Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
The headline quarter-final clash between Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United is set to be the standout fixture of Thursday’s Europa League schedule. Neither team will want to leave the Groupama Stadium with a deficit, as both aim to avoid a disadvantage heading into the second leg at Old Trafford.
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais have struggled to find form since the international break. They suffered a 2:4 defeat against top-five rivals Strasbourg in late March. In Saturday’s 2:1 win over Lille, the squad took a more conservative approach going forward, generating only 1.05 xG from open play. The injury to winger Ernest Nuamah has further limited their attacking options out wide. In the Round of 16, Olympique Lyonnais dominated possession against FCSB (7:1 on aggregate), but against Manchester United, they will be forced to share possession and lean more heavily on counter-attacking opportunities.
Manchester United
Since the international break, Manchester United have failed to score in two consecutive English Premier League matches — a 0:1 loss to Nottingham Forest and a goalless draw in the derby against Manchester City. Across those 180 minutes of league football, the team have accumulated 2.58 xG in total, renewing concerns from supporters about the finishing ability of the forward duo Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee. It's also worth noting that since early February, Manchester United have managed just one win in five away fixtures.
Olympique Lyonnais vs Manchester United Prediction
Despite featuring numerous high-calibre players, both teams are expected to take a measured approach in possession. A tightly contested battle is likely, with few clear-cut chances created, as both managers will be wary of making costly mistakes.
