Lyon – Laval: don’t get suckered in 
The French Cup loves an upset. Still, when Laval walks into the Groupama Stadium, the pecking order looks stubbornly clear. Lyon arrive buzzing, confident and deep. Laval arrive tired, scraping for air in the league. Now they have to turn that scoreboard logic into reality on the pitch.
Lyon: a machine that won’t slow down 
Back in early December Lyon slipped at Lorient and nobody expected what came next. Since then they’ve jumped up a level. Ten wins in a row across all competitions. Results that look effortless because the team actually controls games.
What stands out is how they win. They can rip a match open when space appears. They can grind out a game when things go quiet, lock it down and pick their moment. More mature, more disciplined, and frustrating to crack.
Paulo Fonseca has found a tempo and balance. Matches now feel inevitable in the best way. At home the Groupama has turned into a place of authority. Thirteen wins from fifteen this season, and they push the pace from minute one.
The French Cup also smells of revenge. Knocked out early last season, and a finalist in 2024, Lyon clearly want further. A quarter-final looks like the natural step for a side rolling like this.
Laval: running on hope 
This trip feels like a stretch for Laval. The Cup has given them brief breaths this season, but the daily grind is heavy. In Ligue 2 the Tango are sliding, unable to stop a run of poor form that started in autumn.
Their Cup run deserves credit though. Three rounds, three wins, no goals conceded. Pauloise, Guingamp, Istres: Laval did the job, took it seriously and didn’t overcommit. But Lyon are on a different level.
The lack of attacking confidence is glaring. Three league games without a goal, defeats stacking up, the gap to danger shrinking by the week. At this stage the Cup almost feels like an odd little dream — everything feels possible because nobody expects much.
History doesn’t help. Laval haven’t faced Lyon in decades and a quarter-final looks like ancient history. Still, the Cup’s magic is simple: hope when reason says don’t.
Likely lineups
Lyon :
Descamps; Maitland-Niles, Kluivert, Niakhate, Hateboer; Morton, Tessmann, Merah; Karabec, Himbert, Moreira
Laval :
Samassa; Maddy, Ouaneh, Tavares, Bianda, Samb; Mbayo, Sanna, Mandouki, Sellouki; Camara
Football Prediction Lyon vs Laval
Lyon to win by two goals or more
The momentum gap is too wide to ignore. Lyon come with confidence, squad depth and collective control. Laval barely threaten going forward and could be on the back foot for long spells.
If Lyon set the tempo early the scoreboard can open fast. A clean, convincing win — no dramatic comeback script — is the likeliest outcome here.
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