Lyon vs Man Utd LIVE: Second error from Andre Onana leaves Europa League quarter-final finely poised
Lyon 2-2 Manchester United: Andre Onana had two errors, including late on as the French side claimed a draw
Manchester United have work to do at Old Trafford after drawing with Lyon 2-2 in the Europa League quarter-finals.
An error from Andre Onana gave Lyon the lead in the first half after the goalkeeper allowed Thiago Almada’s free kick to bounce over his outstretched arms.
Rasmus Hojlund and Bruno Fernandes both had clear chances turned wide of the target as they searched for the equaliser which gave Ruben Amorim’s men some hope heading towards the second half.
Leny Yoro confirmed their confidence after meeting Manuel Ugarte’s volley with a glancing header which brought the equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Joshua Zirkzee, coming off the bench in the second half, thought he had scored the winner after meeting a cross from Fernandes in the 88th minute but another mistake from Onana earned the hosts a point.
He fumbled a shot late in stoppage time but Rayan Cherki was on hand quickly to tap it home.
Relive the Europa League action with our live blog below:
'We will play to win'
The Lyon boss also spoke about the mindset his players have for tonight’s game adding: "I'm happy that my players want [to win the Europa League], but I have to be more level-headed.
“We want to win, but we're up against one of the best teams in the world.
“We believe in ourselves, in our ability, in our players. We will play to win.
“Confidence is high in the squad. I think my team is ready."
'This is an important game for us'
Lyon coach, Paulo Fonseca, said: "This is an important game for Manchester United, but it's an important game for us too.
“Maybe it's more decisive for them as [the Europa League] represents their only way to get into the Champions League for next season, whereas we have the league option as well."
Nemanja Matic is right about Andre Onana – but he is far from Man United’s biggest problem
If nothing else, it was good news for Massimo Taibi. Or maybe it wasn’t, as it prompted memories of his ill-fated, and ignominiously brief, spell in the Manchester United goal. The Italian has tended to be the byword for bad United keepers.
He may have company. At least in the eyes of Nemanja Matic – whose time as a teammate of Thibaut Courtois, Petr Cech and David de Gea could give him an insight into goalkeeping – whose presence in the Lyon midfield already added spice to Thursday’s reunion with United and who took issue with Onana’s undiplomatic assertion the English club are “way better” than their French hosts.
Nemanja Matic is right about Andre Onana – but he isn’t Man Utd’s biggest problem
Lyon's terrible record
Lyon have never beaten Manchester United in four attempts in major European competitions.
They’ve drawn two and lost two of those four games played between the teams.
Only against Barcelona have they gone more often without winning in Europe (played eight, drawn three, lost five).
Matic calls Onana 'one of the worst goalkeepers in Man Utd's history'
Nemanja Matic called Andre Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United” history in a brutal response to his eye-raising claim that Ruben Amorim’s side are “way better” than Lyon.
“To say that, you need to have cover for something like that,” Matic told a press conference ahead of facing his former team. “I respect everyone but to say that... you need to give an answer.
“When you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care what you’re talking [about].
“If David de Gea or Peter Schmeichel or Edwin van der Sar said that then I would question myself.
“But if you are, statistically, one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United history then he needs to show that before he says. We will see.”
Andre Onana claims Man Utd ‘way better’ than Lyon
Andre Onana does not expect Manchester United’s make-or-break Europa League quarter-final to be easy but has confidently claimed Ruben Amorim’s side are “way better” than Lyon.
“We all know the importance of this game, so we will go there with a winning mentality,” he said in the build-up to tonight’s match.
“It’s not our best season but we still have something big to win, so we will go for it.
“It’s (Lyon) a very good team, we know some of them, but I don’t think we have to focus about them. It’s more about us, what we’re going to do.
“I think we are better than them, we just have to go there and show who we are.
“If we go there with a winning mentality and we are focused, we stay compact, together and we follow the game plan, we will be winning the game.
“Of course, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we are way better than them.”
Andre Onana responds to Nemanja Matic’s ‘worst goalkeeper in Man Utd history’ comment
Andre Onana responded to Nemanja Matic’s astonishingly brutal comment that he is the “one of the world goalkeepers in Manchester United history” by reminding the midfielder that he did not win any trophies during his time at Old Trafford.
An extraordinary build-up to Thursday’s Europa League tie continued as Onana took to social media and posted a picture of him holding the FA Cup at Wembley with United last season, adding “some can’t say the same”.
Andre Onana responds to Nemanja Matic’s ‘worst goalkeeper in Man Utd history’ comment
Lyon vs Man Utd prediction
Ruben Amorim’s side will need to improve their finishing while being wary of Lyon’s attacking threat.
But, United should have enough quality to take a result back to Old Trafford ahead of next week’s second leg.
Lyon 1-1 Manchester United.
Man Utd early team news
For United, both Kobbie Mainoo and Matthijs de Ligt could return for this match, though it will come too soon for Ayden Heaven. Chido Obi is also unavailable after not being registered.
Mason Mount made a return against City, and he will be hoping to feature alongside Luke Shaw, who was an unused substitute. Joshua Zirkzee will also hope to return to the starting eleven after impressing in recent weeks.
Predicted Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu; Fernandes, Garnacho; Zirkzee.
Lyon early team news
Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, and he’ll likely be replaced by young French talent Rayan Cherki. Belgian winger Malick Fofana is also out.
Former United winger Nemanja Matic will likely anchor the midfield for the French side, with former Arsenal man Alexandre Lacazaette leading the line.
Predicted Lyon XI: Perri; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Tessmann, Matic; Cherki, Almada, Tolisso; Lacazette.
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