PLAYER RATINGS | Manchester United 5-4 Lyon (agg. 7-6): 10-men OL stunned by late Manchester United remontada and crash out of Europa League | OneFootball

UEFA Europa League, Quarter-final, 17/04/25

Manchester United progressed in the UEFA Europa League after what was a modern-day classic at Old Trafford. Last-minute goals from Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire against 10-men Olympique Lyonnais secured a stunning win that sends the Red Devils into the semi-finals (5-4, agg. 7-6).

The Match

There were differing dynamics heading into this one. Manchester United came off the back of a thrashing at the hands of Newcastle United, whilst Lyon, teeming with confidence after a win against Auxerre, were already bullish regarding their chances of progression to the next round.

However, it was Manchester United who started the game on top. After a sloppy start, punctuated by errors by both sides, it was the hosts who seized control, getting their noses in front thanks to Manuel Ugarte, who evaded Thiago Almada’s lax marking ‘attempts’ to latch onto Alejandro Garnacho’s ball across the box and finish first time. Lucas Perri kept the advantage at just one goal, saving from Casemiro after Corentin Tolisso lost the ball in a dangerous area. OL were at sixes and sevens, unable to find their teammates but Lyon did arrive around the 20-minute mark and it was Rayan Cherki – predictably – at the heart of Lyon’s growth into the game. He forced a strong save from André Onana, taunted by OL’s travelling fans throughout.

However, Manchester United, now content to hit on the break, remained a big threat. Bruno Fernandes thundered a shot off the crossbar following an excellent ball over the top from Diogo Dalot and the United captain then blasted inches wide just moments later.

Lyon needed to regroup and had looked set to head into the break just one down, however, Dalot doubled the Premier League side’s advantage on half-time. Nicolas Tagliafico wasn’t strong enough in the duel with both players contesting a long ball over the top. It was ultimately the Manchester United full-back who controlled and found the far corner with the finish.

It was a long way back for Lyon. Garnacho should have put the nail in the coffin upon the return from the dressing rooms but having sat down Clinton Mata, Garnacho, with all the time in the world from close range, he could only blast straight at Perri. Les Gones made the most of their reprieve. From nothing, Lyon halved the deficit, Tolisso heading home after Alexandre Lacazette nodded on Moussa Niakhaté’s header back into the box.

Manchester United, from a position of total dominance, looked ill at ease, and that serenity that characterised their first half dissipated instantly. Tagliafico, at fault for United’s second, got the equaliser after Onana had saved Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ initial volleyed effort at the back post.

Tolisso then went from hero to zero. In an unintentional tangling of legs, Tolisso clipped Yoro, who was galloping down the wing and was shown a second yellow. On the back foot, Lyon were rolling with the punches and subverted expectations to take the lead in extra-time thanks to Cherki. Their advantage was doubled as Lacazette converted from the spot after Malick Fofana was felled in the box by Yoro.

But then came the collapse. Fernandes pulled one back with six minutes to go, netting from the spot after a clumsy Thiago Almada challenge and then in the final minute of regulation extra-time time, Kobbie Mainoo tucked into the far corner and just one minute later, with the game seemingly heading towards penalties, Harry Maguire popped up at the back post to head home.  Scenes of euphoria at Old Trafford at the end of a roller-coaster game that played with the emotions of both sets of fans.

Manchester United player ratings

André Onana – 6

Leny Yoro – 3

Harry Maguire – 8

Absolutely imperious in both boxes, he was also outstanding with the ball at his feet, launching long balls and allowing Manchester United to get up the pitch. His aerial presence in extra-time was the key to Manchester United getting back into the game and his late winner was a just reward for Maguire, who, a year ago, was something of a joke figure. He isn’t any more.

Noussair Mazraoui – 5

Replaced by Luke Shaw (5) at half-time.

Patrick Dorgu – 6

Casemiro – 7

Manuel Ugarte – 6

Diogo Dalot – 7

Bruno Fernandes – 7

Alejandro Garnacho – 4

It is an action that will likely be forgotten in the madness of the encounter but Garnacho could – and should – have settled this game with his glorious chance at the start of the second half. He began the game well, turning his man excellently to set up Ugarte but that was his peak and thereafter he was the weakest of Manchester United’s attackers, frequently making the wrong decisions and being generally sloppy in possession.

Rasmus Hojlund – 6

Lyon player ratings

Lucas Perri – 5

Nicolas Tagliafico – 4

Moussa Niakhaté – 4

Clinton Mata – 5

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6

Jordan Veretout – 4

Replaced by Alexandre Lacazette (6).

Paul Akouokou – 4

Thiago Almada – 4

Corentin Tolisso – 4

A zero to hero and back to zero performance from Tolisso. He couldn’t do right in the first half, misplacing passes and losing the ball in dangerous areas of the pitch, notably awarding a chance to Casemiro in the first half. However, it was his opportunistic and instinctive header that sounded the revolt for Lyon and allowed them to get back in the tie before then seeing red for a second yellow card. There was no intent but there was contact with Yoro in what was a tangling of legs.

Rayan Cherki – 8

An imperfect performance but even in the first-half, with his teammates out of solutions, he was the one that grasped the game by the scruff of the neck and made things happen, taking his goal excellently in extra-time, too.

Georges Mikautadze – 3

Ineffective, error-prone, and oddly lacking his bearings all match, he was the logical choice to be substituted in favour of a fresh attacker. Malick Fofana (7) took his place and showed to be more dangerous, making repetitive runs down the left and destabilising the Manchester United defence. He was at the heart of Cherki’s goal and won the penalty for Lacazette.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Old Trafford