Manchester United vs Lyon: Europa League Preview

Setting the Scene

Manchester United return home needing to find answers after squandering a late lead at Groupama Stadium last week. An error-strewn display—particularly from Andre Onana—saw United twice pegged back, with Rayan Cherki capitalising in stoppage time to leave the tie delicately balanced.

United's poor form continued over the weekend with a 4-1 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United, leaving Ruben Amorim’s men stuck in 14th place, with their domestic season in disarray. With Champions League qualification via league placement now virtually impossible, winning the Europa League remains their only path to Europe’s top table next season.

Recent Form

Despite their domestic struggles, Manchester United are the only unbeaten team remaining in this season’s Europa League (W6 D5) and will be aiming to maintain that record on home soil. However, their recent European record against French opposition at Old Trafford offers little comfort, with back-to-back home defeats to PSG in 2019 and 2020.

Still, United have never lost to Lyon in five previous meetings (W2 D3), and they’ll be encouraged by the fact that the French side have never advanced from a European knockout tie after drawing the first leg at home in nine prior attempts.

Meanwhile, Lyon are flying under Paulo Fonseca, with a 3-1 Ligue 1 win at Auxerre extending their good run of form. The visitors are unbeaten in their last 12 Europa League away games (W9 D3), and they’ve now won seven of their last nine in all competitions, scoring 24 goals during that spell.

Their European away record against English sides is also strong, having lost just once in their last nine such fixtures, although they’ve never won at Old Trafford, with two defeats from two previous visits.

Team News

Manchester United have a lengthy injury list:

• Joshua Zirkzee is unavailable after sustaining a hamstring injury against Newcastle.
• Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, and Toby Collyer are also ruled out.
• Chido Obi-Martin is ineligible for European competition.

That leaves Rasmus Hojlund as the only natural striker available, likely supported by Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, who ended a 27-game drought with a goal at the weekend.
Onana is expected to return in goal after being rested last weekend, while Harry Maguire and Patrick Dorgu are tipped to return to the backline.
Casemiro and Mason Mount are both options to partner Manuel Ugarte in midfield.

Lyon are without:

• Ernest Nuamah (ACL – out for the season)
• Malick Fofana (knee)

In-form Rayan Cherki is likely to keep his place in attack, having registered 11 goal contributions in the Europa League so far. He should be joined by Thiago Almada and either Alexandre Lacazette or Georges Mikautadze up front.

In midfield, Nemanja Matic may drop out for Jordan Veretout, with Paul Akouokou another candidate to start. The defence could see returns for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, and Nicolas Tagliafico.

With a semi-final clash against either Rangers or Athletic Bilbao on the line, all eyes will be on Old Trafford for what promises to be a gripping conclusion to this quarter-final tie.