Clermont and Lyon will go head-to-head on Sunday the 9th of June in the second of this weekend’s Top 14 semi-finals.
The second of the 2018/19 Top 14 semi-finals should be an absolute cracker with Clermont taking on everyone’s favourite underdog, Lyon. Both sides enjoyed solid round-robin campaigns with Clermont finishing the regular season as runners-up and Lyon finishing in third-place.
Clermont v Lyon
Sunday 9 June
Stade Marcel-Michelin
To Win (80 Mins)
Clermont 3/10
Draw 25/1
Lyon 24/10
Clermont
The 2018/19 season saw Clermont back at their best with Franck Azema’s men bouncing back from a dismal 2017/18 season to claim the European Challenge Cup title and finish the regular Top 14 season in second-place.
Clermont managed to win 16 of their 26 regular season games while drawing three other games and losing on seven occasions. They scored the most points during the regular season finishing with 828 points and averaged 31.84 points per game. They were also the third best defensive team during the regular season as well, conceding 525 points at an average of 20.19 points per game.
The two regular season games between the sides rather contrasting affairs with Lyon winning 19-13 at home and Clermont winning 31-11 at home.
Lyon
The Wolves are once again enjoying a marvellous season and will be looking to cause yet another major upset this Sunday.
Lyon, like their opponents, enjoyed a solid regular season winning 17 of their regular season fixtures on their way to finishing five points adrift of Clermont on the standings.
Due to them finishing in third, they had to play a ‘Barrage’ (play-off) fixture against Montpellier last weekend. And while Lyon were run close by Montpellier, a late try from former Waikato Chief and All Black Charlie Ngati saw them edge the fixture 21-16.
Verdict: Clermont 3/10
I can see Lyon giving Clermont a real run here but I cannot see them winning the game. If you’re offered a plus handicap in the region of seven points I would recommend backing that Lyon on the plus.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
