The Statistics Driving Manchester United’s Resilient Europa League Display Against Lyon

As Manchester United’s players made their way onto the pitch at Old Trafford on Thursday night, they were acutely aware of the task ahead.

Facing a Lyon team that had gone unbeaten in their last 12 away games in the Europa League (W9 D3) since a narrow 1-0 loss to Atalanta in December 2017, they knew they were up against formidable opponents. Moreover, Lyon had managed to secure only one defeat in their last nine European encounters against English teams (W4 D4), with that lone loss being a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of West Ham during the 2021/22 Europa League campaign.

Given the history of their encounters, this match was poised to be challenging even if past encounters in Europe had favoured the Red Devils; United had triumphed in both of their previous meetings with Lyon at Old Trafford, winning 2-1 in November 2004 and 1-0 in March 2008.

Significant Points at Stake for Man Utd

United also boasted an unbeaten run in their 11 Europa League matches this season (W6 D5), last achieving such a feat at the outset of a European campaign in the 2010/11 season, where they ultimately fell 3-1 to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

The players might have also recalled that United had suffered defeats in their last two home European ties against French clubs (2-0 and 3-1 to PSG in February 2019 and December 2020, respectively) after previously going unbeaten in their 14 matches prior to that stretch (W10 D4 from 1965 to 2017).

Numerous players had much to prove, and it may surprise many to learn that Rasmus Hojlund’s goal contribution ratio of one goal every 96 minutes since last season (10 goals, two assists in the Europa League) ranks only behind Mohamed Salah (80) and Bukayo Saka (88) among Premier League players with at least ten contributions.

Ultimately, Ruben Amorim and his United squad had plenty to celebrate.

Old Trafford was alive with excitement following one of the legendary European nights, as the Red Devils’ comeback secured them a thrilling semi-final match-up with Athletic Club de Bilbao.

Historic Extra-Time Drama at Old Trafford

Thursday’s encounter marked the first time in major European football history that five goals were scored in extra-time, and fans who left their seats after Lyon’s fourth goal missed what could be seen as one of the most remarkable turnarounds in United’s storied legacy.

It was a spectacle unlike any other, being only the second occasion when the Premier League giants had participated in a 5-4 fixture (the only other being against Arsenal back in February 1958).

Harry Maguire’s goal was notable as the first winner scored in the 120th minute in Europa League history, a record that had not been achieved in a significant European tie since Atletico Madrid defeated Liverpool at Anfield in March 2020.

The Europa League appears to be a much-needed source of solace for Amorim, particularly following his squad’s inconsistent displays in the Premier League. Remarkably, United have matched their tally of six victories in eight European matches under the Portuguese coach, equal to their success rate in 21 league matches (W6 D5 L10).

At 4-2 down in extra time, Amorim and his players might have braced for yet another disappointment, but a VAR intervention revived their hopes with a penalty awarded, presenting Bruno Fernandes with the opportunity to bask in the spotlight.

When challenges mount, Fernandes rises to the occasion, and he is arguably the one contender who consistently gives everything in the pursuit of victory.

Bruno Fernandes’ Composed Penalty Sets Off Remarkable Comeback

There was never much doubt he would convert his penalty, marking his 14th successful kick in major European competitions (three for Sporting, 11 for Man Utd), aligning himself with the greats. Only Robert Lewandowski (20), Cristiano Ronaldo (20), and Lionel Messi (18) have tallied more in European football.

The 20-year-old Alejandro Garnacho also deserves commendation, having provided four assists in Europa League goals this season, equalling Bukayo Saka’s record for the most assists by a player under 21 in a single season (five in 2019/20).

Manuel Ugarte stood out with an impressive pass accuracy of 96.2% (25 successful passes from 26 attempts), while both Bruno and Leny Yoro excelled by winning back possession ten times, significantly more than any other players on the pitch.

The match illustrated just how closely matched both teams were.

A Balanced Contest Throughout

With each side registering 21 shots, United managed eight on target compared to Lyon’s nine, equaling 15 shots within the box for both teams, along with 39 touches for the home side and 38 for the visitors. Both sides created six big chances (United) and five (Lyon), while also facing two offside calls each, illustrating that the fixture was finely balanced. This symmetry extended beyond just the shot count.

Of the 122 duels during the match, both teams won approximately half, with each team making 23 tackles—United emerging victorious in 15, while Lyon succeeded in 16.

Fouls committed (17 to 14) and successful dribbles (21 to 19) were similarly mirrored, with Lyon maintaining a stronghold in possession (58.7% to 41.3%) and total passes (690 to 484).

Highlighting United’s resilience that night, they reclaimed possession ten times in Lyon’s final third, while Lyon managed just once, emphasizing potentially the most critical game metric of the evening.

For all except Lyon supporters, the match was undoubtedly thrilling, and the Red Devils must leverage the lessons derived from this clash as a stepping stone for achieving European success this season.