Man Utd vs Lyon: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Manchester United are aiming to reach the Europa League semi-finals when they take on Lyon at Old Trafford on Thursday night.

It's been a rather bleak start to Ruben Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford, but the Portuguese coach looked on course to oversee an impressive victory in France last weekend. Joshua Zirkzee headed home against the run of play late on, but Andre Onana's second costly mistake of the first leg ensured Lyon earned a result as Rayan Cherki poked home a stoppage-time equaliser.

As a result, the two teams head to the Theatre of Dreams with the tie evenly poised at 2-2. The victor will face either Athletic Club or Rangers in the last four.

While United followed their draw in Lyon with a 4-1 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday - a result which confirmed this season to be the club's worst in the Premier League era, Paulo Fonseca's side were victorious in Ligue 1, beating Auxerre 3-1.

Thursday's visitors have won four of their previous five domestically and are up to fourth in the table. A return to the Champions League is on the cards with five games to go.

Here is 90min's guide to the second leg in Manchester

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Man Utd vs Lyon head-to-head record (all games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Man Utd vs Lyon on TV - UK & US

Man Utd team news

Joshua Zirkzee will not play again this season / Stu Forster/GettyImages

Amorim confirmed that Andre Onana will return to his starting XI after Altay Bayindir got the nod against Newcastle off the back of the Cameroonian goalkeeper's nightmare display in the first leg.

The United boss has also ruled Joshua Zirkzee out for the rest of the season due to the hamstring injury he sustained on Sunday. As a result, Rasmus Hojlund will likely start up top after struggling in France.

Amad Diallo could return before the season concludes, but won't play a part here. Matthijs de Ligt, Toby Collyer, Lisandro Martinez, Ayden Heaven, and Jonny Evans are also sidelined for the hosts.

Man Utd predicted lineup vs Lyon (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund.

Lyon team news

Rayan Cherki poked home a late equaliser for Lyon in the first leg / Michael Steele/GettyImages

Fonseca shuffled his pack somewhat at the weekend, although injuries to Ernest Nuamah and Malick Fofana have left Lyon short-handed in attack. Fortunately, the available options at their disposal are currently performing superbly.

Cherki will operate behind Georges Mikautadze along with Argentina international Thiago Almada, and they can also call upon Alexandre Lacazette, who was on the scoresheet against Auxerre.

Ex-United veteran Nemanja Matic was an unused substitute in the first leg, before starting in Ligue 1 on Sunday. The experienced midfielder is likely to drop back to the bench at Old Trafford.

Lyon predicted lineup vs Man Utd

Lyon predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Akouokou, Veretout; Cherki, Tolisso, Almada; Mikautadze.

Man Utd vs Lyon score prediction

United's performance at home in the round of 16 against Real Sociedad was one of the highs of Amorim's reign to date, but Lyon present are far trickier challenge than the struggling Spaniards.

Lyon play with a physicality and wiliness without the ball that United struggled to cope with last week, and the form of Fonseca's frontline is ominious heading into the return leg. They are likely to cede more control than the home fans would appreciate, but such pragmatism offers United more hope of advancing.

This could be a back-and-forth affair just like last week, with extra-time certainly on the cards. Victory for Lyon would cap of what's been a miserable season for United, who have had their fair share of nadirs at Old Trafford this season.