UEFA Europa League - Manchester United VS Lyon Prediction
UEFA Europa League - Manchester United VS Lyon
Match Time:18-04-2025 03:00 Friday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Manchester United
Ruben Amorim has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of as many as seven first-team players vs Lyon on Thursday.
Joshua Zirkzee is the latest absentee after picking up a season-ending hamstring injury this past weekend against Newcastle United. The Dutch attacker has joined Matthijs de Ligt (foot), Jonny Evans (muscular), Ayden Heaven (ankle), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Toby Collyer (leg), and Amad Diallo (ankle) on the sidelines.
Andre Onana will likely return between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Lyon on Thursday. The central defensive unit will feature Noussair Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, and Leny Yoro. Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu are automatic picks as the wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Casemiro should pair up with Manuel Ugarte in the middle of the park, with the duo looking to keep things tight in the central areas. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line for Manchester United against Lyon, with Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes providing creative support.
Lyon
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Paulo Fonseca has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Lyon manager will be without two first-team players on Thursday.
Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah remain on the sidelines due to knee injuries. Otherwise, Fonseca has a fully fit squad, although a few players are walking the suspension tightrope — Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Moussa Niakhate, Nicolas Tagliafico, Corentin Tolisso, and Alexandre Lacazette.
Lucas Perri is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Lyon lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Thursday. The backline should feature Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, Moussa Nikhate, and Nicolas Tagliafico.
As for the midfield unit, Paul Akouokou will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park while receiving defensive support from Corentin Tolisso and Jordan Veretout. The duo will also provide the forward thrust from the central areas. Finally, Georges Mikautadze will spearhead the Lyon attack against Manchester United, with Rayan Cherki and Thiago Almada providing creative support.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Vererout, Tolisso, Akouokou; Almada; Cherki, Mikautadze
Manchester United vs Lyon Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
Manchester United have a good record against Lyon on the European stage and have won two out of the four matches played between the two teams, with the other three matches ending in draws.
Manchester United are set to play their third match against Lyon at home in a major European competition - they have won each of their two previous such games and have conceded only one goal in the process.
Lyon have lost only one of their last nine matches against teams from England on the European stage, with their only such defeat during this period coming by a 3-0 margin at the hands of West Ham United in the 2021-22 UEFA Europa League season.
Lyon are unbeaten in their last 12 away games in the UEFA Europa League.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-2 Lyon A.E.T (Man United to win 5-4 on aggregate)
Man United should throw everything at Thursday's second leg in front of a fired-up Old Trafford crowd and can treat this fixture as a final considering the sheer enormity and importance of it to their season.
Lyon will feel that Amorim's struggling side are there for the taking and will be eyeing up a first-ever victory against the Red Devils. As capable as they are of achieving that, Man United have been difficult to beat in the Europa League and we feel that the hosts will somehow find a way to edge past their French counterparts, with additional time potentially required to get the job done.
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