-Ajax-vs-Lyon-Betting-Lines.jpg)
Relatively speaking, any season that doesn't end in a Dutch championship for Ajax is a grand disappointment. The Eredivisie only gets one guaranteed spot into the Champions League every year, and should Ajax finish short of Feyenoord Rotterdam and in front of PSV Eindhoven as looks like will be the case, that will be the fate that befalls it. Still, the Dutch giants have a potential parachute in the Europa League. Clearing this hurdle in the Europa semis against Lyon could setup an automatic spot in next year's UCL.
Don't miss the Europa League action from Amsterdam Arena at 12:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 3, 2017. Catch every moment of the match live on FOX Sports 2.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Ajax +133
Lyon +200
Draw +260
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
Dutch soccer is known for being a bit more open than what most leagues would offer, and it shouldn't be surprising that the total for this match is set at a flat 3 instead of the relatively standard 2.5.
Ajax is the betting favorite at +133, but this isn't convincing by any stretch of the imagination. Lyon, likely to finish a disappointing fourth in Ligue 1 this year with no other shot of playing Champions League soccer next season but to win this tournament, is the favorite to advance, but only by a relatively narrow margin. The importance of these two matches to Lyon though, cannot be understated, as this is where all of the eggs lie for next season.
How They Got Here
We've only had one penalty shootout in the Europa League this year, and the winner of said shootout is Lyon. After winning 2-1 at home and losing 2-1 away, the French side went into penalties and needed eight rounds in Istanbul to put away Besiktas. Prior to that, Lyon narrowly held on in the Round of 16 against AS Roma to win 5-4 on aggregate and crushed another Dutch side, AZ Alkmaar 11-2 over the two duels. Lyon dropped into the Europa League after finishing third in the group stage of the Champions League.
Ajax had its shot in the Champions League this year as well. Instead, the Dutch team was bounced by Rostov 5-2 in somewhat of an upset, and that dropped it into Group G. Ironically, Celta Vigo, another of the semifinalists, was also in that group and finished second to advance, but Ajax won the group with 14 points. All of the affairs Ajax has played in the knockout rounds have been tight. The team got the one goal it needed to beat out Legia Warsaw from Nick Viergever, and it needed to come from behind to oust Copenhagen in the Round of 16.
But it really was the great escape against Schalke 04 that sealed the deal in the semis. After winning the opening leg 2-0 at home, the team returned to Germany and was beaten 2-0 to send the match into extra time. With nine minutes remaining, the Dutch were down by a goal before scoring twice in that last span to reach the semis.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
It's been a fantastic run for Ajax, and playing inside of its quirky dome seems to be giving a lot of problems to a lot of really good teams. Keep an eye on Davy Klassen, who was the hero against Schalke in the first leg. He slotted home two that day, and he could be the man who cracks the scoring in this one as well.
But Lyon is no slouch. Even if it allows one early, the way these defenders come out of the back and aid in attack is out of this world. Christophe Jaillet and Mouctar Diakhaby could have their say before this is said and done with as well, and we wouldn't be shocked to see the French team pull out this upset.
Europa League Odds: Lyon 2, Ajax 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
