Plzen vs Manchester Utd prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-11 17:45.
[p]Two sides eyeing up automatic qualification to the last 16 stage of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) meet on matchday six as Viktoria PlzeÅ welcome Manchester United, with both protecting identical unbeaten records in the competition to this point (W2, D3). Those results coincidentally came in the same order too, with PlzeÅ securing back-to-back UEL wins by beating Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 last time out, forming part of an exceptional run of just one defeat from 16 matches across all competitions (W10, D5).[/p]
[p]That record gets even better on home turf where PlzeÅ are unbeaten so far this season (W10, D3), with seven of those victories also remarkably accompanied by a clean sheet. Their last home defeat in the UEL came back in October 2016 (W13, D1), but the visit of Manchester United presents a bigger challenge, especially considering that the Czech side lost both their previous H2Hs against English opposition to Unitedās rivals Man City by an aggregate 7-2 scoreline![/p]
[p]Any notion that INEOSā arrival would calm the eternal soap opera that is Manchester United in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era has disappeared quickly in a disastrous start to 2024/25. Sporting Director Dan Ashworth – who the Red Devils extensively courted to bring in from Newcastle – was shockingly shown the door on Sunday after just five months in post, with that announcement coming on the back of a disappointing 3-2 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest.[/p]
[p]That made it back-to-back losses for new boss Ruben Amorim, who lamented a āreally badā start to both halves. They conceded the opener from a corner, just as they did in their last away match against Arsenal (L 2-0), leaving United winless on the road in seven matches (D5, L2) – their joint-longest such run in the 21st century – an ominous record given that theyāve never won away against Czech opposition (D2, L1).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: PlzeÅās MatÄj Vydra is a familiar name to English football fans having spent a decade on British shores and heāll look to set the record straight here as heās faced United five times without scoring whilst losing each H2H! Opposite number Rasmus HĆøjlund has eight major European goals for Man Utd – only two players before him have netted nine aged 21 or under (Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Manchester United havenāt started a European campaign by going unbeaten in six matches since 2013/14.Ā [/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]