Europa League - Quarter Final, Leg 2: Man United vs Lyon Preview and Lineups

Manchester United's season reaches a crucial point as they host Olympique Lyonnais at Old Trafford in the second leg of the 2024/2025 Europa League quarter-finals. After a dramatic 2-2 draw in the first leg in France, both teams are ready to battle it out for a place in the semi-finals.

In the previous meeting, United took a last-gasp lead through Joshua Zirkzee, but a mistake by goalkeeper Andre Onana in stoppage time allowed Rayan Cherki to equalize.

Under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United are unbeaten in the Europa League this season with six wins and five draws. However, their domestic form has been worrying, especially after a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle.

To make matters worse, they have a number of injured players. Joshua Zirkzee has been confirmed out until the end of the season with a hamstring injury. Lisandro Martínez, Matthijs de Ligt and Jonny Evans are also unavailable.

First-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was benched against Newcastle, is certain to return to the starting line-up after winning back the manager's trust. Rasmus Hojlund is expected to be the mainstay up front, with Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho supporting him. In midfield, Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte are likely to feature, while the back line will be filled by Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro.

Lyon come to Manchester with a strong record. They have lost just one of their last nine games in all competitions. A 3-1 win over Auxerre in Ligue 1 proved their consistency and kept their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League alive.

Lyon's squad is full of experienced players such as Alexandre Lacazette, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and former United midfielder Nemanja Matic. Rayan Cherki, who scored in the first leg, will be the main threat, especially with 17 assists to his name this season. Georges Mikautadze will be the spearhead, with Thiago Almada and Corentin Tolisso supporting him in the second line.

This is a close game. Manchester United will be relying on their strong home record in European competition, while Lyon will be looking to capitalize on the home side's good form and injury crisis. This match will likely be decided by small details and key performances from the likes of Onana and Cherki.

Lyon XI: Not Published Yet.

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