The Europa League is Manchester United’s main focus as it remains their only chance of securing Champions League football next season. They are languishing in 13th place in the Premier League and have been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions.
United go into this game off the back of a goalless draw against bitter rivals Manchester City in the Premier League. The game was somewhat uninspiring, highlighting both sides’ deficiencies this season.
In contrast, Olympique Lyonnais are currently fifth in Ligue 1 and are challenging for the Champions League places. They have won four of their last six games in the French top flight, including 2-1 against Lille on Saturday.
LYON VS MAN UTD PREVIEW
Goals have been hard to come by for United this season. They haven’t scored in the two games since the international break and have only netted 37 in the Premier League in total. Conversely, Lyon are the joint-third highest scorers in the French top flight with 54.
United have never lost to Lyon, winning two and drawing two of their four historical encounters. The English side knocked the French team out of the 2007/08 Champions League, securing a 1-0 win at Old Trafford after a 1-1 draw away.
The only other game played on French soil was also a draw. This was 2-2 in the group stage of the 2004/05 Champions League.
Winger Ernest Nuamah has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and so will miss out for Lyon. Malick Fofana is also out, but Nemanja Matic will face his former side. Dude Caleta-Car is likely absent.
Harry Maguire left the field early during Sunday’s Manchester derby but should feature for United here.
Kobbie Mainoo could also return, having been out of action for two months. He’s likely to play alongside Matthijs de Ligt.
Amad Diallo, Jonny Evans, Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez are all long-term absentees through injury.
LYON VS MAN UTD – PREDICTIONS
Lyon Win
Home advantage could be key here, particularly for a Lyon side that is quite free-scoring. They’ve netted 54 times in Ligue 1 and could break down United’s admittedly much improved defence. Lyon have also won six of their last seven games in all competitions. They hammered FCSB 7-1 on aggregate in the last round, including winning 4-0 at home. They are looking to extend their run of home wins to five.
Draw
Both matches between the two sides in France have ended in draws and United would settle for this ahead of next week’s second leg. United drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad in the last-16 too before beating them 4-1 at home to secure a 5-2 aggregate win. Indeed, United have drawn their last three away first leg matches in European competition.
Man Utd Win
United have never lost to Lyon and have only lost one of their last 21 matches in the Europa League. This suggests a draw or United win could be on the cards. The key will be how captain Bruno Fernandes plays, as he has provided most of United’s recent attacking threat. If he is on form, United could snatch victory.
LYON VS MAN UTD – BETTING TIPS
Lyon Win
On current form, it’s hard to look past Lyon. They have won six of their last seven games in all competitions and four in a row at home. They have scored 12 goals and conceded just four in these four home wins, while United have only scored once in their last two games. United’s only away win since late January came against lowly Leicester City, with two draws and two defeats in this run.
Alexandre Lacazette to Score
The former Arsenal captain is having a strong season in Ligue 1, netting 11 goals and assisting twice. He scored a penalty in Lyon’s 2-1 win at Lille on Saturday as well as the opener against Le Havre in mid-March. Not as prolific as Malick Fofana in the Europa League, Lacazette has the stronger current form. He has scored nine goals in his last six appearances in all competitions. Fofana will also miss this game so the scoring burden will be focused squarely on Lacazette’s shoulders.
HEAD-TO-HEAD AND KEY STATS
- Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United have played each other four times, with United winning twice. There have been two draws.
- Those two draws were both in Lyon and both involved United coming from behind.
- Lyon have won six of their last seven games in all competitions and all of their last four games at home.
- Lyon’s 23 goals in this Europa League campaign is their third-best tally ever in a major European campaign.
- Manchester United have lost just one of their last 21 matches in the Europa League, winning 14 and drawing six. They have scored in all games aside from this one defeat.
- Manchester United have drawn their last three away first leg matches in European competition.
- Manchester United have not lost the first leg of any of their last 11 knockout ties in all major competitions, winning five and drawing six.
- United have only won two of their last seven games in all competitions.
- United have only won once away from home since the end of January.
