Manchester United v Sheriff Tiraspol is a match for the fifth day of the Europa League group stage and will be played on Thursday at 21:00: statistics, prediction, bets, live TV and streaming
The tantrums of Cristiano Ronaldo, now increasingly on the fringes of the technical project, threaten to eclipse the turnaround that Erik ten Hag is painstakingly trying to bring to Manchester United. The former Ajax coach, despite a complicated start, apart from the CR7 issue – probably destined to pack his bags in January – seems to have managed to put back together the pieces inherited from the previous management and restored a certain harmony within the dressing room. The team is beginning to have a clear shape and the results show it. United have racked up six positives since the derby defeat against Manchester City (6-3) and in the last two days have picked up four points between Tottenham – beaten 2-0 at Old Trafford – and Chelsea, stopped at 1-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Results which allowed Bruno Fernandes and his team-mates to stay in the race for fourth place, the minimum goal of the season, now just one point away. In the midst of this long string of victories, we must also take into account the two rather painful victories against the Cypriots from Omonia Nicosia. After prevailing 3-2 in Cyprus, Manchester United only came out on top in the second half of their home match against Omonia, who were beaten on 93 minutes by Scott McTominay. A draw with Sheriff Tiraspol, who were beaten 2-0 in the first leg, will now be enough to qualify for the round of 16, but Ten Hag still believe they are in first place, despite having been booked by Real Sociedad, who lead the table with 12 points thanks in part to their victory in the direct clash. It is crucial, therefore, to win against the Transnistrian outfit before going all out in San Sebastian.
Sheriff are not the side that finished behind Real Madrid and Inter Milan in the Champions League last year and the only realistic prospect for Stjepan Tomas’ team is to defend third place from Omonia and relegate to the Conference League.
Stjepan Tomas
The Prediction
Although Manchester United have been less convincing so far in the Europa League, it is difficult to envisage a result other than victory against Sheriff Tiraspol. The Red Devils are likely to finish ahead in both halves of the game and keep their goals unbeaten once again, marking their fourth clean sheet in the last five games.
Manchester United v Sheriff Tiraspol line-up probables
- MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Sancho; Rashford.
- SHERIFF TIRASPOL (3-4-3): Celeadnic; Kiki, Radeljic, Kpozo; Guedes, Badolo, Salifu, Heron; Akanbi, Vizeu, Atiemwen.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-0
