Manchester United’s Europa League opponents Lyon have suffered an injury blow ahead of the quarter-finals.
There is huge pressure on Ruben Amorim to win the Europa League with Manchester United this season.
The Red Devils are down in 13th in the Premier League table, so qualifying for the Champions League via a top-five finish is out of the picture. The only route to European football is to win the Europa League.
United remain unbeaten in Europe after a comfortable 5-2 victory over Real Sociedad in the round of 16.
Up next is a tricky clash against Ligue 1 giants Lyon, with the first leg taking place on April 10th.
Photo by Alex Nicodim/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Alex Nicodim/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lyon suffer Malick Fofana injury ahead of Man United clash
Lyon are very much in the race for Champions League qualification in France – they sit just four points off second place in Ligue 1.
They have some dangerous players that Amorim will be aware of. Rayan Cherki starred for France U21s over the international break and he will be Lyon’s key player for the quarter-finals.
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United almost signed Cherki aged 15 and now the Red Devils will have to keep him quiet.
According to L’Equipe, Cherki suffered a foot injury while on international duty, but it is not expected to keep him out of the Europa League clash.
However, they also report that Lyon winger Malick Fofana is suffering from a sprained knee and will be out of action for three weeks.
That means he will miss at least the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals and will face a race to fitness to feature at Old Trafford in the second leg.
Malick Fofana has outscored Rasmus Hojlund in Europa League
Rasmus Hojlund ended his goal drought against Leicester City, scoring his eighth goal of the season against the Foxes.
Remarkably, five of Hojlund’s eight goals have come in the Europa League which puts him firmly in the race for the competition’s Golden Boot. Kasper Hogh currently leads the charts with seven goals for Bodo/Glimt.
Just behind Hogh in the standings is Fofana, who has scored six goals in the Europa League for Lyon this season.
READ MORE: Man Utd player ratings for international break, Rasmus Hojlund scores but 8/10 star is the true gem
Fofana scored twice for Lyon against FCSB in their round of 16 clash, so United will be glad that he is not available for the first leg.
The 19-year-old Belgian winger has become a key part of this Lyon squad, usually playing off the left flank.