The UEFA Europa League 2025/26 league phase comes to a thrilling close as Olympique Lyonnais host PAOK Thessaloniki at Groupama Stadium on Thursday, 29 January 2026. With Lyon leading the group and PAOK fighting to climb the standings, this match promises high stakes and tactical intrigue.
Lyon vs PAOK: Match Snapshot
| Fixture | Lyon vs PAOK |
|---|---|
| Competition | UEFA Europa League 2025/26 – League Phase |
| Date & Time | Thursday, 29 January 2026 |
| Venue | Groupama Stadium, Lyon |
| Kick-Off (Local) | 20:00 CET |
| Lyon Position | 1st in group (18 points) |
| PAOK Position | 12th in group (12 points) |
Current Form & Context
Lyon are riding a wave of momentum, winning eight straight matches across all competitions and maintaining a near-perfect record in the Europa League league stage with six wins from seven games. Their defence has been solid, conceding only a handful of goals in the group.
PAOK, under Razvan Lucescu, arrive unbeaten in multiple games and boosted by a recent 2-0 win over Real Betis that kept their European hopes alive. They’ve also put together impressive clean sheets and shown they can score on the road.
Despite competitive form from both sides, Lyon’s European pedigree and solid home performances make them favourites. Historically, PAOK have struggled against French opposition, though they are capable of surprises.
Team News & Likely Lineups
Lyon – Key Notes:
- Missing key attackers like Endrick (ineligible) and several injured players.
- Academy product Rémi Himbert may lead the line, supported by Tolisso and Maitland-Niles.
Likely Lyon XI: Greif; Maitland-Niles, Kluivert, Mata, Tagliafico; Tessmann, Morton; Moreira, Tolisso, Karabec; Šulc.
PAOK – Key Notes:
- Injury concerns remain for Luka Ivanušec and others.
- Creative threats include Zivkovic and Giakoumakis, key to their attacking threat.
Likely PAOK XI: Tsiftsis; Kenny, Kedziora, Michailidis, Rahman; Ozdoyev, Meité; Zivkovic, Pelkas, Konstantelias; Giakoumakis.
Prediction
Lyon’s consistent form and home strength make them slight favourites to maintain their unbeaten league phase run. PAOK’s attack will be dangerous, but Lyon’s discipline and quality in key moments could decide the game.
Prediction: Lyon 2–1 PAOK
Want deeper analysis on the rest of the Europa League fixtures, goal trends and top performers? Check out our tactical breakdowns on technosports.co.in to stay on top of European football insights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many points do Lyon have going into this match?
Lyon are leading their Europa League group with 18 points from seven matches.
