Olympique Lyonnais is set to host FC Basel for their inaugural clash at the Groupama Stadium in the Round 3 league phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League. This match, taking place on Thursday, October 23, is anticipated to be an exciting challenge for both teams.
Lyon has enjoyed a solid start to their Europa League campaign, marked by victories over FC Utrecht and RB Salzburg. The team will be looking to capitalize on the home advantage to maintain their winning momentum. However, they face a challenging fixture as they navigate a two-match losing streak in their domestic league.
In contrast, FC Basel has had a mixed start in the Europa League. After suffering a defeat to SC Freiburg in their opening match, they bounced back with a win against VfB Stuttgart. The Swiss club aims to sustain their positive trajectory in the competition, even as they contend with injuries to key players.
Kick-off for this significant encounter is scheduled for 10:15 p.m. IST, 04:45 p.m. GMT, 12:45 p.m. ET, and 09:45 p.m. PT. The match will be officiated by referee Manfredas Lukjančukas, with VAR technology in use.
Key players to watch include Lyon’s Pavel Sulc, who has showcased his offensive prowess by scoring a brace in a recent Ligue 1 match, and FC Basel’s Albian Ajeti, who will need to perform at his best to help his team secure vital points against Lyon.
Both teams will be looking to overcome their respective challenges. Lyon will be without the trio of Remy Deschamps, Orel Mangala, and Ernest Nuamah due to injuries, while Basel will miss Keigo Tsunemoto and Finn van Breeman.
With this being their first-ever meeting, fans can expect a fierce competition. The predicted outcome leans towards Lyon winning 2-1 against Basel, showcasing their determination on home turf.
For viewers, the match will be broadcast in various regions, including on SonyLIV and Sony Sports Network in India, TNT Sports in the UK, and Paramount+ in the United States.
As anticipation builds for this exciting encounter, it promises to be a landmark moment in the history of both clubs.