Plzeň's Czech test leaves Lyon feeling leggy
Lyon travel to Viktoria Plzeň with a squad running on fumes and a striker in form — what could possibly go wrong?
Lyon's Champions League campaign reaches Czechia next Tuesday, and the question hanging over the squad is not whether they can play but whether they can run. Franck Ekwalla has five goals in his last four matches and is, by his own body's admission, tired; behind him Ştefan Gârlonța, Alan Martino and Jordan Raynaud are all short of freshness. Ahmet Bozkurt is out with a twisted ankle, and the ankle has since acquired a sports hernia and pulled knee ligaments, which is one way to make a point.
Plzeň will fancy their chances against a midfield held together by José Franco, whose recent form (7.94 average) suggests he may be carrying the whole thing. The last three meetings all went Lyon's way, but none of them were played by this tired group. Expect Javi on the right to test Plzeň's left side; expect Lyon to need every one of those ratings.