Update: Manchester United have Europa League suspension risk vs Lyon as yellow card rule explained News

Man United visit Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals tonight.

Manchester United have two players on the brink of a Europa League ban as Ruben Amorim’s side target a place in the semi-finals.

The Reds visit Lyon tonight for the first leg of their last-eight clash with the return at Old Trafford in seven days’ time.

The Europa League is a priority for the Reds given their dismal league form and early exit from both domestic cups. If United were able to win the continental competition then it would earn a spot in next season’s Champions League, providing a huge financial boost, as well as delivering Amorim a trophy in his first season in charge.

But before United can dream of Europa League glory, they will need to navigate their way past a Lyon side who are fifth in Ligue 1. And the Reds could face the prospect of playing the second leg without two of their most experienced players, while five more are also walking a disciplinary tightrope.

Casemiro is one yellow card away from a one-game suspension, meaning if he is carded in France tonight he would sit out the second leg. Matthijs de Ligt is in the same boat but has not been named in the squad through injury.

If Casemiro avoids a booking tonight then he could still be suspended for the semi-final first leg if he gets a yellow card next week should United progress, with the same applying to De Ligt if he is fit next week.

The prospect of missing a last four first leg match is also a scenario facing five other United players – including captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder has already served a European suspension this season, having been red carded against Porto in October. But his yellow card against Real Sociedad means he will be banned for any semi-final first leg if he is booked in both legs of the quarter-final vs Lyon.

Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte and Andre Onana are in the same boat, where a yellow card in both legs of the Lyon tie would rule them out of a last four opener. The same applies to Toby Collyer but, like De Ligt, he is out injured.

Yellow cards are wiped following the quarter-finals, so all United players will be given a clean slate for any last four match. That rule means no-one can be suspended for the final through a collection of cautions. Anyone sent off in the Europa League will automatically be suspended for the next match.

Should United beat Lyon, they will face either Rangers of Spanish side Athletic Bilbao in the last four. The Reds could potentially face Tottenham in the final, with Spurs taking on Eintracht Frankfurt in the last eight. The winners of that fixture meet either Bodo/Glimt or Lazio in the semi-finals.

The Europa League final takes place on May 21 in the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.

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