In the crucial context of the return match against Manchester United, several Lyon players are under threat of a potential suspension for a possible Europa League semifinal. Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Moussa Niakhaté will have to be cautious at this meeting, as they have already been warned several times during the competition. This delicate situation, which repeated itself during the match go to Parc OL, requires rigorous management of their emotions and impeccable control of their interventions, so as not to compromise the hopes of Olympique Lyonnais.

Vigilance is all the more necessary as Nicolas Tagliafico, also under threat, risks a new suspension. Following a yellow card received during the round-up game, he accumulated four warnings during this C3 campaign, having already led him to a suspension against Fenerbahçe. The UEFA regulation, which prohibits a player from participating in a match with an odd number of yellow cards after three warnings, adds additional pressure on these essential players to Paulo Fonseca’s device. The absence of the Argentinian, particularly successful and influential during the round-trip match, would be a significant setback for the team.

Fortunately, the regulation provides for the rearming of meters in case of qualification for the semifinals. This measure, designed not to penalise clubs that progress in the competition and aspire to a possible final, would offer these players the opportunity to start from scratch, freed from the pressure of the cards accumulated during the chicken phase. They will therefore have to navigate with finesse between the necessary aggressiveness and the caution required to preserve their chances of participating in the subsequent stages of this European competition.