Lyon v Everton background

Lyon will build an unbreachable gap between themselves and Everton in the UEFA Europa League Group E standings should they post a second victory in a fortnight over their struggling English visitors.

Previous meetings 
• The teams met for the first time at Goodison Park on matchday three, Bertrand Traoré's close-range effort on 75 minutes giving Lyon a 2-1 victory after Ashley Williams's header had equalised Nabil Fekir's early penalty.

• Those were the first goals Everton had conceded against French opposition, the Blues having previously drawn 0-0 away and won 3-0 at home against LOSC Lille in the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League group stage.

• Lyon's record in 17 games against English sides stands at W4 D7 L6. Of their eight home matches, six have ended in draws, their only win having come 50 years ago this month when they beat Tottenham 1-0 in the second round of the European Cup Winners' Cup (and went on to win the tie on away goals).

• The only defeat suffered by Lyon at home to an English club was against Arsenal in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League group stage, when Frenchman Thierry Henry scored the only goal of the game.

Form guide 
• Lyon have not lost any of their last six home matches in Europe, winning four of them. They were held 1-1 by Atalanta in the Stade de Lyon on matchday two but remain undefeated at home in the UEFA Europa League group stage (W5 D2).

• Everton are without a victory in four European games (D2 L2) and have just one point from their opening three UEFA Europa League group matches – the lowest number registered by an English club at this stage of the competition.

• Lyon were semi-finalists last season, when they lost to Ajax having transferred from the UEFA Champions League group stage. They won all four of their home fixtures in the knockout phase.

• Seventh in the 2016/17 Premier League, Everton have advanced through all three of their previous UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League group stage campaigns, most recently in 2014/15.

Trivia and links 
• The journey from Liverpool to Lyon is around 1,000km.

• Lyon's Rafael and Memphis Depay played alongside Everton's Wayne Rooney and Morgan Schneiderlin at Manchester United.

• Several Lyon players have represented English clubs: Depay (Manchester United 2015–17), Rafael (Manchester United 2008–15), Bertrand Traoré (Chelsea 2014–17) and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Newcastle 2013–14).

• A number of Everton players have French league experience: Schneiderlin (Strasbourg 2006–08), Kevin Mirallas (LOSC Lille 2004–08, St-Étienne 2008–10), Idrissa Gueye (LOSC Lille 2010–15) and Maarten Stekelenburg (Monaco 2014–15).

• The Stade de Lyon is the venue for this season's UEFA Europa League final on 16 May 2018.

The coaches 
• Born in Lyon, Bruno Génésio came through the club's ranks as a midfielder, playing for the senior side from 1985–95. He returned to the club as assistant coach in 2011 before taking sole command in December 2015.

• Everton are seeking a new manager following the departure of Ronald Koeman on 23 October. Former Everton defender David Unsworth is in charge on a temporary basis.