Olympique Lyonnais coach Paulo Fonseca is facing a tactical dilemma in choosing his midfield for the return match against Manchester United. Although Nemanja Matic’s experience is undeniably valuable, especially after an unexpected performance by Paul Akouokou during the all-round match, where he was launched to try to contain Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese coach oscillates between these two options. The Ivorian, who had been absent for more than 18 months, had been surprised by his commitment, but his contribution was limited to 49 minutes of play. Fonseca expressed admiration for Akouokou, highlighting his performance against the Red Devils, but this recognition does not guarantee a new tenure at Old Trafford.

Faced with this uncertainty, Fonseca might prefer Matic’s experience, despite some slowness that had led him to be left on the bench during the game go. The choice of a player who had played three Europa League finals again would be a bold bet. A potential configuration would see Matic associated with Jordan Veretout, in order to inject speed and intensity into the Lyon game. Beyond this central question, the coach seems reluctant to significantly reshape his original eleven, given the strength displayed by OL in recent weeks.

Finally, the likely composition of the Lyon team suggests a continuity in the device, with Perri in the goals, Maitland-Niles and Tagliafico on the sides of the defense, and an offensive animation led by Mikautadze at the cutting edge, leaving Alexandre Lacazette in reserve to bring energy and experience in the course of the match, like Malick Fofana, also back but lacking in physical fitness. The presence of players like Cherki, Toliss and Almada would complete the game, offering Fonseca a range of tactical solutions to tackle this crucial game.