Manchester United v Anderlecht – Match Preview – Thursday 20th April 2017
Europa League Quarter Final 2nd Leg (1-1) Old Trafford, Manchester
Manchester United will want to exorcise the reoccurring demons of conceding late by beating Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-final second leg in their conquest to win the tournament and getting Champions League football in the process.
Anderlecht players after the 1-1 1st leg draw against Manchester Utd Photo Credit: thesun.co.uk
Story of the first leg
What has also been the story of United’s season; despite dominating the ball and looking largely comfortable, profligacy in front of goal and a momentary lapse in concentration defensively keep the scores level at one a piece.
United secured the away goal in the 38th minute with Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s follow-up into the empty net after Marcus Rashford’s first time shot was parried by Anderlecht stopper Ruben.
A comfortable home fixture could have been secured but chances were squandered yet again by The Red Devils’ attackers, prompting public criticism from manager Jose Mourinho.
Leander Dendoncker headed into the United net with the Belgian side’s first shot on target to retain some Anderlecht hope for the second leg.
{ad}
Team News
Talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks set to return after stating ‘tiredness’ had affected him after the first leg on Thursday – he featured in the last 8 minutes off the bench against Chelsea on Sunday. His replacement Marcus Rashford was brilliant in that match and will give Mourinho much-desired options in attack.
Sergio Romero looks set to regain his spot as United’s Europa League goalkeeper.
Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata are all still ruled out with long-term injuries.
Anderlecht goalkeeper Ruben a doubt for tonight’s Eurpoa League Quarter Final 2nd Leg Photo Credit: as.com
Anderlecht keeper Ruben is a doubt and 17-year-old Mile Svilar will be set to replace him if necessary.
The Purple and Whites made 6 changes for their 1-0 victory at Ostend on Sunday so the team will be mainly fresh.
Player to watch
Despite Manchester United’s turbulent season one player that can undoubtedly still come away with credit is Ander Herrera. The Basque midfielder was bought and used to be primarily a technically skilled and creative midfielder, but has evolved to showcase a diverse set of attributes and flourished in a more combative role under Mourinho. The man of the match performance in man-marking Chelsea star Eden Hazard and getting on the scoresheet too proved as much. A similarly effective showing on Thursday should see United through.
Ander Herrera Key to the midfield of Manchester Utd Photo Credit: 101greatgoals.com
Buoyed by a performance labelled as a typical ‘Mourinho masterclass’ in a brilliant 2-0 victory over (not-so-anymore) champions-elect Chelsea on Sunday; United are massive favourites to brush aside the Belgian First Division A leaders and continue marching on into the Europa League last four.
Mourinho has a history of taking cup competitions seriously – as displayed in United’s EFL cup win – and will be extremely motivated to obtained his second Europa league (UEFA Cup) crown. He will also make sure the importance of doing so is not lost on his players on Thursday as (while sitting in 5th in the Premier League and not an impossibility to do so naturally) the Europa League still presents Manchester United’s best opportunity to regain Champions League football.
Kick-off –
Old Trafford, Manchester – 20th April – 8:05pm.
Suggested Tips:
- Skybet Price Boost – Zlatan Ibrahimovic to score a header – 9/2
- Skybet Price Boost – Manchester United to Win 3-0 – 7/1
- Skybet Price Boost – Lukasz Teodorczyk to score first – 12/1
- Skybet Scorecast Boost – Marcus Rashford to score first and Manchester Utd to win 2-1 – 33/1
- Skybet Scorecast Boost (Double Chance) – Ander Herrera to score first and either Manchester Utd to win 3-1 or Manchester Utd to win 4-1 – 66/1
- Skybet Goalscorer Treble – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mhkitaryan and Lukasz Teodorczyk All to Score – 18/1
- Skybet Pundits Picks – Matt Le Tissier’s Tips – Correct Score – Manchester Utd 2-0 – 5/1
- Skybet RequestAbet Specials – BTTS, 4+ Corners each team, 20+ Booking points each team – 12/1
- Skybet RequestAbet Specials – Mkhitaryan to score first, Manchester Utd 3-1 and Herrera to be carded –125/1
- Skybet RequestAbet Up to 10/1 – Ibrahimovic to score, Manchester Utd to Win, Over 2.5 goals , under 12 corners and 20 booking points each team – 11/2
- Skybet RequestAbet 11/1 to 28/1 – Teodorczyk to score, over 2.5 goals and 30+ booking points each team – 20/1
- Skybet RequestAbet 11/1 to 28/1 – Ibrahimovic to score, Manchester United to win by 2+ goals and Bailly & Tielemans to be carded – 18/1
- Skybet RequestAbet 33/1 to 66/1 – Tielemans, Bailly, Herrera & Rojo to be carded – 66/1
- Skybet RequestAbet 33/1 to 66/1 – Anderlecht to win and 6+ Anderlecht corners –100/1
- Skybet RequestAbet 80/1 or above – Tielemans to score outside the area to be carded – 80/1
- Skybet RequestAbet 80/1 or above – Mkhitaryan & Hanni to score, Manchester United to win, over 2.5 goals, 10+ Match Corners & 50 booking points – 100/1
- Skybet RequestAbet 80/1 or above – Rashford to score, 3+ Corners each team, 4+ corners in each half & Herrera, Rojo, Dendoncker, & Kara Mboji to be carded – 200/1
- Skybet @Oddschecker RequestABets – Ibrahimovic to score ,Manchester Utd to win by 2+ Goals and Baily & Tielemans to be carded – 18/1
- Skybet @FootyAccums Specials – Manchester Utd to score in both halves, 6+ Manchester Utd Corners and 30+ Anderlecht booking pts – 4/1
- Skybet @FootyAccums Specials Europa League Request A Bet – Ibrahimovic and Lacazette to score, 4+ corners in each half and 20+ booking pts each in each of MNU v AND & BES v LYO – 25/1
- Skybet RequestAbet 80/1 and above – Mkhitaryan to score, Manchester Utd 3-1 and Tielemans and Pogba to be carded – 200/1
- Skybet Total goals, corners and booking points – Over 2.5 Goals, Over 10.5 Corners And Over 35 Bookings Points – 4/1
