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Lyon
Europa League | Group Stage
Nov 28, 2013 at 6pm UK
 
Real Betis logo

1-0

Gomis (66')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Lyon 1-0 Real Betis - as it happened

Live text coverage of the crucial Europa League game between Lyon and Real Betis.
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Lyon hosted Real Betis on Thursday night with both sides still eyeing top spot in Group I.

Neither team were at their best in the first half as both goalkeepers enjoyed a quiet 45 minutes.

However, Lyon scored the crucial in the 66th minute when Bafetimbi Gomis converted from close range.

Read below to find out how Lyon moved to the top of the group.


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Hello everyone. We're in the business end in the Europa League group stage now. A lot of questions will be answered in Group I tonight. If Real Betis beat Lyon, they'll secure top spot but if the hosts pick up three points it will be they who move top with one game remaining.

These two sides met on matchday one and the game ended goalless on that occasion. Despite top spot being on offer tonight, Betis might think that would be a good result again.

Lyon have been a regular in the Champions League over the past few years but they're a different club now. However, the supporters will accept nothing less than a place in the knockout stages.

LYON: Vercoutre, Bedimo, Bisevac, Fofana, Miguel Lopes, Umtiti, Grenier, Malbranque, Gonalons, Lacazette, Briand

SUBSTITUTES: Gorgelin, Kone, Gourcuff, Ferri, Tolisso, Gomis, Plea


BETIS: Andersen, Paulao, Juanfran, Jordi, Nono, Verdu, Sevilla, Reyes, Cedric, Nacho, Chuli

SUBSTITUTES: Sara, Didac, Steinhofer, Caro, Xavi Torres, Sergio, Pepelu


Neither of these teams have lost in Group I yet. Betis are top on eight points, with Lyon two points further behind.

Lyon can also book their place in the next round tonight. If they win and Guimaraes lose to Rijeka, their passage to the knockout stages will be clear.

Lyon supporters will take some confidence from the fact that Betis have never won a game in France. Drawing once and losing twice on their three visits to the country.

PREDICTION: There's just over 10 minutes until kick off, so it's time to guess what the score might be this evening. Both teams have it all to play for and I think that could result in a 2-2 draw.

Betis are on the brink of reaching the knockout stages but they are currently bottom of La Liga. It's astonishing how teams can perform so differently in this competition.

Both teams are lined up in the tunnel now preparing for the game to get underway. It's a big night at the Stade der Gerland but you can follow any game in the Europa League by clicking on that match in the box on the right of the page.

Just the handshakes left before the referee can start this match. The ground is nowhere near full this evening but there's still plenty of noise coming from the home supporters.

It's the English referee Andre Marriner in charge this evening. Lyon will get the game underway.

The game starts at a quick pace, with neither side looking too relaxed in possession yet.

The ball is worked to Bedimo on the left and he earns some space before whipping a cross into the box. However, no Lyon player made the decision to get into the area.

Betis are beginning to see more of the ball now but they're struggling to find their attacking players in advanced areas of the pitch. Good pressing from Lyon.

Vercoutre, who recently returned from a knee injury, shows how alert he is when he sprints off the line to collect a long ball from Nono.

Lyon win the first corner of the game but Grenier's poor delivery is easily cleared by the visitors. Betis are looking very nervous early on.

Betis have only been able to get the ball forward in the air so far, which is not causing too many problems for Lyon.

SAVE! Sevilla is offered too much space 25 yards from goal and he forces a fine save from Vercoutre with a powerful effort.

Bedimo is causing problems on the left when he gets forward and Cedri looks far from comfortable running back towards his own goal. Lyon will continue to target that area.

Grenier is the key man for the hosts tonight. The midfielder strikes a couple of lovely passes to the right wing but his chipped ball to Lacazette is too firm for the forward.

Lyon are applying more pressure now as Betis begin to drop deeper. Briand crusies past a couple of defenders before winning a corner, which is headed at goal by Bisevac. Easy stop for Andersen.

Briand and Lacazette aren't linking well enough yet as Lyon continue to struggle to create a clear opportunity. The home side need to be braver when sending players forward.

Lyon need to look after the ball better. They've been the better side so far but they're wasting good chances in the final third of the pitch.

Betis are still sticking with the direct approach as they look to find a breakthrough in the first half. Lyon have looked solid at the back so far.

Great skill shown by Cedric on the edge of the box but his passage into the area is blocked by Bisevac, who clears the danger well.

Lyon are asking the questions now as Lopes whips a ball into the box to force Juanfran into a good header. Fofana keeps the pressure on but his effort is superbly blocked by Paulao.

Almost an opening for Lyon. Briand delivers a pass to Lacazette, who flicks the ball past a defender and into Malbranque's path. Andersen reacts well to come off his line and collect.

Bedimo attacks on the left again to win a corner for his team. Grenier has two efforts from the corner flag but neither trouble the Betis defence.

You can't fault the support from the home supporters, despite the lack of attacks they've seen from their team in the first half.

Betis are barely carrying an attacking threat but they've certainly improved in the last 10 minutes. In truth, the passing from both sides has been very poor.

SHOT! Malbranque clips the ball towards the back post, where Lacazette fires a wild volley well wide of the target.

SHOT! Lacazette picks up the ball on the right again. He takes a couple of touches on this occasion before drilling shot wide.

Lyon are forcing the issue now but they continue to make the wrong decisions in the final third. Lacazette wastes time on the ball and is dispossessed inside the box. Gonalons then fires the ball over the crossbar from long range.

Lopes is left furious on the right when Reyes pulls him back but a free kick is not given. Betis attempt to take advantage on the counter attack but Chuli stumbles at a crucial moment.

Lyon look much more dangerous when they attack in numbers. Grenier is offered a lot of space on the edge of the box but his effort is well blocked by Paulao, who has had a very good first half.

I don't think it will take the supporters of both teams too long to forget this first half. It's certainly not been a classic and the passing is still very poor.

CHANCE! Lyon are agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Lacazette collects the ball in the six yard box. Andersen rushes out to make a good save before Briand is denied an easy finish by Paulao's clearance.

Worrying signs for Lyon as Briand walks off the pitch holding his hamstring. The home team are down to 10 men for now, but it looks like Bafetimbi Gomis will come on.

SUBSTITUTION: Gomis comes on for the hosts. It could be a blessing in disguise as the striker will definitely hold up the ball to bring his teammates into play. One minute of time will be played.

Paulao nearly ruins an impressive first half display with a sloppy back pass but Andersen reacts well to clear the danger.

HALF-TIME: LYON 0-0 BETIS

It's also goalless in Group I's other game between Guimaraes and Rijeka, so nothing has changed yet this evening.

There's not been too much action to report in this game but Lacazette did have that great chance just before the break to give his team the lead. Will they regret that miss?

You can keep up with all the action from across Europe by checking the box on the right of the page.

Betis seem to be playing for the draw, which could come back to haunt them if they continue to play so deep. Lyon need to find that extra bit of quality in the final third.

The players are now returning to the field for the second half. Can either of these teams find a breakthrough? Betis will get the game back underway.

A poor pass from Bisevac nearly causes a problem for his team but Cedric goes down too easily on the right and Lyon clear.

SAVE! A cross from Lopes somehow sneaks past a couple of Betis defenders but Lacazette can't get a shot away as Andersen rushes out to smother the ball.

Betis are moving the ball slightly better but they're reluctant to commit too many players forward. Sevilla's cross is headed away by Fofana but no visiting player is close enough to keep the pressure on.

YELLOW CARD! Sevilla is the first player booked tonight as Andre Marriner punishes the midfielder for a kick on Malbranque.

SHOT! Bedimo slides a pass through to Gomis, who ignores Lacazette in the middle to fire an effort wide from a tight angle.

CHANCE! Much better move from Lyon as they string a few passes together to find Lacazette but his effort from the middle of the box is blocked by Juanfran.

Lyon are in control of this game but they need to take advantage of their superiority soon or the frustration will grow inside the ground.

Betis are playing a very dangerous game. They are making a lot of tackles on the edge of their own box, which is impressive, but they aren't rushing out when they do win the ball back.

SUBSTITUTION: Garde sends on Yoann Gourcuff to replace a clearly frustrated Grenier.

WOODWORK! What a chance for the visitors. Umtiti plays an awful pass across his own box to Chuli, who takes the ball around Vercoutre before hitting the post. It should have been an easy finish for the forward. Big opportunity wasted.

Gourcuff's stock may have fallen in recent years but he does have that extra bit of quality in his game when in the attacking third. Lyon must get the ball to him.

SUBSTITUTION: Cedric hasn't had the best of games and he's replaced by Markus Steinhofer.

SAVE! Fofana picks out a nice pass to Lacazette, who continues to be frustrated by Andersen as the Betis goalkeeper makes another save to deny the forward from a tight angle.

GOAL! LYON 1-0 BETIS (GOMIS)

Stunning goal from Lyon! Gourcuff displays his quality by exchanging passes with Lacazette on the edge of box before keeping his calm to give Gomis an easy finish from close range. The home side break the deadlock with a great piece of football.

How do Betis respond to the goal? They've been sent here to defend and I'm not sure if a side struggling for confidence in their domestic league will fancy their chances of fighting back.

Pepe Mel is moving nervously on the sidelines. He might be feeling the pressure if his side fail to win tonight. Lyon are defending with ease at the moment.

SHOT! Gomis uses his strength well to hold off a couple of challenges but his effort from the edge of the box is too weak to worry Andersen.

Gourcuff's introduction has certainly made a difference. He's injected some pace into the game with his clever passes, while Gomis and Lacazette have come alive in the last few minutes.

YELLOW CARDS! Nacho slides in late on Gourcuff to receive a caution and Nono joins him in the book after kicking the ball away in frustration.

SUBSTITUTION: Pepelu is on for Betis to replace Sevilla for the final 15 minutes.

It's difficult to see a way back into this game for Betis, despite the deficit only being one goal. Chuli's miss looks like it will be very important.

SHOT! Steinhofer's through ball is blocked but when he gets a second chance his shot goes high over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Umtiti's night is over as Bakary Kone is given 10 minutes by Garde. Betis make a change too, with Xavi Torres replacing Nono.

Gomis is struggling out there following a tough challenge from Pepelu. Lyon have dropped slightly deeper now as they look to hit their opponents on the break.

It's gone quiet in the closing stages, which is a good sign for Lyon. The hosts have not been at their best this evening but it looks like they'll secure a crucial win.

YELLOW CARD! Lyon are looking very relaxed in possession. The frustration for Betis is obvious when Steinhofer is booked for a late challenge on Lopes.

SHOT! Betis have a couple of efforts blocked, with hopeful appeals for hand ball being quickly dismissed by Andre Marriner. Steinhofer then goes close when his deflected effort drifts just wide of the top corner.

Lyon clear a corner as Betis attempt to pile on the pressure. Gomis is really struggling with an apparent back injury but Garde has used up all of his substitutions.

Lyon are being asked a few more questions now but they just need to survive four minutes of added time.

Lacazette does well to win a corner for his side but Lyon lose possession to invite some pressure from Betis. Can the visitors create one more chance?

SAVE! Vercoutre notices the cameras and decides to make a simple tip over the crossbar very dramatic when Chuli heads towards goal.

FULL-TIME: LYON 1-0 BETIS

Lyon survive a late penalty appeal to collect all three points from this game. It's not been a classic but the hosts have done just enough to move to the top of the group. However, a draw in the other game in Group I means both of these sides qualify for the knockout stages.

Thanks for joining me this evening. I hope you've enjoyed the coverage. Goodnight.

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Real Betis coach Pepe Mel observes from the bench against Espanyol on September 1, 2013
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