Buoyed by the unexpected bonus of a shock opening victory, Lyon will look to cement their position as the early leaders of Group F when Shakhtar Donetsk come to France.
• Bruno Génésio’s side earned a surprise 2-1 victory at Manchester City on matchday one, while Shakhtar had to twice come from behind to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to debutants Hoffenheim. The Pitmen now face a first fixture against Lyon, who have never lost against Ukrainian opposition.
Form guide
Lyon
• Lyon are in the group stage for the third time in four seasons – their 2015/16 and 2016/17 campaigns both ended at that hurdle.
• In 2017/18, Lyon made it as far as the UEFA Europa League round of 16, but were denied the chance to appear in the final at their own ground as they lost to CSKA Moskva at that stage.
• The 3-2 defeat at home to CSKA ended Lyon’s three-game winning run in their own stadium in Europe, and was their first home reverse in ten European contests (W7 D2), since a 1-0 UEFA Champions League group loss to Juventus in October 2016.
• Les Gones have won both their previous home games against Ukrainian visitors 1-0, most recently against Chornomorets Odesa in the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League round of 32.
• The French club are unbeaten in their four games against Ukrainian clubs, home and away (W3 D1), scoring five goals without conceding.
• Lyon were UEFA Champions League semi-finalists in 2010 and are in the group stage for the 15th time – more than any other French club.
Shakhtar
• Shakhtar qualified as winners of the Ukrainian league, claiming the title for the 11th time in 2017/18, when they completed a domestic double for the second season in succession.
• Quarter-finalists in 2010/11, Shakhtar reached the last 16 of the 2017/18 UEFA Champions League, losing to Roma on away goals (2-1 home, 1-0 away).
• Shakhtar lost three of their four away games in last season’s competition, the exception a 2-1 success at Feyenoord on matchday three. They had won their previous five away games – all in the UEFA Europa League – before 2017/18.
• The Ukrainian side have got out of their group in three of their last five participations.
• Shakhtar’s last experience of French opposition was home (0-3) and away (0-2) defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage. The latter result ended a three-game run of victories in France, where Shakhtar’s record is W4 L3.
Links and trivia
• Marcelo and Júnior Moraes were Santos team-mates between 2007 and 2008.
• Rafael was in the Manchester United team that took four points off Shakhtar in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage, playing in both the 1-1 away draw and 1-0 home win.
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