Manchester United's season hinges on what will unfold on the next two Thursday nights when they face Lyon in what is bound to be two spicy Europa League quarter-final ties.

A mouthwatering clash has had the ante upped following a war of words between Andre Onana and Nemanja Matic within the last 24 hours. 

Despite their poor performances in the Premier League that's left Ruben Amorim's side in 13th place, United remain the only team in the Europe's second-tier club competition yet to taste defeat.

The Red Devils beat Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate in the previous round, with captain Bruno Fernandes producing a man of the match hat-trick in the 4-1 second leg victory.

While qualifying for European football is out of the question domestically, the Europa League offers a lucrative opportunity to secure a place in the Champions League next season.

However, Manchester United need to overcome a Lyon side who beat FCSB 7-1 on aggregate in the last-16, before facing Athletic Bilbao or Rangers in the semi-finals.

Opponents Lyon are in great form coming into the game, sitting fifth in Ligue 1 on 48 points, winning half of their games played.

Lyon are a well-regarded French footballing giant, who began a national record-setting streak of seven successive titles in 2002.

After several down seasons, Les Gones are going through a renaissance at the moment and are in the hunt to finish second Ligue 1 behind PSG as well as seek European glory.

United fans and Premier League supporters alike will be greeted by familiar faces in the encounter on Thursday with many former English top-flight players currently playing for Lyon.

The Red Devils fanbase will have mixed feelings about seeing Serbian central midfielder Nemanja Matic playing on the opposing team.

The 36-year-old played 189 times for the Old Trafford outfit but never lifted a trophy during his five seasons at Old Trafford - something he was reminded of by current United goalkeeper Andre Onana in a fiery exchange of words on Wednesday.

Matic took initial exception to Onana's comments about Lyon being the inferior side, saying in his pre-game press conference on Wednesday afternoon: 'When you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care what you're talking about.

'If David de Gea, or Peter Schmeichel, or (Edwin) Van der Sar said that, then I will question myself.

To which Onana hit back with on X: 'I would never be disrespectful to another club. We know that tomorrow will be a difficult game against a strong opponent. We focus on preparing a performance to make our fans proud.

'At least I've lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can't say the same.'

Fans will be eager to see the Serb in action and whether that are any on-pitch confrontations with the United shot-stopper.

Matic isn't the only former Premier League player in this Lyon side - with former Arsenal duo Alexandre Lacazette and Ainsley Maitland-Niles bound to get a frosty reception from United supporters.

Lacazette scored 54 times in 158 Premier League appearances and will be eager to please the Arsenal fans by scoring some more against United.

The 33-year-old has 14 goals in 35 matches in all competitions, netting three times in his last three games in the league.

Academy product Maitland-Niles will have a similar mindset, having been at Arsenal for 20 years before his move to Lyon.

The right back has made Lyon his home since his free transfer, operating on both sides of the defence.

The Premier League connections don't stop there with both former Nottingham Forest centre back Moussa Niakhate and ex-Aston Villa's Jordan Veretout.

Midfielder Veretout was a replacement to Fabian Delph after his sale to Manchester City, but the Frenchman never adapted to English football.

As a result, Veretout was part of the 2015-16 relegated Villa team, a stark contrast to the side who are now in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Yet, Manchester United shouldn't just be focused on former Premier League talent, Lyon also possess some of the most exciting young talent coming through the ranks.

Lyon-born Georges Mikautadze is having a sensational debut season for Les Gones after joining at the start of the season following his superb Euro 2024 campaign with Georgia.

The 24-year-old forward has shared minutes with the ageing Lacazette but has been deadly with 14 goals and eight assists in 39 appearances.

The Georgian is not the only young gun to look out for as 21-year-old Rayan Cherki will also be a handful for the Red Devils with nine goals and 18 assists across 36 games this season.

The French international is equally dominant with both feet, oozing with technical quality, being able to play on both wings and as a No 10.

Progressing through Lyon's reputable academy, most notably including Karim Benzema, Nabil Fekir, Hatem Ben Arfa and Anthony Martial, Cherki arguably possesses the most natural talent.

After initial criticisms of his professionalism and attitude after making his debut just two months after his 16th birthday, the attacker has matured and thrived under Paolo Fonseca's stewardship.

In the Lyon system, the Frenchman tends to start on the right and drifts more centrally to impact the game.

Corentin Tolisso is tasked with the heavy work to allow Cherki freedom, giving the talented attacker prime possession and space to dictate the game.

A key reason for Cherki's upturn, Lyon's coach Fonseca is a passionate character who channels the boldness and ingenuity of Maurizio Sarri and Pep Guardiola whilst admiring the work of his Portuguese compatriot Jose Mourinho.

Yet, the Lyon boss is currently enduring a nine-month domestic suspension after an altercation with the referee during a league game where the Portuguese got sent off and squared up in the referee's face.

At the moment he is barred from the dugout and from communicating with his bench until November 30, but will be allowed access to the dressing rooms and tunnel area from September 15.

'Unbelievable,' he said of the ban to the Guardian. 'Of course what I did wasn't correct and I should pay for it. But I screamed at the referee, I didn't have any contact with him or commit any [violence]. 

'They want to make an example of me for French football, I think I'm paying not for what I did but for the moment we are in. But I shouldn't be an example, I should just pay for what I did.

'It's unfair but we are fighting against this decision and I believe things can change. It's difficult to understand, when we see so many of these situations in all countries and nobody received a penalty like I did.'

Assistant manager Jorge Maciel has done a solid job of steering the ship in the former Roma and AC Milan manager's absence.

However, Fonseca will be back in the dugout on Thursday as his ban doesn't include European games and he will be chomping at the bit to exert his influence on the touchline in a venue where they have only lost three times all season.