Jamie Jackson was at Old Trafford tonight. Here’s his report. Thanks for reading this MBM. Football, eh? Bloody hell!
Amorim adds: “We start well … we are not consistent … when the team is a little tired we drop a lot … we can defend quite well in these moments … we should do better with the two [second-half] goals … we have a lot to improve but the character is there … the reflection of the coach is the League … we are under-performing … but we have to see the context … Garnacho is tired but he is the only one who can make transitions … [he’s asked if physically it’s a problem?] … yes, I think so … when you play against European teams we can cope better with that … these kind of moments can change a lot in the players’ mind … we have to be really focused on Europa League … we have to take risks with the kids in the Premier League … the fans have to understand that we have to focus on the Europa League … we believe it is possible … we need luck with injuries … it’s going to be tough.”
More from Amorim. “Playing Premier League and European games is really hard if you don’t have the full squad … it is almost impossible … Luke Shaw was meant to play 30 minutes top, but we had a problem with Noussair [Mazraoui] at half-time … he had a personal problem and had to leave.”
Ruben Amorim talks to TNT Sports. “It was fun … it was hard … I was watching again the 1999 commentary to have some inspiration …. it was a great night … the team were tired … at 4-2 we had one more player … you thought it’s over … but here it’s never over … I felt that everything is possible … then after 4-3 you can change the game … we tried to put Harry Maguire [up front] because he’s the only guy who can score a goal with his head … then Kobbie Mainoo has a lack of pace at this moment because he had that injury, but he is really good in short spaces and has the ability to do that kind of goal … we try it … sometimes it works and today was a good day.”
Harry Maguire speaks to TNT Sports: “Obviously it’s an incredible game … we made really hard work of it … to go 4-2 down in extra time against ten men is nowhere near good enough … we opened ourselves up too much … they’re a good team … we dug in and showed great spirit … to comeback like that is an incredible performance … as soon as we got the fourth I knew there would be another chance … there was contact but not enough for a foul.”
Kobbie Mainoo adds: “It was an amazing comeback … we put ourselves in that situation … I tried to bring energy … when the ball drops in there, a yard feels like a mile, innit … you’ve just got to try to stay as calm as you can and slot it, and that’s what I did … a win like that can bring so much momentum … we’re rolling a snowball that’s getting bigger and bigger and we’re trying to go all the way.”
Harry Maguire with a smile as wide as the depth of Alexandre Lacazette’s despair. The Lyon striker pulls his shirt over his face. He can’t believe how his side have just capitulated. Paulo Fonseca grim-faced. They celebrated Lacazette’s penalty, which put Lyon 6-4 up on aggregate with ten minutes of extra time to play, a little too ferociously. The football gods quickly reminded them of their folly. Three Manchester United goals in the last six minutes, the last two a quickfire double-whammy that turned defeat into glorious victory! Ruben Amorim with the widest smile of the lot. He would have been dreading a premature end to United’s season. Now they’re in a European semi-final, and they’ll be high on life after winning one of the greatest – certainly the loopiest - continental ties in the club’s history!
EXTRA TIME, FULL TIME: Manchester United 5-4 Lyon (agg 7-6)
The whistle goes as Old Trafford, in despair less than 20 minutes ago, erupts in delight! Glory, glory.
ET 30 min +7: Lacazette tries to bring a long ball down on the edge of the box, but can’t control. That should surely be that.
ET 30 min +5: One last chance for Lyon? They’re trying to work an angle to get the ball forward. But can’t find one. United holding their shape heroically.
ET 30 min +4: Onana goes down with cramp, possibly a result of sprinting down the touchline to celebrate Maguire’s winner with Amorim.
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ET 30 min +3: Lyon went too early with that celebration, didn’t they?
ET 30 min +2: Did Maguire shove Niakhaté as he won his header? VAR checks … but the goal stands!
GOAL! Manchester United 5-4 Lyon (Maguire 120+1); agg 7-6
This is preposterous! Glorious! The ball comes in from the left through Casemiro. Maguire wins a header at the far stick and steers it across the face of goal and into the bottom left! Outrageous!
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GOAL! Manchester United 4-4 Lyon (Mainoo 120); agg 6-6
Mainoo enters the Lyon box down the left. He chops inside to see off Maitland-Niles, then curls a powerful shot across Perri and into the bottom right. Old Trafford explodes!
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ET 29 min: Fernandes advances on the Lyon box and considers shooting. He declines. Maitland-Niles clears. But no matter, because …
ET 28 min: Suddenly it’s Lyon who look nervous. The atmosphere in Old Trafford febrile. A loose ball falls to Fernandes, just to the left of the D. It sits up perfectly, but he slices it miles wide right.
ET 27 min: Perri needs a bit of treatment. A ploy to take the sting out of the game? The clock ticks on.
ET 26 min: Lyon celebrated Lacazette’s penalty in the manner of a team who thought the job was done. But here we are! Maguire and Niakhaté tussle in the Lyon box, both with a handful of each other’s shirt. United want another penalty, but they’re not getting one.
ET 25 min: Tagliafico is replaced by Ćaleta-Car.
GOAL! Manchester United 3-4 Lyon (Fernandes 114 pen); agg 5-6
Fernandes whips the penalty into the bottom right. Perri went the right way, but had no chance of stopping that! United back with hope!
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Penalty for United!
ET 23 min: Tagliafico brushed Casemiro from behind, and so the referee points to the spot!
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ET 22 min: The referee performs the mime for TV, and over to the screen he goes!
ET 21 min: United want a penalty in return! A ball bouncing around the Lyon box. Casemiro can’t get it under control. He goes down. The referee’s not interested. No contact. Or has there been? VAR is taking a look!
GOAL! Manchester United 2-4 Lyon (Lacazette 110 pen); agg 4-6
Lacazette gives Onana the eyes, sending the keeper the wrong way as he slots into the bottom left! He races off to celebrate wildly with his bench.
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Penalty for Lyon!
ET 18 min: Casemiro’s loose pass, 30 yards from his own goal, allows Lacazette to flick the ball into the road of Fofana, who dribbles into the box, down the inside-left channel, in between Yoro and Shaw, and is brought down by the latter. The referee points straight to the spot.
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ET 17 min: Cherki goes down, and Lyon’s potential match-winner will play no further part. He’s replaced by Abner Vinicius.
ET 16 min: United have thrown Maguire up front as an emergency striker. “Man United have allowed Lyon to be comfortable with ten men,” sighs Rio Ferdinand on TNT. “It’s criminal, really.”
Manchester United get the second half of extra time underway, Ruben Amorim having whipped out the tactical chalkboard during the break. Fifteen minutes to save a season.
EXTRA TIME, HALF TIME: Manchester United 2-3 Lyon (agg 4-5)
United had one foot in the semis. And now look. A few boos. Old Trafford was in party mode an hour ago.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-3 Lyon (Cherki 105); agg 4-5
Tagliafico releases Fofana down the left touchline with a deft flick. Fofana dribbles fast and hard towards the box, drifting infield. He jinks past Maguire, then slips. Neither Dalot nor Amass can get to the loose ball. Cherki can, taking a touch to set himself before lashing into the bottom right. Onana no chance. The ten men of Lyon lead!
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ET 13 min: Dalot enters the Lyon box down the right. He slips and toe-pokes the ball out for a goal kick. A few folk in the crowd want a penalty, but come off it.
ET 12 min: United do a bit of probing but in slow motion. Dalot crosses from the right. Fernandes back-flicks it on. At the far stick, Amass can’t get to the ball ahead of Maitland-Niles, who hooks clear.
ET 10 min: Dorgu and Garnacho are replaced by Amass and Eriksen.
ET 9 min: The corner’s no good, and Almada has the opportunity to counter. Cherki advances down the right. He crosses long for Fofana, who should shoot but heads out wide instead. Eventually the flag goes up for offside. This is getting a bit scrappy, though Lyon still seem to fancy their chances on the break.
ET 8 min: Fernandes finds Mainoo inside the box with a slide-rule pass down the inside-left channel. Mainoo chooses to cross. No good. But Fernandes, now out on the other flank, soon wins a corner. Everyone piles into the Lyon box.
ET 6 min: A loose shot breaks to Lacazette, free in the United box on the right. He’s one on one with Onana, but pulls his low drive across the face of goal and miles wide left. But none of it matters, the flag going up for offside anyway.
ET 5 min: Almada sends the free kick in. Casemiro heads clear. Fofana tries to return the ball from the left, but Mount blocks. “So, will Lyon send on Matic for PKs?” wonders a mischievous Rob Hisnay.
ET 3 min: Cherki and Tessmann combine well down the right and the former is eventually brought down by Maguire. A free kick just to the right of the box, a chance for Cherki to stay down and eat a bit of clock with his side a man down, and a booking for Maguire.
ET 1 min: Garnacho immediately on the front foot. He scampers down the left before slipping a pass down the channel to … nobody. Goal kick.
Lyon get the first half of extra time underway. Ruben Amorim down on his haunches, a worried man. His team are kicking towards the Stretford End again.
Result from San Mames: Athletic Club 2-0 Rangers. Bilbao’s best await the winners at Old Trafford.
FULL TIME: Manchester United 2-2 Lyon (agg 4-4)
United had one foot in the semi-final. But now we’re headed to extra time. They have a man advantage on Lyon, though.
90 min +4: Mainoo is stopped in his tracks as he advances down the right. Another chance for Fernandes to swing a free kick into the mixer. No tricks this time. He curls long, and Maguire slaps a header wide at the far stick.
90 min +3: Plenty of vocal support for Ruben Amorim, as there has been all evening. A message that the fans are backing their manager, whatever happens here.
90 min +2: Lyon deal with the corner. The tension is palpable. But as things stand, we’re heading for extra time!
90 min +1: From the resulting free kick, Fernandes tries to catch Perri out by whipping towards the bottom-right corner, with everyone expecting the cross. Perri does exceptionally well to scamper across his line and turn the ball around the post.
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90 min: There will be five additional minutes. Old Trafford is bubbling away again as a result of that decision.
RED CARD: Tolisso (Lyon)
89 min: Mount slips a pass down the inside-right channel for Yoro. Tolisso clips him. Yellow. He’s already on a card, and so off he goes. It looks accidental, but it can’t be overturned by VAR. Tolisso distressed. But that’s the end of the Lyon captain’s night!
88 min: This match would have made a great final.
87 min: Ugarte and Hojlund are replaced by Mount and Mainoo. “I think a lot of criticism of Hojlund is down to pure jealousy,” opines John Delaney. “There’s no way anyone else could get such a good view of the match.”
86 min: Almada aims for the top left but the wall does what the wall’s supposed to do.
85 min: Cherki confuses Ugarte with a cute dragback to the left of the United D, and this is a free kick in a very dangerous position. Almada fancies this. So does Lacazette.
84 min: The winner of this tie will almost certainly be playing Athletic Bilbao in the semis. Nico Williams has made it 2-0 for the hosts at San Mames against Rangers.
83 min: The Old Trafford faithful are doing their best to revive their side. Bedlam, albeit powered by a very skittish energy. A lot of pensive faces in the stands.
81 min: Cherki dribbles hard and fast down the inside-right channel. He shoots from a tight angle. Onana needs two pats to take the sting out of the shot but gets it under control eventually. United suddenly a collective bag of nerves.
80 min: A free kick for United in the middle of Lyon territory. Fernandes loops it into the mixer. Lyon deal with it easily. The mood in Old Trafford is utterly transformed. United and their fans were enjoying themselves when two goals up. But now look.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-2 Lyon (Tagliafico 78); agg 4-4
Fofana’s deep cross is met by Maitland-Niles, racing in from the right. Maitland-Niles volleys straight across the face of goal. Tagliafico sticks out a leg to poke goalwards. Onana appears to have clawed it out, but only to Lacazette, who slams home from close range. Turns out Tagliafico’s effort was over the line anyway. What drama here!
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77 min: Yoro’s back. And Lyon are on the attack. Fofana crosses deep from the left, and …
76 min: In the middle of all that, Yoro blocked a fierce Fofana shot with his head while lying on the ground. He needs a bit of treatment and time to recover.
75 min: Maitland-Niles crosses again from the right. A high one this time. Onana claims. Lyon come again, Maitland-Niles sending a low drive goalwards, Onana blocking. Then Garnacho tears away on the counter, but can’t beat Mata in a footrace this time. This game has suddenly turned wild.
73 min: Lyon are suddenly full of vim. Maitland-Niles barges down the right and crosses low and hard. United don’t really deal with it, and Lacazette is able to cut back for Almada, who leans back and sends his shot deep into the Stretford End. But all of a sudden, the mood has changed in Old Trafford. The nerves are back. Probably no more rabonas for a while.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Lyon (Tolisso 71); agg 4-3
Casemiro carelessly handles out on the Lyon right wing. Almada sends the free kick into the mixer. It’s only half cleared. Niakhaté heads back in from the right. Lacazette flicks on for Tolisso, who steers his header into the right-hand side of the net from close range. Onana no chance. Game on!
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69 min: Hojlund slips a cute pass down the right channel for Dalot, who shanks a dismal effort miles wide right. Never mind, he’s got plenty of credit to use up tonight, thanks to that nerve-settling second.
67 min: Almada swings the free kick into the mixer. It’s no good. United clear.
66 min: Maitland-Niles drops a shoulder in the hope of skinning Dorgu down the right. He’s unceremoniously brought down to earth. Dorgu is fortunate not to go into the book for hanging out his leg, but it’s a free kick in a dangerous position.
64 min: Fernandes draws another foul, this one more obvious. Tagliafico comes through the back of the United captain, and he goes into the book. Meanwhile Fofana comes on for Mikautadze.
62 min: Lyon push United back, but there’s no way through the defence. The hosts quite happy to let their guests run themselves ragged to no great effect.
60 min: Tolisso clips Fernandes to the ground. He’s already on a card, so wants to watch himself here. But it’s a garden-variety foul and nothing more. Fernandes, stepping across his man deliberately, was probably looking for that, to be fair.
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59 min: Dalot reaches the byline on the right before cutting back for Dorgu, who slams high and wide. Turns out Hojlund was offside in the build-up. United have clearly worked on this pattern, which led to the opening goal.
58 min: Fernandes and Hojlund shuttle the ball right to left. Garnacho has a pop from an uninviting angle. Wide. High. Hojlund in the middle, and desirous of a return pass, volleys the post in frustration, before shooting a glance at Garnacho. “I don’t mind that,” says Rio Ferdinand on TNT, of the striker’s tanty. Nothing wrong in telling his team-mate what he wants.
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57 min: Almada sends a dangerous cross in from the left with the outside of his boot. United only half-clear it, and Mikautadze slices a shot wide right. Lyon beginning to apply some pressure after a slow start to the second half.
55 min: Lyon make a double change, swapping out Akouokou and Veretout for Tessmann and Lacazette.
54 min: … and it nearly comes here. Tolisso spins on the penalty spot and whistles a shot towards the bottom left. Onana sticks out a strong hand to save well.
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53 min: Probably a bit early for the rabonas, to be fair. Perhaps he was looking away when Garnacho took that shot and has just assumed it’s 3-0. One Lyon goal would change everything.
51 min: Fernandes digs into his box of tricks. A rabona in the centre circle to start an attack. That quickly fizzles out, but the crowd enjoyed that.
50 min: Lyon probe down both flanks, United sitting back in a low block. But there’s no way through, and suddenly the hosts spring clear on the counter. Garnacho is sent clear by Hojlund, enters the box from the left, sits Mata down, and finds himself one on one with the keeper! He must score, but slaps his shot straight at Perri, then gets booked for hauling back Mata in an attempt to take possession of the rebound. It should be game over.
48 min: Fernandes wedges the free kick in from the left to Casemiro, who steers his header wide left from six yards. A big miss, though turns out he’s miles offside.
47 min: Dorgu and Casemiro combine crisply down the left before feeding Garnacho, who draws a foul from Mata, just outside the box. Fernandes prepares to take.
After keeping Lyon waiting on the pitch for a while, United get the second half started. They’ve replaced Mazraoui with Shaw.
Half-time postbag. “A lot of Lyonnais should be a bit torn here. Their city is also in the semi-final of rugby’s equivalent European pot and it is an odd statistical quirk that no city or country can ever be successful in both football and rugby at the same time; see Newcastle, Bordeaux, Leicester, Wales, Paris, Ireland, it goes on without fail. If Lyon win here then lump heavily on their rugby team to lose their semi, and vice versa. Nailed on I guarantee” – Robin Hazlehurst
“It’s not a travesty that United are leading 2-0, because football is that sort of sport where a tight game isn’t necessarily reflected in the score. But if I were Lyon I’d just keep on plugging away, because it certainly doesn’t feel like that the Red Devils are capable of shutting up shop. There’s a nervousness to them” – Kári Tulinius
“If United wanna sign a goalkeeper this summer, the best option is Aaron Ramsdale. Not that expensive, knows the Premier League inside out and has big-club experience to boot. United are not really Arsenal level, so they shouldn’t get all high and mighty about signing an Arsenal reject. Only negative? He seems to get relegated a lot! Given United’s form this year, it’s kinda like tempting fate” – Karen Asad
“With Lyon being the gastronomic capital of France and all, strange that there’s been no humble pie for Onana tonight. So far. And Mr Matic so far left sucking sour grapes on the subs bench” – Justin Kavanagh
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As things stand, Manchester United will play Athletic Club in the semi-final. Bilbao’s finest are beating Rangers 1-0 (agg: 1-0) at San Mames, John Souttar clattering through the back of Maroan Sannadi just before half-time and conceding a penalty that Oihan Sancet dispatches in style. By all accounts it’s not a scoreline that flatters the hosts.
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HALF TIME: Manchester United 2-0 Lyon (agg 4-2)
United score two goals in the first half for only the second time in 2025. Not a bad occasion on which to do it! The semi-finals within reach.
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Lyon (Dalot 45+1); agg 4-2
A simple long pass down the inside-right channel. Dalot wins a wrestle with Tagliafico by the right-hand side of the D. He spins and dispatches a shot across Perri and in, off the base of the left-hand post. Easy as that! There’s a VAR check for a foul, but it’s quickly over.
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45 min +1: Tolisso is booked for a cynical tug on Garnacho, and he’ll miss the next match. Should Lyon get there. And that doesn’t look so likely, because …
45 min: … so having said that, Cherki dribbles hard down the right and reaches the edge of the area before being swarmed by five red shirts. Nowhere to go. But Cherki is unquestionably the big dangerman for Lyon.
44 min: Lyon, perhaps aware that a second first-half goal wouldn’t flatter Manchester United, take their sweet time over a free kick. The sanctuary of the dressing room, and a chance to regroup, is within touching distance.
43 min: Dorgu pings Garnacho away down the left, but just before the winger enters the box, he slips, allowing Maitland-Niles to come across and mop up.
41 min: … and Maguire wins a header again, but this one loops into the sky and provides easy pickings for Perri.
40 min: United keep pressing forward. Dorgu looks for Hojlund with a cross from the left but can’t find his man. Then Ugarte bustles down the other flank to win another corner. Fernandes strolls over to take.
38 min: Fernandes has developed a taste for the spectacular now. From a central position, 25 yards out, he creams an outside-of-foot half-volley inches wide of the top-right corner. Perri wasn’t getting to that.
37 min: Garnacho’s shot is deflected wide right. Nothing comes of the corner but this is a good response by the hosts to that period of Lyon dominance.
36 min: Mazraoui launches long down the inside-right channel. Fernandes meets the ball dropping over his shoulder on the volley, and sends a screeching dipper pinging off the crossbar. What a goal that would have been! There won’t be many fans of United or Liverpool who’ll appreciate the comparison, but that was Robbie Fowleresque.
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35 min: Yoro beckenbauers his way down the middle of the park with all the elegance that made-up verb suggests. The move peters out, but that’s not the point. What a player Yoro promises to be.
33 min: United faff around on the edge of their own box, gifting the ball to Akouokou, who takes a speculative shot. Straight at Onana. The first murmurs of anxiety from the home fans. Lyon are getting closer and closer to an equaliser.
31 min: Cherki is this close to scoring a spectacular solo goal, spinning away from Dorgu down the right and drifting infield, past Casemiro and Yoro, before entering the box, opening his body, and sidefooting towards the bottom left. He doesn’t quite catch it, allowing Onana to parry. It’s a fine save, though Onana should never have been allowed to make it. Having done so well to get himself into position, Cherki should have scored.
30 min: Tagliafico makes good down the left and crosses long for Maitland-Niles, who volleys over from close range. The ball should never have got through to Maitland-Niles, but Yoro wafted weakly at the cross as it came over.
29 min: Lyon are bossing possession right now. And staying patient. After that shaky start, they’re now properly in this game.
27 min: Maitland-Niles advances down the right by nutmegging Casemiro, then shimmying past another couple of challenges into space. It looks promising for Lyon, but he gives Cherki too much to do with a pass down the channel. Yoro turns on the jets to get back and cover. That’s fine defending.
26 min: Maguire competes for the corner and wins a header on the penalty spot. His effort is deflected inches wide of the right-hand post by Tolisso. Not sure Perri was getting to that had it been on target. But it wouldn’t matter anyway, because the referee blows for a foul on a Lyon defender.
25 min: Garnacho accelerates down the middle at speed. He reaches the right-hand edge of the Lyon D, where his shot is blocked by Niakhaté and deflected out for a corner on the right.
23 min: Lyon have woken up. Specifically their star man Cherki, who bustles in from the right and sets up Almada, whose shot is blocked by Maguire. From the set piece, Akouokou bashes a header straight at Onana, who tips over. The retake leads to Mata blazing wildly over the bar.
21 min: Mazraoui stands on Tagliafico’s foot in the United box. Tagliafico goes down theatrically but doesn’t get the penalty he’s after.
20 min: Cherki one-twos his way down the right with Veretout, and he’s clear of Yoro. He opens his body to shoot, but Maguire comes across to block. United clear the corner, but that’s the first flash of Lyon’s attacking quality this evening.
18 min: Veretout is booked for a cynical tug on an in-flight Fernandes. Nothing going right for Lyon at the moment.
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17 min: United don’t do anything with the corner, and Lyon counter. Cherki attempts a stepover that doesn’t come off. Tolisso competes for a high ball but is beaten to the punch, literally, by Onana who biffs clear. Plenty of support for the United keeper as he does that.
16 min: Tolisso faffs around on the edge of his own box, allowing Casemiro to nip off with the ball and aim a low curler towards the bottom left. It’s going in, and Perri needs to extend all of his fingers to turn it around the post. So close to a second that would have gone some way to settling this tie already.
15 min: Mikautadze attempts … what? A trap? A pass? Either way, the ball pings straight out for a throw. Lyon haven’t got going at all.
14 min: Fernandes is down, having taken a whack in his Special Area. Mata hitting the target with an accidental knee. But he’s back up and again quickly enough.
12 min: That was a really smooth sequence. Onana, who copped plenty of flak in France last week, goes over to celebrate the goal in front of the Lyon fans.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Lyon (Ugarte 10); agg 3-2
This is a glorious team move. Mazraoui finds Fernandes down the right. Fernandes pulls back for Garnacho, who takes a first-time touch forward to spin past two defenders down the inside-right channel. Another cutback, and Ugarte can’t miss from ten yards. A powerful sidefoot and United take the lead!
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9 min: Hojlund drops deep and releases Fernandes into a lot of space down the inside-right channel. Fernandes has options to pass and shoot, but takes too long sizing them up and is dispossessed by Tolisso. That was a very promising situation.
8 min: Before the corner can be taken, the referee gives Maguire and Akouokou the what-for after some childish wrestling. Then Fernandes delivers, and it’s a non-event. Lyon clear their lines easily.
7 min: Maguire launches long for Garnacho down the left. Veretout refuses to let the winger pass. United try again down the other flank, and Fernandes wins the first corner of the evening off Akouokou. United’s captain will take it himself.
6 min: It’s fast-paced but scrappy. Both sets of fans continue to give it plenty.
4 min: Mikautadze tries to release Almada into the United box down the left, but Mazraoui isn’t having any of it.
3 min: Maguire bangs into Cherki in the old-fashioned you-now-know-I’m-here style. The crowd enjoyed that.
2 min: A little smoke from the pre-match pyro party still floating about. A couple of early touches for Onana. Casemiro has the opportunity to send Dorgu into space down the left but overcooks the pass and clanks it out for a throw.
A blast of John Denver, then Lyon get the ball rolling, with the aggregate score 2-2 after the first leg. The hosts are kicking towards the Stretford End in this first half.
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The teams are out! Manchester United – the Red Devils - in their famous red shirts; Olympique Lyonnais – the Kids – in white with tricolour-completing trim. The Lyon fans have been making plenty of ear-splitting noise, and United’s home support are responding in kind with some bedlam of their own. A glorious racket. And a new tifo – NEVER GONNA STOP – featuring legends various lifting European trophies for United. Rio, Peter, Bryan, Wayne and Sir Bobby, seeing you asked. We’ll be off once pennants have been exchanged, hands clasped and coins tossed.
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Ruben Amorim speaks to TNT Sports. “We did well in France … we also can do better … we have some players that cannot start … so you need to think about every possibility … extra time … every situation of the game … Onana just needs to focus on doing a good game … he is professional … our player and in our starting XI … they will change something … more or less the same approach but we’ll see … we need to be really smart … we have to be patient … cope with pressure … do a good game.”
… and if that doesn’t augur well enough … United have made it through on 14 of the 20 occasions they’ve drawn the first leg of a European knockout tie away. Furthermore, on the one occasion they’ve drawn the first leg away 2-2, in the 2022-23 Europa League against Barcelona, they went on to win the second leg 2-1. So, a 100% record in this exact situation then, which compares very favourably with Lyon’s own 100% record: the French club have lost on all nine of the previous occasions they’ve drawn the first leg of a European tie at home. History firmly on United’s side all right.
History is firmly on Manchester United’s side tonight. Lyon have visited Old Trafford on two previous occasions, and lost both times. In the Champions League groups in 2004-05, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored the winner in a 2-1 win, after Gary Neville’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Mahamadou Diarra. Three seasons later, in the 2007-08 Champions League round of 16, Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal was enough. Why not relive those matches with ye olde reports?
The first leg. Here’s a reminder of what happened this time last week, in both MBM and match-report form. Oh André.
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Both sides name exactly the same starting XIs as they did last week at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais. United’s bench is the same, as well, save the absence of the hamstrung Joshua Zirkzee.
The teams
Manchester United: Onana, Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro, Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu, Garnacho, Fernandes, Hojlund.
Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Lindelof, Mount, Eriksen, Shaw, Mainoo, Amass, Moorhouse, Kamason, Kukonki.
Lyon: Lucas Perri, Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico, Tolisso, Akouokou, Veretout, Cherki, Almada, Mikautadze.
Subs: Descamps, Diarra, Lacazette, Fofana, Tessmann, Abner Vinicius, Kumbedi, Omari, Matic, Caleta-Car.
Referee: Sandro Scharer (Switzerland).
Preamble
In a calm and rational world, all that’s up for grabs for Manchester United tonight is a place in the Europa League semi-final against either Athletic Club of Bilbao or Rangers. But that’s not the reality of the situation, and so the quarter-final, first-leg visit of Lyon could have big repercussions going forward for under-fire goalkeeper André Onana, under-pressure manager Ruben Amorim, and under-performing … well, you get the gist, we could be here all night. Should United get knocked out this evening, expect plenty of external brouhaha for the next few hours/days/weeks/months; United are the second-biggest soap opera based in Manchester, after all.
Look at it the other way, though. United played well in patches in Lyon, and that knowledge should stand them in good stead this evening. And if they get through, they’ll be just three matches from glory, more European silverware, and a place in next season’s Champions League. Game-changers all, and that’s before we’d get to vindication for goalkeeper, manager, etc., and so on. So yes, OK, perhaps there is more up for grabs for Manchester United tonight than just a place in the Europa League semi-final against either Athletic Club of Bilbao or Rangers. It’s a big one tonight. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
