Manchester United will be looking to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Europa League when they host Lyon on Thursday.
A 2-2 draw between Manchester United and Lyon from the first leg means it’s all to play for in the second leg at Old Trafford.
Both clubs have hired Portuguese managers midseason and they’ve had completely different stories so far.
Ruben Amorim’s side are 14th in the Premier League, struggling to win matches domestically, whereas Paulo Fonseca has won nine of his 13 matches since taking charge of the club.
The Europa League is United’s only opportunity to qualify for the Champions League, which is why the tournament has taken our focus towards the end of the campaign. The Reds boast an unbeaten record in this year’s competition and are the only team to remain in such a position.
Amorim’s side looked to be in control of the first leg after goals from Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee had them leading 2-1 in France.
A late blunder from Andre Onana – his second of the night – cost United a stoppage-time equaliser as transfer target Rayan Cherki levelled the scoring at 2-2.
The result means the quarter-final hangs in the balance.
Rafael da Silva previews Manchester United vs Lyon
It feels like the 2024/25 season boils down to this.
United haven’t prepared for their crucial Europa League second leg tie how they would have wanted, losing 4-1 to Newcastle on Sunday and losing Zirkzee to injury.
On the other hand, Lyon beat Auxerre 3-1 away from home and will be looking for a similar result when they visit Old Trafford, having scored 36 goals in the 12 matches since Fonseca’s arrival.
It bodes well for the hosts that United haven’t lost to Lyon in six previous meetings, but Rafael Da Silva, who played for both clubs, believes the French side have the better team going into the game.
Rafael is one of five United players to have also played for Lyon during his career.
The former United right remains a popular figure among fans but his brutal comparison of the teams ahead of the game should come as a warning to United’s first-team.
“It’s going to be a great match, like the first leg (2-2),” Rafael told L’Equipe. “With the ball, I think Lyon has a better team than Manchester.
“They’re more technical, more intelligent. But the match is at Old Trafford, and United are favourites.”
It’s a kind review of a side that didn’t play better than United in the first leg, but we must also take into account how poorly we’ve performed throughout the season and how that has tarnished our current group’s reputation.
Lyon will feel like they have a chance at Old Trafford, but it’s up to Amorim’s side to make that as impossible task on a crucial European night for the club.
Lyon receives boost ahead of Man Utd tie
While United lose Zirkzee for the match to injury, Lyon have been provided a timely injury boost with Belgium international Malick Fofana returning to team training on Tuesday.
Lyon shared a clip of Fofana returning to training before Fonseca’s squad travel to Manchester for their Europa League quarter-final decider.
The 20-year-old winger is expected to make Lyon’s travelling squad to face United but it remains to be seen if he will make a return to the pitch after four months out.
Lyon will fly to Manchester on Wednesday afternoon.
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