Manchester United vs Olympique Lyonnais on Old Trafford, in Europa League

Goal Expectancy & Form Indicators

The first leg gave us a clear blueprint: both teams found the net and combined for four goals, with attacking quality and defensive frailty evident on both sides.

That game extended Manchester United‘s run to just one clean sheet in their last 13 home matches, with ten of those featuring them conceding the opening goal. On the flip side, they’ve also shown resilience and offensive prowess, scoring in six of their last eight at home in all competitions.

Lyon, meanwhile, are in red-hot form going forward, having scored 24 goals in their last nine matches across all competitions – an average of 2.66 per game. This includes seven wins in that span, highlighting both confidence and consistency in attack. They’ve also scored in each of their last 12 away Europa League matches, a run stretching back to 2017, and they’ve kept only a handful of clean sheets during that span – reinforcing their reputation as an expansive, attacking side.

Tactical Landscape

Both teams are likely to field attack-minded lineups. United’s depleted squad, especially up front with Joshua Zirkzee ruled out, puts pressure on Rasmus Hojlund, Garnacho, and Bruno Fernandes to deliver. Fernandes, in particular, has a strong Europa League scoring record at Old Trafford, with his last seven UEL goals all coming in home wins – four of which saw both teams score and Over 2.5 Goals land.

Lyon, without Ernest Nuamah, will rely on Rayan Cherki, Thiago Almada, and Georges Mikautadze, the latter of whom is in sensational form with 11 goal contributions (5G, 6A) in his last six appearances. Their fluid front line will test a shaky United defense, especially with Andre Onana’s confidence under scrutiny after high-profile mistakes.

Historical and Statistical Trends

BTTS has landed in five of United’s last six home matches.

Over 2.5 Goals has occurred in six of Lyon’s last seven games.

Manchester United have conceded 14 goals in their last 6 matches (2.33 per game).

Lyon have scored 2+ goals in 7 of their last 9 games in all competitions.

Furthermore, Lyon’s unbeaten 12-game away run in this competition suggests they’ll score, but their historic inability to progress after a first-leg home draw (0/9) means they’ll need to be on the front foot, not just sit back.

Manchester United vs Olympique Lyonnais Preview Conclusion

This is a high-stakes knockout game with two sides that are far stronger in attack than in defense. United will be pushing aggressively from the start, while Lyon’s counter-attacking and creative talent are more than capable of exploiting the gaps. With goals expected on both ends and a lack of recent defensive solidity from either side, Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals looks like a very strong prediction. Manchester United vs Olympique Lyonnais prediction: Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals