Alex Fredrick
It was a night of unfiltered drama across Europe as the UEFA Europa League quarter-final second legs delivered unforgettable scenes, with Manchester United’s miraculous comeback against Lyon standing as the headline act.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United rose from the ashes to stun Olympique Lyonnais 5-4 after extra time, securing a 7-6 aggregate victory. Trailing 4-2 midway through extra time, United seemed destined for elimination. However, a six-minute spell of chaos flipped the script entirely.
Bruno Fernandes ignited hope with a 114th-minute penalty, teenager Kobbie Mainoo leveled the tie in the 120th minute, and almost immediately, Harry Maguire powered home a thumping header to seal the win, sending Old Trafford into euphoria.
Earlier, United had taken a two-goal lead through Manuel Ugarte and Diogo Dalot before Lyon clawed back with strikes from Corentin Tolisso and Nicolás Tagliafico. In extra time, Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and Alexandre Lacazette appeared to kill off United’s chances, but Tolisso’s red card turned the tide decisively.
Elsewhere in Europe, Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run continued as they edged past West Ham United 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in London. Athletic Bilbao produced a resolute performance to eliminate Roma, winning 2-0 at home (2-1 on aggregate), while Marseille survived a scare against Benfica, progressing after a dramatic penalty shootout following a 2-2 aggregate draw.
The semi-final fixtures are now set: Manchester United will face Athletic Bilbao, while Bayer Leverkusen takes on Marseille.
For United, whose Premier League form has been turbulent, the Europa League now represents a vital opportunity for silverware and a guaranteed Champions League place next season. A continental triumph would salvage what has been an otherwise inconsistent campaign under Rúben Amorim and signal a new era at Old Trafford.
The stage is set for an enthralling conclusion to the 2024/25 Europa League season.
