Lyon vs Manchester United: Quarter-Final First Leg Preview
Lyon will host Manchester United at Parc Olympique Lyonnais today in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie. Both teams want to get a good result: Lyon to take advantage of their home form and Manchester United to get out of their goal-scoring slump.
Lyon
Lyon are in good shape, having won 4 of their last 5 Ligue 1 matches, including a 2-1 win over Lille. Paulo Fonseca’s side brushed aside FCSB in the Round of 16 with a 7-1 aggregate win. 5th in Ligue 1, Lyon are fighting for a Champions League spot domestically and momentum in Europe.
However, injuries to key players Ernest Nuamah (ACL) and Malick Fofana (knee) are a problem for Fonseca. He’ll rely on Georges Mikautadze to lead the attack, with Rayan Cherki and Thiago Almada on the wings. Nemanja Matic will anchor the midfield with Tanner Tessmann.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Tessmann, Matic; Cherki, Tolisso, Almada; Mikautadze.
Manchester United
Manchester United have had a tough season, 13th in the Premier League. Ruben Amorim’s side are inconsistent but unbeaten in this Europa League. They beat Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate in the previous round.
United will be without several key players, including Lisandro Martínez (knee), Matthijs de Ligt (foot), and Amad Diallo (ankle). Bruno Fernandes will be crucial in midfield, while Joshua Zirkzee will lead the attack. Amorim will stick with his 3-4-2-1 formation, with width from wing-backs Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee.
Key Stats
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Lyon have never won against Manchester United in four meetings (D2 L2).
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Manchester United have lost just one of their last 21 Europa League matches.
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Lyon have scored 23 goals in this season’s Europa League—their third-most prolific European campaign.
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Bruno Fernandes has been involved in 41 goals in the Europa League—the most of any player in the competition’s history.
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Manchester United have not lost the first leg of their last 11 major knockout ties.
Player to Watch: Bruno Fernandes
Andre Onana
While Bruno Fernandes, Rayan Cherki, and Georges Mikautadze were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Andre Onana as the Player to Watch for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash between Lyon and Manchester United.
Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s most important player and will be key to their attack. With his ability to create chances and score goals, Fernandes could be the difference against Lyon’s defence. His Europa League record is second to none.
Lyon vs Manchester United Prediction
Both teams boast strong European records this season but face challenges due to injuries and inconsistent domestic form. Lyon’s home advantage makes them formidable opponents at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, but Manchester United’s experience and defensive organization should help them avoid defeat.
Lyon 1-1 Manchester United
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