Manchester United face a tricky test against Ligue 1 side Lyon in the quarter-finals of the 2024/25 Europa League this month.
The Red Devils have endured an underwhelming season domestically, but can still crown the campaign by winning major silverware.
They are one of the favourites to lift the trophy, with Betway rating them as 7/2 shots to emerge victorious when the final is staged on May 21.
However, Ruben Amorim’s side would be well-advised not look too far ahead after landing a tricky tie against Lyon in the quarter-finals.
The French club defeated FCSB 7-1 on aggregate in the previous round and have the firepower to cause United plenty of problems over the two games.
Lyon last faced a Premier League side at this stage in 2021/22. They lost 4-1 on aggregate to West Ham United – their third straight two-legged defeat against English teams.
Intriguingly, Lyon have won one and draw seven of their last 10 home matches against English teams. By contrast, they have won three and drawn four of their last eight on the road.
Lyon have reached the Europa League quarter-finals on four previous occasions, but have only progressed once to the last four (2016/17).
They were defeated 5-4 by Ajax on that occasion. The Eredivisie side subsequently faced Man United in the final, were they suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Lyon have lost only one of their ten Europa League matches this season (W6, D3) and are unbeaten in seven, highlighting the size of the task United face.
They have been defeated just three times in their last 28 European home games, and have the talent to dump United out of the competition if they produce their best form.
Despite this, the Red Devils will head into the tie believing they can keep themselves on course to win the tournament and secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
They have won seven of their last eight two-legged ties against French teams, winning the last five since a defeat against Monaco in the 1997/98 Champions League quarter-finals.
The only previous time they have met a Ligue 1 side in the Europea League was in the 2016/17 last-16, where they defeated Saint-Etienne 4-0 on aggregate.
United have lost only four of their previous 30 UEFA competition matches against French teams – a record which bodes well for their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
They have lost just one of their last 14 two-legged ties in the Europa League, with their 5-2 aggregate defeat against Sevilla in the quarter-finals two seasons ago the only stain on their record.
The Red Devils have won 14 and drawn six of their last 21 Europa League matches. They are also unbeaten in their last six European games on the road (W2, D4).
If United deliver the same level of performance they produced against Real Sociedad in the previous round, they will be too strong for Lyon.
Securing a positive result in Lyon next Thursday would boost United’s chances of securing a last four tie against Athletic Bilbao or Rangers.
