Anderlecht and Lyon face off in Europa League opener

RSC Anderlecht and Olympique Lyonnais face each other this Wednesday, September 16, at Lotto Park for the opening match of the Europa League league phase.

Anderlecht enters the match after successfully navigating three qualifying rounds. Under coach Vitor Bruno, the Belgian side faces squad challenges, including the absence of Giulian Biancone and Ilias Koutsoupias.

Lyon, managed by Paulo Fonseca, arrives following elimination from the Champions League play-offs against Fenerbahçe. Fonseca has announced a significant squad rotation to manage a busy schedule, making eight changes to the lineup used in their previous domestic match. Only Moussa Niakhaté, Tyler Morton, and Loïs Openda remain as starters.

Defenders Clinton Mata and Ruben Kluivert are expected to feature in the Lyon lineup, while Keito Nakamura and Kaïl Boudache are set for starts in attack. The match is scheduled for 21:00 local time and will be broadcast on CANAL+ FOOT.