At the dawn of the return match between Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester United as part of their Europa League quarter final, a particular tension is hovering on the team. The game, crucial for the hope of a semifinal qualifying, will be played this Thursday in Old Trafford after a first draw, on the score of 2-2, at OL Park. The stakes are therefore of major importance for Paulo Fonseca players, who will have to impose themselves on the outside to hope to continue their European journey.

Several elements of the Lyon workforce are currently under threat of suspension. Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Moussa Niakhaté and Nicolas Tagliafico, who were already monitored during the round-trip game, will have to be extremely vigilant in order to avoid any warning. A yellow card at Old Trafford would lead to their suspension for a possible semifinal, thus undermining the team’s hopes. The accumulation of warnings weighs heavily on these players, who will have to juggle between performance and discipline.

Nevertheless, a qualifying from Olympique Lyonnais and a return from the players without having received any cards at Old Trafford would allow the suspensions to be reset for the semifinals. This perspective provides an additional motivation for the team, which will have to focus on the field and avoid any incidents that could jeopardize its European journey. The outcome of this confrontation is therefore exciting, with a major sporting issue and palpable psychological pressure.