On Thursday night, Lyon faces off against Manchester United in what could be a tense UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg at Groupama Stadium.
Date: 10/04/2025
Location: Groupama Stadium
Time: 8pm
The last meeting between Lyon and Manchester United was all the way back in March 2008, as the Red Devils advanced past the Ligue 1 outfit in the Champions League’s Round of 16 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo goal at Old Trafford after the first leg had resulted in a 1-1 draw in France following a late Carlos Tevez equaliser after Karim Benzema’s 54th-minute opener.
Lyon are having a decent campaign, as they are fifth in Ligue 1 with 48 points from 28 matches, seeing them sit just two points behind third-place AS Monaco with six games to go.
The hosts have had a change in manager this campaign, as they were initially managed by Pierre Sage who has dismissed after winning eight of his first 19 league games, while Paulo Fonseca has won eight of his first 11 matches in charge, catapulting them into contention for Champions League football next season via the league.
In the UEFA Europa League, Lyon managed to finish sixth in the Group Stage with 15 points from eight matches, before thrashing FCSB 7-1 on aggregate in the Round of 16 to set up this tie with Manchester United.
On the other hand, United’s league campaign has been absolutely dismal, as they 13th in the Premier League with just 38 matches from 31 games, seeing them sit 15 points adrift of fourth-place Chelsea, as well as seven points behind AFC Bournemouth who sit in 10th.
The UEFA Europa League is pivotal to United’s season, as it is the only form of silverware and hopes of qualifying for any form of European football next campaign. The Red Devils managed to finish third in the Group Stage with 18 points from eight matches and earned a superb 5-2 aggregate victory over Real Sociedad in the Round of 16.
Europa League 
