Update: Manchester United have Europa League suspension risks ahead of Lyon fixture News

Man United will be looking to progress to the Europa League semi-finals when Lyon visit Old Trafford on Thursday night.

Manchester United midfielders Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro will be walking a disciplinary tightrope when Lyon visit Old Trafford for Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final second leg.

United will welcome the French side to M16 looking to progress to the semi-finals of the competition after last week’s first leg at the Groupama Stadium finished 2-2.

It looked as though United were going to return to home soil with a priceless first leg advantage after Joshua Zirkzee headed them in front with 88 minutes played, but Andre Onana made a costly mistake deep into injury time that allowed Rayan Cherki to equalise for the home side.

The Europa League is, of course, a leading priority for United heading into the last few weeks of the campaign given they are currently 14th in the Premier League table and exited both domestic cup competitions ahead of them reaching the latter stages.

In the event of United getting the better of Lyon and booking a semi-final date against either Athletic Bilbao or Rangers next month, Ugarte and Casemiro will have to be on their best behaviour to avoid missing the first leg, with both players just one yellow card away from a one-match ban.

Ugarte joined Casemiro on two bookings in the competition this season after being cautioned for a shove on Lyon striker Georges Mikautadze in the second half last week.

He had previously been booked in the Europa League in United’s 2-0 win over PAOK at Old Trafford back in November.

Earning a third yellow card of the campaign against Lyon would see him suspended for the first leg of the semi-finals should United advance. Casemiro, too, is in an identical position after being booked in the wins over PAOK and Bodo/Glimt in the league phase.

Europa League rules state that players who accumulate three yellow cards are given a one-match suspension. However, all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals, meaning everyone is given a clean slate ahead of the semi-finals.

It means if Casemiro and Ugarte each avoid getting booked on Thursday night and United do advance, neither of them will be banned for the first leg of United’s semi-final assignment.

Matthijs de Ligt has also earned two yellow cards in the Europa League this season but is unlikely to be involved against Lyon after missing the last three matches through injury. Head coach Ruben Amorim could issue an update on him when he speaks to the media at Carrington on Wednesday.

Bruno Fernandes has already earned three yellow cards in the Europa League this season, but two of those contributed to the red card he was shown in the 3-3 draw with FC Porto back in October. Additional one-match suspensions are handed out to players who have already picked up three yellow cards when they hit an odd number of bookings (fifth, seventh, ninth, etc.).

Had Fernandes been booked against Lyon last week, he would have also been walking a tightrope in the second leg.