Lyon and Manchester United will go head-to-head in the Europa League quarter-final clash at Groupama Stadium on Thursday night, with both sides desperate to end a difficult campaign with a trophy.
Paulo Fonseca’s side currently sit fifth in Ligue 1 after a 2-1 win over Lille at the weekend, while they reached this stage of the competition thanks to a 7-1 aggregate win over FCSB. Man Utd on the other hand sit 13th in the Premier League after a 0-0 draw with Man City at the weekend, while they dispatched of Real Sociedad with a 5-2 aggregate win in the last 16.
But both sides have injury concerns which will leave the managers with decisions to make, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expect the teams to line up.
Lyon Team News
Nuamah ruled out
The Ligue 1 outfit were rocked by news that winger Ernest Nuamah has suffered a ruptured ACL and will miss several months of action.
Malick Fofana is also out of action which should see the highly-rated Rayan Cherki start out wide, as he looks to impress against one of the sides linked with a summer move for his services.
|
Lyon Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Ernest Nuamah |
Knee |
01/01/2026 |
|
Malick Fofana |
Knee |
01/05/2025 |
|
Tanner Tessmann |
Other |
Unknown |
Fonseca Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Fonseca spoke about the game ahead.
“Tessmann will be absent for personal reasons. Without Malick and Ernest Nuamah, it will be a little different, but we have to adapt with the players available. I am convinced that we can do well, even without them.
“It’s true that they are fast players, who bring a lot of depth, so our game may be a little different. But we prepared for this match without them, and we prepared well.”
Lyon Predicted XI
Mikautadze to lead the line
- Lyon Predicted XI: Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Vinicius; Tolisso, Veretout, Akouokou; Cherki, Almada; Mikautadze.
- Lyon Predicted Substitutes: Diarra (GK), Descamps (GK), Kumbedi (DEF), Omari (DEF), Tagliafico (DEF), Caleta-Car (DEF), Akouokou (MID), Lacazette (FWD), Molebe (FWD).
With Nuamah and Fofana both ruled out, Fonseca’s options on the wing are limited. Cherki, Thiago Almada and Mikautadze are options to play there, but with the Georgian expected to lead the line that should make up the front three.
That leaves the experienced £170,000-a-week duo Nemanja Matic and Alexandre Lacazette as options on the bench.
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Man Utd Team News
Mainoo and Shaw could return
Amorim is happy to be welcoming Kobbie Mainoo back to his matchday squad for this European clash, while Luke Shaw could also play his first minutes since December after he returned to the bench at the weekend.
Ayden Heaven, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo remain unavailable through injury, while Chido Obi is ineligible for the squad. Matthijs De Ligt and Toby Collyer were also absent from training and haven’t travelled with the squad.
|
Man Utd Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Kobbie Mainoo |
Hamstring |
10/04/2025 |
|
Matthijs De Ligt |
Ankle |
13/04/2025 |
|
Toby Collyer |
Knock |
03/05/2025 |
|
Ayden Heaven |
Ankle |
03/05/2025 |
|
Amad Diallo |
Ankle |
25/05/2025 |
|
Lisandro Martinez |
Knee |
01/01/2026 |
|
Jonny Evans |
Back |
Unknown |
Amorim Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Amorim shared an update ahead of the game.
“Matta [De Ligt] has a problem in his foot, we are trying to assess. We still don’t have the data that he can return.
“Toby has a small issue in his leg so we hope to have him in a few weeks.
“In this moment, we have to be careful with Kobbie.
“He had some weeks out, so we have to be careful with his fitness. We are really happy to have more options and an option like Kobbie Mainoo, with the quality that he has, he can play in different positions – he has already played as a six, as an eight, as a 10.
“So we are really pleased to have Kobbie Mainoo but we have to be careful, and we need Kobbie Mainoo fit and fresh.”
Man Utd Predicted XI
Casemiro to start again
- Man Utd Predicted XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Fernandes, Zirkzee, Hojlund.
- Man Utd Predicted Substitutes: Bayindir (GK), Heaton (GK) Amass (DEF), Kamason (DEF), Lindelof (DEF), Shaw (DEF), Kukonki (DEF), Eriksen (MID), Moorhouse (MID) Mount (MID), Mainoo (MID), Garnacho (FWD).
The Red Devils will be hopeful of another strong defensive performance which should see Casemiro keep his place after a good performance in midweek. £400,000-a-week midfield duo Eriksen and Mount will likely be on the bench once more, while Mainoo is likely to be on the bench.
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