Can Ruben Amorim’s men triumph once more at Old Trafford in the UEFA Europa League? Here’s our preview and prediction for Thursday’s quarter-final second leg between Manchester United and Lyon.
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Manchester United vs Lyon: Preview
Manchester United are gearing up for yet another high-stakes showdown at Old Trafford, this time hosting Lyon in the decisive second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
Much like their dramatic clash with Real Sociedad in the previous round, Ruben Amorim’s men will count on home advantage as they aim to book their spot in the semi-finals of the competition.
The first leg at the Groupama Stadium ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. Leny Yoro netted his first goal for United to cancel out Thiago Almada’s stunning free-kick. Joshua Zirkzee looked to have secured victory for Lyon with a late strike in the 88th minute, but Rayan Cherki salvaged a draw with a stoppage-time equaliser, setting the stage for a tantalising second-leg encounter.
André Onana came under scrutiny for his role in both of Lyon’s goals in the first leg, just days after his fiery exchange of words with former teammate Nemanja Matic. As a result, manager Ruben Amorim opted to bench the Cameroonian for Sunday’s heavy 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United, handing a start to Altay Bayindir.
However, Bayindir also endured a tough outing, notably misjudging Bruno Guimarães’ strike, and is expected to make way for Onana’s return between the sticks on Thursday. United will be banking on a more assured display from their No.1 as they look to preserve their 11-game unbeaten run in the Europa League this season (W6 D5). The Red Devils haven’t opened a European campaign with such an impressive undefeated streak since their journey to the UEFA Champions League final in 2010-11.
Up front, Rasmus Højlund remains a potent threat. The Danish striker has notched up 12 goal contributions (10 goals, 2 assists) in European competitions for United since the start of last season. Among Premier League players with 10 or more such contributions in that period, only Mohamed Salah (80 minutes) and Bukayo Saka (88 minutes) boast a better minutes-per-goal involvement ratio than Højlund (96 minutes).
Meanwhile, United will once again look to Bruno Fernandes for creative spark. The Portuguese playmaker, who provided the assist for Joshua Zirkzee’s late header in the first leg, has now registered 18 assists in the Europa League—tied with Dries Mertens for the most since the competition’s rebranding in 2009.
Lyon, however, are not short on attacking firepower themselves. Rayan Cherki has been a standout performer in the Europa League this season, racking up 11 goal contributions in as many appearances (3 goals, 8 assists). Not only is that the highest combined tally in the competition this term, but his eight assists also equal the record for the most in a single Europa League campaign, matching Diego’s mark from 2011-12.
Cherki continued his fine form at the weekend, finding the net alongside Alexandre Lacazette and Georges Mikautadze in a 3-1 win over Auxerre. That victory propelled Paulo Fonseca’s side to fourth place in Ligue 1 and reflected their impressive record on the road in Europe — Lyon are unbeaten in their last 12 away matches in the Europa League (W9 D3), a streak that stretches back to a 1-0 defeat against Atalanta in December 2017.
Yet, history does not favour the French side. Lyon have been eliminated on all nine previous occasions between 1964 and 2019 when drawing the first leg of a European knockout tie at home.
In terms of team news, Manchester United are facing a growing injury list. Joshua Zirkzee, who scored in the first leg, limped off during the Newcastle defeat with a suspected hamstring issue and is a major doubt. He joins Jonny Evans, Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, and Lisandro Martínez on the sidelines.
Lyon, meanwhile, are also dealing with key absences. Ernest Nuamah has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, while Malick Fofana has missed the last four games due to a lingering knee injury.
Manchester United vs Lyon: Head-to-Head
Manchester United do hold a perfect record against Lyon at Old Trafford in major European competition, having secured a 2-1 win in November 2004 and a narrow 1-0 victory in March 2008. However, with both meetings taking place over a decade ago, they’re unlikely to have much influence on Thursday’s outcome.
More recent history provides a mixed picture for the Red Devils. They’ve lost their last two home European fixtures against French opposition—both at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain (2-0 in February 2019 and 3-1 in December 2020). Prior to that, though, United were unbeaten in 14 consecutive European clashes with French clubs between 1965 and 2017, registering 10 wins and 4 draws during that run.
Lyon, for their part, will travel to Manchester with quiet confidence. The Ligue 1 outfit have suffered just one defeat in their last nine European meetings with English opponents (W4 D4), a 3-0 loss to West Ham in the 2021-22 Europa League. With their strong away form and Cherki pulling the strings, Fonseca’s side will believe they can spring a surprise at Old Trafford.
Manchester United vs Lyon: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Manchester United – Team News
Manchester United will be without striker Joshua Zirkzee for the remainder of the season after he limped off with a hamstring injury shortly after the break in the defeat to Newcastle. His absence is a major blow to Ruben Amorim’s attacking plans.
Jonny Evans has resumed training following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but Thursday’s clash comes too soon for the veteran defender to be considered. Meanwhile, United’s injury list remains lengthy, with Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martínez, and Toby Collyer all unavailable. Promising youngster Ayden Heaven has also suffered a setback in his recovery.
In a notable move, Amorim has opted to recall André Onana to the starting XI after dropping him for the Newcastle game. The decision comes despite Onana’s two costly errors in the first leg, which were made all the more controversial by his public spat with former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, now a Lyon player. The Cameroonian will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance as United look to seal their place in the semi-finals.
Manchester United – Predicted Lineup (3-4-3)
- Goalkeper – Onana
- Defenders – Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui
- Midfielders – Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu
- Forwards – Garnacho, Hojlund, Fernandes
Lyon – Team News
Paulo Fonseca made some tactical changes over the weekend, though Lyon’s attacking options have been limited due to the injuries to Ernest Nuamah and Malick Fofana. Despite this, the available players have been in excellent form.
Rayan Cherki will operate behind striker Georges Mikautadze, joined by Thiago Almada from Argentina. Alexandre Lacazette, who found the net in Lyon’s win over Auxerre, will also be an option in the final third.
Former United midfielder Nemanja Matic remained an unused substitute in the first leg but started in Ligue 1 action on Sunday. It’s expected he’ll return to a more limited role on the bench for the trip to Old Trafford.
Lyon can also rely on Ainsley Maitland-Niles, another former Arsenal player, for depth. While Malick Fofana is back in contention after missing the first leg, winger Ernest Nuamah is still sidelined due to injury.
Lyon – Predicted Lineup (4-3-1-2)
- Goalkeper – Perri
- Defenders – Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhaté, Tagliafico
- Midfielders – Akouokou, Veretout, Tolisso
- Forwards – Cherki, Almada, Mikautadze
Manchester United vs Lyon: Prediction
Manchester United will need to give everything they have in Thursday’s second leg at Old Trafford, in front of a passionate crowd, treating this match as a must-win given its immense significance to their season.
Lyon, on the other hand, will sense an opportunity to exploit United’s struggles and will be targeting their first-ever victory over the Red Devils. While they have the potential to cause an upset, United’s resilience in the Europa League should not be underestimated. The hosts are expected to find a way to come through, though extra time could be needed to seal the deal.
With a final shot at silverware, United will look to leverage the home advantage and the return of André Onana to deliver the performance required to secure progression.
Prediction: Man United 3-2 Lyon (5-4 on aggregate)
When and Where to Watch Lyon vs Manchester United Match? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The UEFA Europa League 2024-25 Quarter-finals second leg between Manchester United and Lyon will take place at the Old Trafford in Manchester, England. The match is set for April 18 at 12:30 am IST. It will be broadcast live on the Sony Network and can be streamed online via Sony LIV.
Read More: Joshua Zirkzee Blow: Manchester United Star Ruled Out for Season with Hamstring Injury
FAQs
What is the current aggregate score between Manchester United and Lyon in the Europa League quarter-final?
The aggregate score is 2-2 after the first leg ended in a draw at the Groupama Stadium.
Will André Onana start for Manchester United in the second leg against Lyon?
Yes, André Onana is set to return to the starting lineup after being dropped for the Newcastle match.
Who are the key absentees for Manchester United ahead of the Lyon clash?
United will be without Joshua Zirkzee, Lisandro Martínez, Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, Toby Collyer, and Ayden Heaven due to injuries.
Who are Lyon’s top attacking threats for the second leg at Old Trafford?
Rayan Cherki, Thiago Almada, Georges Mikautadze, and Alexandre Lacazette are Lyon’s main attacking options, with Malick Fofana back in the squad.
How have Manchester United performed in the Europa League this season?
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 11 Europa League matches (W6 D5), their best start to a European campaign since 2010–11.
