Manchester United will be hoping to kick their start of the Europa League campaign after a home defeat to Real Sociedad and will be keen to bounce back as they battle Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday’s Group E contest at the Zimbru Stadium.
The Red Devils went down 1-0 to Real Sociedad on matchday one, while their hosts ran out convincing 3-0 winners over Omonia Nicosia.
IMPORTANT STATS:
Sheriff and Manchester United have not met in any European club competitions but The Moldovan side is in a fine run of form having emerged victorious in all of their last 3 matches by way of a clean sheet.
The Yellow-Blacks have won their last three matches and led 1-0 at the interval in each of those, so they’ll want to come flying out of the blocks.
Sheriff’s Nigerian striker Ibrahim Rasheed has already scored three goals in Europe this season and he could find the back of the net against Manchester United.
MANCHESTER UNITED
After a week off, Manchester United must be eager to go. The Red Devils had won four straight games until their defeat to Real Sociedad.
Red Devils will play a Moldovan team for the first time in their history. In the meantime, they defeated Granada and Atalanta in 2021 in their most recent two games against teams they had never faced before in Europe.
Manchester United have scored at least once in each of their last 15 away matches in European competitions (28 goals) since failing to net against AZ Alkmaar in October 2019, the longest such run in their history.
Erik ten Hag has lost only two of his 20 away matches in major European competitions as a manager.
FCNAIJA PREDICTION:
