Having endured a desperate domestic campaign, Europe has undoubtedly been a source of relief for Ruben Amorim’s beleaguered troops. Manchester United are yet to be beaten in this season’s UEFA Europa League, with six wins under their belt so far. However, the Red Devils suffered yet another sobering defeat at the weekend, and therefore head into Thursday’s encounter in a typically fragile state.
Following two difficult seasons, Lyon have improved immeasurably this term. Les Gomes remain firmly in the hunt for automatic UEFA Champions League qualification after dispatching Ligue 1 rivals Auxerre on Sunday afternoon, and have delivered a string of impressive results in Europe.
The two teams have experienced contrasting fortunes on the continental stage in recent years. After lifting the Europa League trophy in 2017, Manchester United have reached the last eight of the same competition in two of the previous three seasons. Conversely, this is Lyon’s first appearance in Europe since being eliminated by West Ham in the quarter-final stage of the 2021/22 Europa League.
Last Thursday’s first-leg clash provided a dramatic finale, as both sides netted late goals at a boisterous Groupama Stadium. Joshua Zirkzee’s back-post header appeared to have handed Manchester United a crucial first-leg advantage, but Rayan Cherki pounced on André Onana’s second mistake of the evening to claim an injury-time equalizer. The tie is therefore perfectly poised.
Manchester United v Lyon – key information
Date: Thursday 17th April
Kick-off time: 8.00pm
Venue: Old Trafford
Referee: -
VAR: -
TV channels: TNT Sports 1 and Ultimate
Odds: Manchester United: 7/10, Draw: 3/1, Lyon: 7/2
Manchester United v Lyon – team news
While only a handful of Lyon players are currently absent from duty, Ruben Amorim is forced to wrestle with an extensive injury list. Nevertheless, Paulo Fonseca still has several selection headaches. The two Portuguese tacticians are renowned for rotating their respective squads, and therefore it’s difficult to determine who will feature in each side.
Manchester United team news
Manchester United remain short on defensive options, with first-choice centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martínez both out for extended periods. Although he was expected to quickly recover from an ankle knock sustained during United’s recent 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, Dutch international de Ligt is unlikely to return to action for at least a couple more weeks. Martínez is out for the remainder of the campaign after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in early February.
Northern Irishman Jonny Evans hasn’t been involved in a matchday squad since the Red Devils’ visit to Molineaux on Boxing Day, while deep-lying midfielder Toby Collyer – who has occasionally deputised in central defence – is also unavailable.
Ruben Amorim is also a little light at the top end of the pitch, with several attackers nursing injuries. Amad Diallo is still struggling with an ankle problem, although it appears the diagnosis is less serious than initially feared. The talented Ivorian hasn’t featured since United’s narrow victory over Leicester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup, but might be fit enough to play next month.
First-leg goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee will definitely miss Thursday’s contest, having pulled his hamstring midway through Manchester United’s defeat at St. James Park. Although the former Bayern Munich forward looked in some discomfort while exiting the field, it appears his injury isn’t too serious.
Nevertheless, Ruben Amorim’s toughest task sits is sorting out United's goalkeeping department. André Onana eventually exhausted the patience of his boss after an error-strewn performance in Lyon, leaving the door open for understudy Altay Bayındır. However, the Turkish stopper was unable to seize his opportunity, conceding four goals against Newcastle on Sunday.
Dorgu will likely re-assume his position on the left flank after being rested at the weekend, while Casemiro and Eriksen fight it out for a place in midfield alongside Manuel Ugarte. With only a handful of fit defenders available, Harry Maguire is likely to start.
Manchester United predicted lineup v Lyon (3-4-2-1)
Coach: Ruben Amorim
Altay Bayındır (GK), Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, Diogo Dalot, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Patrick Dorgu, Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Højlund
Lyon team news
Ghanaian international Ernest Nuamah is Lyon’s only player with a long-term injury issue, having torn his cruciate ligament at the beginning of April. Fellow winger Malick Fofana has been out of contention since March’s international break, but could face a late fitness test ahead of Thursday’s trip to Old Trafford. Fofana has found the net six times in nine Europa League appearances this term, and therefore could still make a decisive impact in the tie.
Despite these two absentees, Les Gomes have still packed a punch from the flanks thanks to the efforts of homegrown talent Rayan Cherki. The French U21 international netted against Lille after replacing the injured Nuamah, before doubling Lyon’s lead during Sunday’s clash with Auxerre.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Paulo Fonseca opts for exuberance or experience up front, with Georgian marksman Georges Mikautadze and club legend Alexandre Lacazette waiting in the wings. Although it’s likely either Mikautadze or Lacazette will lead the line, there are still question marks over who will be part of the attacking support cast. Rayan Cherki seems a shoo-in to start following his recent goalscoring exploits, but either Thiago Almada or Corentin Tolisso may have to be satisfied with a place on the bench.
Lyon predicted line-up v Manchester United (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Paulo Fonseca
Lucas Perri (GK), Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, Moussa Niakhaté, Nicolás Tagliafico, Jordan Veretout, Nemanja Matić, Rayan Cherki, Thiago Almada, Georges Mikautadze, Alexandre Lacazette
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
TNT Sports will provide live coverage of Thursday’s meeting at Old Trafford, having secured exclusive broadcasting rights for the vast majority of UEFA Club Competition matches this season.
All four UEFA Europa League quarter-final second legs will be shown on TNT Sports, with Manchester United entertaining Lyon on TNT Sports 1. Viewers can watch events unfold in 4K resolution over on TNT Sports Ultimate, provided they have purchased the relevant subscription.
Head-to-head record
Manchester United have never lost to Lyon in any of the two teams’ previous five meetings, registering two wins and three draws overall. Both triumphs occurred at Old Trafford, with the latest coming courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo strike in March 2008.
Having faced each other in the UEFA Champions League group stage and Round of 16, this month’s encounter represents the first time the sides have met in a UEFA Europa League tie.
Lyon head into Thursday in positive spirits, having only lost once since the end of February. The Frenchman will be further buoyed by their opponents’ poor form, who haven’t tasted victory in over a month. An ugly defeat to the Magpies on Sunday came after an underwhelming Manchester derby and a narrow loss at the City Ground, as the Red Devils continue to toil.
Odds for Manchester United v Lyon
Although it's extremely difficult to predict the winner of Thursday’s tie, plenty of goalmouth action is surely a guarantee. Although United have won only one of their four Europa League home games by a margin of more than two goals, the Red Devils have consistently found the net in European competition this term.
This notion is further strengthened by Lyon’s remarkable return from their travels around Europe, having recorded more goals in away fixtures than they have at the Groupama Stadium. Les Gomes put on an attacking masterclass to hammer Rangers 4-1 at Ibrox, before dispatching Qarabağ FK by the same scoreline in Azerbaijan. A further three goals came in the Romanian capital last month, as the Frenchman breezed past FCSB.
Thursday's opponents have contested a cumulative total of 22 matches in this season’s Europa League, but have only earned five clean sheets between them.
Rayan Cherki leads the competition’s assist charts, having remarkably set up eight goals in just ten starts. Expect the skilful winger to showcase his creative capabilities once more, as Lyon aim to get the tie wrapped up in regulation time. With nine direct goal involvements in his ten Europa League appearances so far this term, Georges Mikautadze may also play an influential role.
Although he’s struggled on the domestic front in recent months, Rasmus Højlund is currently enjoying a goalscoring purple patch in Europe. The former Atalanta centre-forward netted against Porto on matchday two, before claiming back-to-back braces in meetings with Bodø/Glimt and Viktoria Plzeň. Having also registered two assists, the Danish youngster has been an integral part of Manchester United’s attacking proposition.
If you fancy making a slightly less conventional bet, there may be some value in the corners market. Manchester United and Lyon have been awarded a combined total of 132 corners in the Europa League this season, ranking first and third respectively for this metric.
Betting tips:
Rasmus Højlund to score or assist: 1/1
Rayan Cherki to record an assist: 3/1
Odds provided by bet365