Steeve Kango could start as Ainsley Maitland-Niles misses Celta Vigo – Lyon
Ainsley Maitland-Niles will not travel for Lyon’s trip to face Celta Vigo on Thursday night, sidelined for a couple of weeks. The absence opens a spot at right-back that could hand Steeve Kango a first professional appearance, while Endrick is still expected to lead the attack alongside Roman Yaremchuk in the predicted XI.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Lyon’s immediate right-back problem
Maitland-Niles will miss the match with an injury that keeps him out for a couple of weeks. Hans Hateboer is also not included in Lyon’s Europa League squad, leaving the club with limited options at right-back. That shortage forces a choice: reshuffle the formation or promote a less-experienced player into the starting eleven.
Paulo Fonseca’s likely changes with Steeve Kango
Paulo Fonseca may hand a professional debut to Steeve Kango at right-back. There is the alternative of moving Tanner Tessmann into a deeper role to allow Clinton Mata to push out wide, but the available personnel make a Kango start the more probable route. Clinton Mata remains in the mix for an outside role if the coach opts for a tactical rejig instead of a straight replacement.
Endrick, Roman Yaremchuk and Lyon’s predicted XI for Celta Vigo – Lyon
Despite middling form in recent weeks, Endrick is expected to lead the line for Lyon with Roman Yaremchuk alongside him. Several young players remain sidelined and unavailable for selection: Pavel Sulc, Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah, Ruben Kluivert and Afonso Moreira are all named as out of contention. That list further narrows Fonseca’s options for rotation in attack and on the wings.
The projected starting lineup reads: Dominik Greif; Nicolas Tagliafico, Moussa Niakhaté, Clinton Mata, Steeve Kango; Abner, Tyler Morton, Noah Nartey; Corentin Tolisso; Endrick, Roman Yaremchuk. This configuration keeps a back four intact while introducing Kango at right-back and leaving Tolisso to anchor midfield.
For Lyon, the match against Celta Vigo on Thursday night will answer which path Fonseca chooses: a structural tweak that relies on existing, more experienced players shifted out of position, or a baptism of fire for Steeve Kango in a European knockout tie. The selection decision will be resolved when Lyon take the field on Thursday night, and the chosen right-back will face the immediate task of managing the flank without Maitland-Niles.
