Manchester United travel to France tonight to take on Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg of the Europa League quarter final.
Both sides will be desperate for a positive result to set themselves up well for the second leg and the chance to reach a European semi-final.
With both sides currently sitting outside the Champions League spots in the league, a Europa League win is even more vital to both sides’ season.
Here are three plotlines to whet the appetite before tonight’s crucial match up.
Nemanja Matic faces his former side
The Serbian joined United in 2017 and played 189 times before leaving in 2022.
Matic would later play a season at AS Roma and Rennes before joining Lyon in 2024, where he has played 50 games in all competitions for the French side.
The tall midfielder has hit the headlines this week as he first questioned United’s priorities when he became the latest former player to state that the club prioritised commercial decisions over winning trophies.
He also managed to get into a war of words with current United keeper Andre Onana and claimed the shot stopper was one of the worst Man United goalkeepers in modern history after the Cameroonian stated that United were way better than their French opponents.
United’s strong record versus Lyon
The Red Devils have never lost a match against the Ligue 1 side.
The BBC report that “Lyon have never beaten Manchester United in four attempts in major European competitions, drawing two and losing the others. They have only faced Barcelona more often without winning in Europe, three draws and five defeats.
The Red Devils have only ever faced the French side in the Champions League and have not done so since 2007/2008.
They drew 1-1 in France before winning the return leg at Old Trafford 1-0 with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo. United also faced the Ligue 1 side in the group stage of the 2004/2005 season, drawing 2-2 in France before winning 2-1 at Old Trafford.
Therefore, Ruben Amorim’s side will be looking to win their first ever match in Lyon tonight.
United’s impressive run in Europa League knockouts
The Red Devils have been in impressive form in the Europa League this season, winning six out of ten games, and drawing the other four.
They have also started two legged ties very well as of late in both the Champions League and Europa. In fact, “Manchester United haven’t lost the first leg of any of their last 11 major knockout ties, winning five and drawing six.
The last time they lost was a 0-1 home defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League in April 2019. Each of their last three away first leg matches have been drawn, as they achieved a 1-1 draw last month with Real Sociedad in Spain before winning 4-1 at Old Trafford.
The travelling fans will hope they can take at least a draw back to Old Trafford in tonight’s huge match up.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
