Manchester United meet Lyon in the second leg of their 2024-25 UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final tie.
With the tie locked at 2-2 on aggregate after the first leg, victory would see either Man Utd or Lyon advance to the semi-finals.
Team News
Joshua Zirkzee is ruled out for Man Utd until pre-season after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 4-1 Premier League defeat at Newcastle.
Andre Onana could return in goal after he was left out of the squad for the trip to Tyneside following his slump in form, although his replacement, Altay Bayindr failed to impress against the Magpies.
Tobias Collyer (leg), Jonny Evans (muscle), Matthijs De Ligt, Ayden Heaven (both ankle), Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Amad Diallo (ankle) are still sidelined.
Lyon could welcome winger, Malick Fofana back from a knee injury which kept him out of the first leg and their Ligue 1 win at Auxerre.
Ernest Nuamah remains sidelined with an ACL injury.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Lyon at Old Trafford on Thursday 17 April at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd drew 2-2 against Lyon in their only previous Europa League, but are yet to lose to their French opposition in all UEFA competitions (W2, D3).
- Lyon are making their first Europa League trip to Old Trafford, but are yet to win at the venue in all competitions (L2).
- Utd’s two home wins over Lyon have been by single-goal margins, having won 2-1 in November 2004 then 1-0 in March 2008.
- Bruno Fernandes has scored four goals in Utd’s last two home matches in the Europa League (W2).
- Lyon have lost just one of their last five visits to English opposition in all UEFA competitions (W3, D1, L1) – excluding their Champions League Quarter-Final win over Manchester City in August 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal, .
Prediction
Having produced arguably their most lacklustre passionless half of football in years in their 4-1 loss at Newcastle after a decent first-half effort, Man Utd absolutely need to buck up their ideas rapidly and come out with more fight and clinical composure if want to keep their sole path toward European qualification alive.
Lyon though just need to crank up their attacking intensity and get at Utd’s vulnerable defence and they could well make this leg easier than they did at home, but they’re yet to win at Old Trafford although that was in the Sir Alex Ferguson era whereas the Red Devils are now very beatable at home if bring the right attitude.
I however do expect Utd to dig in and produce a response but if Lyon can show up with a performance which saw them beat Auxerre domestically last weekend, they should nick this.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-2 Lyon
