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Why we like him
Niakhaté is as close to a guaranteed starter as you’ll get for Lyon, logging heavy minutes and showing up game after game, so expect him in the Starting XI for the trip to Sparta Prague in the UCL qualifier. (Five appearances in the last 5 game weeks, 15 appearances in the last 15 game weeks.) He brings real aerial and clearance heft. Lyon produced 15 clean sheets across 32 Ligue 1 matches and Niakhaté pairs that with strong aerial duel and clearance numbers, plus two assists and about 0.20 xA per 90, so he offers a high floor from steady minutes and a reasonable ceiling from set-piece returns. Sparta have looked brittle to start their domestic campaign, conceding roughly 3.0 goals per match, which makes a shutout less likely but also increases the chance Niakhaté gets attacking opportunities from corners and dead balls; treat him as a safe defensive start with upside rather than a matchup-dependent punt.