Update: Are there away goals in the Europa League? Rules explained before Lyon vs Manchester United News

Man United will take on Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals with the first leg to be played in France.

Manchester United take on Ligue 1 side Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League with the away leg taking place on Thursday evening (8pm).

Ruben Amorim’s squad finished third in the league phase of the competition, winning five of their eight matches earlier in the campaign. In the last-16, meanwhile, they dismantled La Liga side Real Sociedad 5-2 on aggregate to progress into the last-eight – with one eye now on silverware.

United last won the competition in 2017 – but were defeated on penalties by Villarreal in the 2021 final. They last featured in the Europa League in the 2022/23 season, although their run was ended prematurely by Sevilla at the quarter-final stage.

As qualification for next season’s Champions League via the Premier League is almost impossible owing to United’s disappointing position in the table, the Europa League is not only a shot at major silverware, but an opportunity to return to UEFA’s marquee competition next term. Lyon represent a tough test as they are fifth-placed in Ligue 1 and just four points behind Marseille in second spot.

Ahead of Thursday night’s clash in Lyon, here’s a look at the away goals rule;

What was the away goals rule?

Away goals were a key element of UEFA competitions for a number of decades and were the deciding factor in some of the biggest ties on the European stage. Think Andres Iniesta’s injury-time equaliser for Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the 2009 Champions League, or Chelsea’s revenge three years later, in 2012, at the Camp Nou.

When the rule was in place, the team which scored the most goals away from home would win the tie, even if a score-line was level on aggregate. So if the first leg of a knockout tie ended 0-0, but finished 1-1 in the second leg, the team that scored the away goal would progress.

Only when the aggregate score was level. and both sides had the same number of away goals. did the second leg go to extra-time and penalties. However, the away goals rule was removed from all UEFA competitions in 2021 and took effect from the 2021/22 season.

This means that, should a tie be level on aggregate at the end of the second leg, it will automatically go to extra-time. It was believed the rule discouraged teams from attacking in the home leg of a knockout tie due to the fear of conceding, especially if they were to playing the second leg away from home.

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