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Key events
The first leg. Here’s a reminder of what happened this time last week, in both MBM and match-report form. Oh André.
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!
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