Lyon welcome Manchester United to the Groupama Stadium on Thursday in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final. The Red Devils come into the game after a drab draw against Manchester City in the Manchester Derby on Sunday and are hoping to put in a better performance in France. Lyon came from behind to beat Lille in a vital game in the hunt for a UEFA Champions League place next season. Lyon’s win kept them in with a chance to return to UEFA’s premier competition, but for them and United, winning the Europa League may be the only hope of making it back.
Lyon v Manchester United key information
• Date: Thursday, April 10
• Kick-off time: 8pm BST
• Venue: Groupama Stadium, Lyon
• Referee: Glenn Nyberg
• VAR: Christian Dingert
• TV channels: TNT Sports (UK)
• Odds: OL (31/20) - DRAW (9/4) - MUFC (7/4)
Lyon team news
Lyon may have won that key game at the weekend agiainst Lille, but they did not emerge unscathed from the victory. Lyon’s Ghanaian winger Ernest Nuamah was forced off after just seven minutes after the 21-year-old suffered an injury to his knee. It has since been announced that Nuamah ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will miss the rest of the season.
Nuamah has six goals and two assists to his name in 33 appearances in all competitions this season and became a key part of their attack. Lyon are already without another winger after Malick Fofana suffered a knee injury whilst on international duty with Belgium. The initial diagnosis was that Fofana would be out for three weeks so he would miss the first leg, however, there are realistic hopes he will be ready for the second leg at Old Trafford.
Lyon predicted lineup v United, (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Jorge Maciel
Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Matic, Tessmann; Tolisso, Cherki, Almada; Lacazette.
Manchester United team news
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim quelled any fears about Harry Maguire’s fitness after he was subbed at 60 minutes against Manchester City on Sunday. Amorim said after the game that the substitution was preplanned and that Maguire was never going to play more than 60 minutes, as agreed with his medical department. Maguire was brought in as a replacement for Matthijs De Light, who suffered a knock in the days leading to the Manchester Derby. He will be assessed before the game against Lyon.
Luke Shaw was a surprise inclusion in Sunday's match day squad and, despite not being used then, there are some hopes that we could see Shaw back in action on Thursday. Amorim also said that Mason Mount is ready to get more minutes and that Kobbie Mainoo is now back in training and could make the squad on Thursday. United are still without Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Amad Diallo and Ayden Heaven.
Manchester United predicted lineup v Lyon, (3-4-2-1)
Coach: Ruben Amorim
Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee.
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
In the United Kingdom, the Europa League match between Lyon and Manchester United is available to watch on TNT Sports. You have access to the TNT TV channels if you are a subscriber to Discovery+. You can watch Discovery+ on your smart TV, online or download the app on your phone.
Head-to-Head record
Lyon head into Thursday’s clash against United on the back of four wins in their last five games. They have only lost once in their last 10 games at home in all competitions, and that was a narrow defeat against PSG in February.
United have lost once in their last five games but only have two wins in that stretch too. Looking back over their last 10 games, the Red Devils' tally of wins only increases to three. Despite the form guides though, United are unbeaten in this season's Europa League and hope to further that record against Lyon on Thursday.
Lyon have lost only once in the Europa League this season, however, in European competitions against Manchester United, they have never come out as the victors. In four competitive fixtures in the Champions League, United have won two, with the other two being draws.
This will be the first time the two have met in a European fixture in over 17 years, since the 2008 edition of the Champions League. The teams did play against each other in a club friendly in 2023, which United won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Donny van de Beek.
Odds for Lyon v Manchester United
Manchester United were favourites to win the whole competition at the start of the season; however, they have now dropped to second favourites behind Athletic Bilbao. Even so, they head into the first leg of their quarter-final against Lyon not as the bookmaker's favourites to win this match. Bet365 have United down at 7/4 to win, with a draw down at 9/4. Lyon are instead favourites to win at 31/20.