Manchester United’s season rested solely on this home tie with Lyon in the Europa League, with the game poised at 2-2 from the 1st leg clash, Amorim spoke on Sunday about this being the only focus of the team. With Europa League success bringing some joy to the club amid a terrible season, a piece of silverware for a manager in his debut season, and of course the Champions League qualification and the riches that can come from this, United went all-out, with fans pushing for a huge atmosphere, a tifo being displayed for the first time in United’s history pre-game, and a sense of nerves and determination blending nicely to form an atmosphere like no other.

The game was just pure chaos from the outset. United looked to be cruising to the semi-finals, and at half-time many fans were booking for trips to Bilbao in the semi-finals. Despite this, United once again created their own issues and let Lyon into the game, sending the tie into extra-time in the most dramatic of circumstances, but more on that later.

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Teams

United went with the same starting XI, but were required to use their bench wisely as the game ticked on. With a blend of youth and experience coming from the bench, the system was tweaked and changed as the game’s narrative played out, and towards the closing moments any sense of tactical setup was all-but gone.

For Lyon, they also went with the same XI, and their subs were also key in the upturn for the away side. Lacazette scored and assisted from the bench, and youngster Malick Fofana was a standout performer to come into the second half and give Lyon a dangerous out for many attacks.

Manchester United: Onana, Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui (Shaw 46′), Dorgu (Amass 100′), Casemiro, Ugarte (Mainoo 86′), Dalot, Fernandes, Garnacho (Eriksen 100′), Hojlund (Mount 86′)

Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Kukonki, Kamason, Lindelof, Moorhouse

Lyon: Perri, Tagliafico (Caleta-Car 115′), Niakhate, Mata, Maitland-Niles, Tolisso, Akouokou (Tessmann 55′), Veretout (Lacazette 55′), Almada, Mikautadze (Fofana 64′), Cherki (Abner 106′)

Subs: Diarra, Descamps, Kumbedi, Omari, Matic

Manchester United (7)5-4(6) Lyon

In one of the most dramatic European nights Old Trafford has ever witnessed, Manchester United overcame Olympique Lyonnais 5–4 after extra time, 7–6 on aggregate, to reach the UEFA Europa League semi-finals. Trailing 4–2 deep into extra time, United scored three goals in the final 7 minutes, capped by Harry Maguire’s 121st-minute winner, to complete a remarkable turnaround.​

United began with intensity and purpose. Manuel Ugarte opened the scoring in the 10th minute, finishing Alejandro Garnacho’s cutback. Diogo Dalot doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, outmuscling Nicolas Tagliafico before slotting home. Bruno Fernandes nearly added a third, rattling the crossbar with a volley. However, Lyon responded in the second half, with Corentin Tolisso heading in from close range and Tagliafico’s shot creeping over the line, levelling the aggregate score.​

Despite Tolisso’s red card in the 89th minute, Lyon surged ahead in extra time. Rayan Cherki’s left-footed drive in the 104th minute and Alexandre Lacazette’s penalty put them 4–2 up. United, however, mounted a stunning comeback. Fernandes converted a penalty after Thiago Almada fouled Casemiro. Kobbie Mainoo then curled in a 120th-minute equalizer. Moments later, Maguire headed in Casemiro’s cross, sealing the victory.

The match set several records: it was only the second time United won 5–4 in their history, the first being against Arsenal in 1958. It also marked the first major European match with five goals scored after the start of extra time. Maguire’s goal was the first 120th-minute winner in any Europa League game.

United now advance to face Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals. Manager Rúben Amorim praised the team’s resilience, stating, “We still have time to make something special of this season, so we have to think like that and be positive.”

Talking Points

The Theatre of Dreams lived up to its name under the lights, as a pulsating Old Trafford crowd willed Manchester United through one of the most unforgettable European nights in recent memory. From the first whistle to the final gasp of extra time, the atmosphere was electric, raw, tense, and utterly compelling. The noise reached deafening levels when Harry Maguire’s 121st-minute header hit the back of the net, with thousands erupting in scenes reminiscent of United’s greatest continental triumphs. It was a night where the fans became the twelfth man, helping to drag their team back from the brink.

This was football at its most chaotic and compelling. Manchester United, seemingly dead and buried at 4–2 down on the night and 6–4 behind on aggregate, mounted a barely believable comeback in the dying embers of extra time. Goals from Fernandes, Mainoo, and finally Maguire turned the tie on its head in a span of 7 astonishing minutes. Lyon, valiant and razor-sharp for most of the game, couldn’t cope with the wave of red shirts and emotion that surged forward. It was the kind of European drama rarely seen outside the elite stages and a reminder of why knockout football remains so beloved.

While the win will live long in the memory, Manchester United’s defensive vulnerabilities and lack of control in key phases remain a cause for concern. Conceding four at home and allowing Lyon to dictate large stretches of the tie will trouble Amorim as Athletic Club await. The lapses in concentration and susceptibility to counterattacks must be addressed swiftly if United are to harbour genuine ambitions of lifting the trophy in Bilbao. This thrilling victory papered over cracks, but the work, undeniably, is far from done.