Europa League, fresh off two straight defeats in the Premier League Manchester United seeks redemption in the cup: news and predictions.
There are three rounds to go before the end of the single-round stage in the Europa League as well, whose new formula is identical to that of its “big sister,” the Champions League. As a result, the race for the top 8 spots, which allow direct qualification to the round of 16 without having to go through the play-offs, has officially entered into full swing. Right now, Manchester United, the main favorite for the final victory, would be forced to play in the playoffs and thus play two more matches between February and March.
Although still undefeated, the Red Devils are only 12th and have 4 points less than the trio currently occupying the top spot, formed by Lazio, Athletic Bilbao and Eintracht Frankfurt. Two wins and three draws for a team that cannot get into gear and find continuity even under its new coach, Portuguese Ruben Amorim. Since the former Sporting CP coach sits on the bench, Manchester United has collected one draw, two wins and two defeats between the Europa League and the league. Consecutive knockouts with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have shown that there is still plenty of work to be done to return to the top.
In the cup, meanwhile, no missteps are allowed against Viktoria Plzen, which has the same points in the standings as Bruno Fernandes and co. Will everything run smoothly in the Czech Republic? With this United there are no certainties, especially when we consider that the Czechs are very solid at home (barely a goal conceded in their last 12 European home games). We give confidence, in any case, to Amorim’s team, which should make use of the better technical rate than Viktoria.
The predictions on the other matches
Tough trip also for Osimhen and Icardi’s Galatasaray, who will pay a visit to Sweden’s Malmo: Okan Buruk’s men, unbeaten since late August, are fourth on 11 points and with a win would secure the round of 16. Playing in December in Sweden, however, is never a walk in the park. Turks favored but the Scandinavians are likely to score at least one goal.
AZ Alkmaar is not far from eighth place and goes on the hunt for heavy points at home to Ludogorets, who surprisingly stopped Lazio two weeks ago at the Stadio Olimpico: not a foregone conclusion match but the Dutch should snatch at least a point in Bulgaria. Must take advantage of the home factor Olympiacos, another team in the running for a direct pass: Athenians favored over Twente, which, however, remains a tough nut to crack. Slight preference for the Belgians of Union Saint-Gilloise in the challenge with Nice: the transalpinians, stopped at 2 points, are the big disappointment of this Europa League and we find it hard to imagine them hitting the jackpot in Brussels. There should be no shortage of goals, finally, in the matches between Hoffenheim and FCSB and between PAOK and Ferencvaros: the Germans and Greeks are off to a good start but are unlikely to keep their goals unbroken.
Europa League, possible winners
AZ Alkmaar or draw (in Ludogorets-AZ Alkmaar).
Olympiacos (in Olympiacos-Twente)
Manchester United (in Viktoria Plzen-Manchester United)
Union Saint-Gilloise or draw (in Union Saint-Gilloise-Nice)
Matches of at least three goals total
Malmo-Galatasaray
Hoffenheim-FCSB
Europa League, the matches by at least one goal per team
Hoffenheim-FCSB
Malmo-Galatasaray
PAOK-Ferencvaros
Share Comparison
Manchester United’s win is listed at 1.55 on Goldbet, Lottomatica and Snai. The “Goal” sign in Malmo-Galatasaray is instead quoted at 1.47 on Goldbet and Lottomatica and 1.40 on Snai.
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