And one that will most certainly have HUGE ramifications for United this season.
Every time we play in the Europa League, I will say that this game/tie is the most important for the season. The more I say it though, it means we've progressed which is obviously a good thing.
Traveling to Lyon in the first leg is going to be categorically difficult however. The French are a passionate people and you know how we can crumble in tough atmospheres.
Although, with the upturn in form and performances, I can see us getting a positive result.
What will this game hold though? 👀
Predicted Lineup
I doubt we'll see many changes from the derby. Unless absolutely necessary, I can see Amorim selecting a similar side.
If De Ligt is available, then he will probably start ahead of Maguire. If not, then it will be the same back three.
I see no changes ahead of them either as after his recent resurgence and experience in Europe, Casemiro could be a vital member of that team.
I know that he isn't a striker but Zirkzee at the moment is better than Hojlund. I think I would be better than Rasmus.
In saying that, I do believe that we look a better outfit whenever we do have that proper number 9 up top. I feel like this also allows the others to play in their more preferred positions and truly affect the game. Zirkzee is better as a number 10 and can have that impact.
However, given his recent performances and the fact that he makes us look like we're playing with 10 men, Amorim may opt for the Dutchman instead of the Dane.
He does also have options in those number 10 positions but I don't think we'll be seeing the likes of Mount in the starting XI. Bruno and Garnacho to continue.
Approach
I can see something similar to what we did against City. Very compact and conservative, Amorim will look to make it hard for Lyon to break us down.
Defensively, United have actually been pretty solid. With the 3-4-3 formation, there are always enough bodies to cover in defense and when we don't have the ball, the wing-backs drop back and make it a five. With the two in midfield also falling back, it will mean seven to shield the goal.
We will then be looking for counters, tranistions or high turnovers. This ability to win the ball higher up the pitch or perhaps in the final third gives us a greater opportunity to score.
This is maybe where someone like Zirkzee can come in because against City, when he came on, that's exactly what he did on a couple of occasions. He was also the one who had one of our best chances of the game.
His habit of dropping deep may also be something that can be a problem for the Lyon defense as Zirkzee can pull them out of position and create spaces for his teammates.
The only area of concern has been up front. United have improved in terms of chances created as well as the type of opportunities they've been carving out but that lack of a cutting edge has seen us not get the results we perhaps deserved.
We had just 2 shots on target out of 13 attempts at goal on Sunday. Not good enough and certainly not enough to get us wins. Sort the issue out up top and we have a decent chance.
Form
We are still the only UNEBEATEN team in all of Europe 🤷♂️.
United went through the entire league phase without losing with our record being 5 wins, 3 draws and 0 losses. We also beat Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate in the round of 16.
What Ruben's Reds have also managed to do in Europe that has been a problem domestically is that they have scored a good amount of goals. Only Laztio, Spurs and Galatasaray scored more than us in the league.
United have netted a total of 21 goals and conceded just 11 goals in 10 matches. Certainly not a bad return at all.
The away form though has been a little iffy. United have drawn 3 and won just 2 on the road but I suppose that not losing away from home isn't a bad thing.
We've also only conceded 6 on the road whilst scoring 9. but despite the good defensive record, United have kept just the 2 clean sheets so far. We do give oppositions a chance.
Lyon
The French side are a little inconsistent themselves and are also not like their former selves, similar to United.
Also similarly to us, Lyon have had a couple of managers this season. Pierre Sage took over from Fabio Grosso from Novemeber 2023 until January this year before Paulo Fonseca took over from him after Sage was sacked.
However, whilst Fonseca is their manager, he has been handed a 9 month ban for an angry confrontation with French officials. Even though his side beat Brest 2-1, the Portuguese was seen pushing his head against referee Benoit Millot.
The BBC revelas that according to the French Professional Football League, his punishment constitutes "being barred from accessing the bench, the officials' dressing rooms, and carrying out any official functions before, during, or after matches until 30 November."
In addition, Fonseca will not be allowed to enter the team dressing room, pitch, tunnel and even corridors until 15 September.
Yikes 😬.
Getting back to the football though, Lyon finished in 6th in the Europa League league phase. They had 4 wins, 3 draws and just the solitary defeat, which did come at home to Besiktas.
Like United, Lyon also scored 16 but did concede 1 fewer with 8. This gave them a total of 15 points, just 3 behind us.
Their record at the Groupama Stadium is 2 wins, 1 draw and that 1 loss. In that time, the French side have scored 6 and let in 4. Not the best of home records.
Even domestically, it's not been the best of campaigns as they are 5th in the league, 26 points behind the recently-crowned champions PSG.
It's weird to think that Lyon are kind of average as they do hold a host of top talent, talent that we all know relatively well.
One of those talents is Rayan Cherki who's been linked with a move to Old Trafford; former Arsenal striker Alex Lacazette; former United midfielder - who's been talking to The Athletic - Nemanja Matic; ex-Bayern man Corentin Tolisso; Nicolas Tagliafico is another name we know pretty well.
I feel like they should be doing better with such talent but what it does indicate is that we will have a tough ask in France. Why did Onana say we are a better side than them? 🤦♂️
Recent Meetings
The clubs have only met each other on four occasions in Europe and they were a looooong time ago.
The two were paired in the same group in 04/05 and then met again in the famous 07/08 campaign. There were 2 draws (both away for United) and 2 wins. All results were close.
Prediction
For some reason I feel like Lyon won't lose. Just a gut feeling.
We know that with United we don't know what to expect. There is the chance that we show up because it's a big game but you just never know.
I still don't trust this team and going away to France will definitely be difficult even though it's not out of the realms of possibility that we get a result.
Lyon themselves are hit and miss and that's why I'm going for a 1-1 draw. Don't think it's the worst result and to come away with something in Europe is always great.
But this is to be one hell of a tie. Can we do it guys? Can we do it?
Rayan Cherki: Photo by ROMAIN LAFABREGUE/AFP via Getty Images - Get Spanish Football News
Diogo Dalot: Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)