Lyon started the season with just one win from their first 14 games. The team that dominated France’s top flight in the 2000s was suddenly in the relegation zone. Ever since a 3-0 win over Toulouse last December, Lyon have completely turned their season around. In their last 17 games, they’ve suffered just three losses and they’ve gone from last place to tenth in Ligue 1. Over the weekend, Lyon drew 1-1 vs. Reims.

OL’s Coupe de France run has coincided with their good run of form and they’ve knocked out some solid teams in the last couple of rounds. After a scoreless draw in the Quarter-Final vs. Strasbourg, OL won 4-3 in penalties. Lyon also defeated a strong Lille team 2-1 in the Round of 16. At the moment, the Coupe de France Final odds list Lyon at a +350 price to win the title. While scoring was an issue for Lyon in the first part of the 2023-24 campaign, they’ve scored in 15 of their last 17 games, in all competitions.

Still, they’ve relied heavily on Alexandre Lacazette for offensive output. Lacazette is the only Lyon player with five or more goals in all matches. He’s scored 14 of the 38 goals Lyon have scored this season. Exciting young forward Gift Orban was brought in to help shoulder the load but he’s scored only once since joining from Gent in January. Lyon should have their opportunities vs. Valenciennes, though.

Valenciennes Destined for Relegation

Barring a miracle, Valenciennes will be relegated from Ligue 2 to the third tier Championnat National. Valenciennes haven’t scored in any of their last four games and fell 2-0 to Saint-Etienne on Saturday. In Ligue 2, they’ve won just two of their first 30 matches with just 17 goals. However, they have done quite well in the Coupe de France, albeit with a more favorable schedule than Lyon.

They’ve played six Coupe de France games this campaign and have advanced in penalties on two occasions, including the Quarter-Final. There, Valenciennes drew 1-1 with third tier club FC Rouen and managed a 4-2 shootout victory. They haven’t yet played a Ligue 1 club in this season’s Coupe de France and are coming up against an in-form Lyon side on Tuesday.

No Valenciennes player has reached the five goal mark this season and goals, or the lack of, have been their downfall this season. Still, they have managed to score twice in four of their six Coupe de France matches this season. Fans of the Premier League may recognize Anthony Knockaert’s name. The former Leicester and Brighton joined Valenciennes this Summer but isn’t a regular starter. Bettors should watch for forward Anthony Jung, who has scored four goals and provided two assists this season.

Lyon vs Valenciennes Match Analysis & Odds

If Valenciennes are able to pull this one off, it’d be considered a major upset. The Lyon vs Valenciennes odds currently list hosts OL as -500 moneyline favorites. Lyon are in good form and the Coupe de France is an excellent opportunity for them to qualify for European competition. Since Pierre Sage took over as coach in late November, Lyon are 12-2-5. Bettors should note that Valenciennes haven’t won any of their eight 90 minute matches.

Here, the Ligue 2 side are +1100 underdogs and bettors can consider Valenciennes +1.5, +2 at even odds. Meanwhile, Lyon -1.5, -2 sits at -130. Lyon have won just two games by more than a two goal margin this season but they’ll feel confident about getting the job done in front of their home fans here.

In case of a draw (+500) both teams have experience in PK shootouts this season. Under three goals are priced at -120 but it wouldn’t be shocking to see the over (-110) hit either. The winner of this match will take on either Rennes or PSG in the Coupe de France Final in late May.

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