Manchester United Starting XI vs Lyon: Confirmed team news and predicted lineup | OneFootball

Man United vs Lyon: Selection Choices Define Amorim’s High-Stakes Gamble

Onana Returns Amid Questions of Form and Focus

For a club like Man United, stage fright should be alien. Yet, under the lights of Old Trafford and with the Europa League on the line, nerves will be unavoidable. Andre Onana, the man at the heart of recent defensive mishaps, is back between the posts. After being rested against Newcastle following a pair of costly mistakes in Lyon, he returns to the starting XI with the weight of redemption hanging over him.

“Onana will play tomorrow,” said head coach Ruben Amorim. “As a coach, and also as a former player, I try to do things that can help a player in this situation… He had one weekend that I felt it was better for him to not play… and this week, my thinking was to put Onana to play.”

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Amorim’s words hint at empathy, but also reveal how tightly stretched this squad has become. The goalkeeping change is not just tactical – it’s psychological management in a season teetering between progress and collapse.

Defensive Continuity but Fragile Depth

Onana’s reinstatement allows Amorim to restore the same backline that started in France. Harry Maguire, sidelined for the league humiliation at Newcastle, is expected to return. With injuries to Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt and Ayden Heaven, Amorim’s options are not just limited – they’re threadbare.

Jonny Evans, once the fallback, remains unavailable despite returning to training. Toby Collyer, Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee add to an injury list that leaves the squad alarmingly exposed.

This defensive fragility is a subplot that cannot be ignored. Any misstep, any lapse, and Lyon will pounce.

Fernandes Holds Key to United’s Attacking Balance

In midfield, Amorim will likely rely on the robust pairing of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte. The creativity, though, flows through Bruno Fernandes. The captain’s influence will be central if United are to progress. Alongside him, Alejandro Garnacho brings energy and directness – attributes desperately needed against a Lyon side eager to play on the break.

Rasmus Hojlund, despite a barren 2025 in front of goal, is the favourite to start. His five Europa League strikes earlier in the campaign give him credit, but the Danish forward remains a puzzle yet to be solved.

Mason Mount as a false nine remains a wildcard – one that Amorim might not dare to play with the stakes this high.

Decisive Moments to Shape Season’s Verdict

What makes this tie all the more gripping is its precarious balance. The 2-2 result in France left more questions than answers. Lyon, unpredictable yet dangerous, have already exposed United’s vulnerabilities once. At home, with the crowd urging them on, United need not just composure but conviction.

Tonight is more than just about reaching a semi-final. For Amorim, it is about control – of a dressing room, of expectations, and of a narrative that has veered close to chaos more than once this season.

Predicted Man United XIOnana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund

Injured: Martinez, Zirkzee, Collyer, Amad, Heaven, De Ligt, EvansTime & Date: 8pm BST, Thursday 17 April 2025Venue: Old Trafford, ManchesterHow to Watch: TNT Sports 1