Red Redemption: United and Lyon Clash in Season-Defining Showdown
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 and Lyon are set to meet again at Old Trafford for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final, following a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first leg in France. The team that advances on aggregate will face either Rangers or Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals scheduled for early May.
Team Analysis:
Andre Onana faced criticism following a verbal clash with NemanjaMatic and struggled to silence his doubters during the first leg, making errors that led to both of Lyon’s goals in their dramatic 2-2 draw. Although Joshua Zirkzee appeared to seal the win for Manchester United late in the game, Rayan Cherki capitalized on Onana’s mistake in stoppage time to level the score.
Lyon, aiming for their first major European title and a return to the semi-finals for the first time since the 2019–20 Champions League, kept their momentum going with a 3-1 league win over Auxerre. Cherki, Georges Mikautadze, and Alexandre Lacazette were all on target as Lyon stayed fourth in Ligue 1, now just one point behind third-place Marseille in the race for automatic Champions League qualification.
Player Situation:
Manchester United face several injury concerns ahead of their Europa League clash, with Joshua Zirkzee sidelined due to a hamstring issue and multiple other players—such as Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo, Ayden Heaven, Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, and Toby Collyer—also unavailable. With Chido Obi-Martin ineligible, RasmusHojlund is expected to lead the attack, supported by Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho, who recently ended a long goal drought. Andre Onana, left out of the previous match for rest, is likely to return in goal, while Harry Maguire, Patrick Dorgu, Casemiro, and Mason Mount could also be recalled to the starting lineup.
Lyon are also dealing with injuries, with key winger Ernest Nuamah out for the season due to an ACL injury and MalickFofana unavailable with a knee problem. In their absence, Rayan Cherki has stepped up and is expected to join Thiago Almada and either Alexandre Lacazette or Georges Mikautadze in attack. Changes in midfield and defense are also expected, with Jordan Veretout and Paul Akouokou likely to feature, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, and Nicolas Tagliafico are set to return to the back line.
Result Prediction:
Manchester United are expected to approach the second leg with full intensity, treating the match as a crucial moment in their season, especially with the backing of a passionate home crowd at Old Trafford. Lyon, sensing an opportunity against a struggling United side, will aim for their first-ever win over the English club. While the French team has the ability to pose a real challenge, United’s resilience in the Europa League could help them narrowly progress, potentially needing extra time to secure their place in the semi-finals.
Predicted Result: Manchester United 3-2 Olympique Lyon
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