FC Porto vs Manchester Utd prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-02 19:00.
[p]Despite taking the lead inside ten minutes, playing against ten men for most of the second half and firing in an almighty 29 shots, matchday one of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) ended in defeat for Porto against Bodø/Glimt (3-2). That was just a second defeat of the season for Vitor Bruno’s men (W7), and having since bounced back with a thumping 4-0 win over Arouca at the weekend, they’ll be out to avenge that defeat as they take on Manchester United.[/p]
[p]The famous Estádio do DragĂŁo is a fitting venue considering that Porto have won each of their last three home European games there – most recently against English opposition in Arsenal. They’ve not managed four wins in succession since March 2019, but considering that they’re unbeaten on their own turf in any competition since April (W6, D2), now could be the time to achieve such a feat.[/p]
[p]It’s a challenge Manchester United could probably do without at this moment too with the club, once more, in the midst of a crisis. Manager Erik ten Hag received the dreaded vote of confidence from his board in the aftermath of a demoralising 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, but the usually loyal Old Trafford crowd didn’t hold back voicing their displeasure at full-time, so things need to change quickly.[/p]
[p]The continental stage may not have been Ten Hag’s first choice for that given that his United side have won just one of their last nine matches in Europe (D3, L5), most recently being held to a 1-1 draw by Twente on matchday one. The Red Devils have been particularly porous on the road in UEFA competition, as remarkably, they’ve netted three times in each of their last three European away games and failed to win all of them (D1, L2)![/p]
[p]Players to watch: New Porto striker Samu Omorodion looks set to be a thorn in United’s side here as he’s scored five times in his last four matches, four of which came after half-time. Three of Rasmus Højlund’s five European goals for United last term arrived on the road, but he’ll be hoping for better luck this term as his only strikes in UEFA competition for the Red Devils have come in defeats (L3).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Man Utd are unbeaten in their last 12 meetings with Portuguese clubs stretching back to December 2005 (W9, D3).[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]