Verdict: Manchester United to score in both halves
Best Odds: 17/20
Bookmaker: Luckster
Looking to pick up a maiden Europa League victory at the fourth attempt on Thursday night, Manchester United will welcome PAOK to Old Trafford.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have got Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim tenure underway with an action-packed 5-2 victory against Leicester on October 30th, the Reds suffered a collapse at Old Trafford over the weekend. Eventually forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at home against historic rivals Chelsea, the ex-United marksmen will be calling on his temporary squad to claim an immediate response here. With new boss Ruben Amorim not officially set to take over in the red half of Manchester until the end of November’s international break, Thursday’s hosts are desperately seeking some crucial defensive stability. Getting their Europa League adventure underway with a 1-1 draw against Dutch outfit Twente on September 25th, United have collected just a single point in each of their first three European showdowns so far this season.
Team News
Suffering an injury setback last week, Manchester United will once again be without England international Luke Shaw on Thursday night. Likewise, sustaining an ankle injury away at Fenerbahce on October 24th, Brazilian winger Antony remains on the sidelines.
Struggling to make any kind of impact since arriving from Bologna over the summer, Joshua Zirkzee will be looking to get some minutes under his belt. Ivory Coast international Amad Diallo could be in line to make a first start since back on October 3rd.
PAOK
As for the visitors, although PAOK might have made real history last season as they got their hands on a fourth domestic crown, Razvan Lucescu’s men have struggled to find any real stability this time around. Getting their Europa League adventure underway on September 25th with a routine 3-1 loss away at Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray, the one-time Romania boss have won just a trio of their previous nine appearances across all competitions. Facing a real battle in the race to defend their Super League crown, the Thessaloniki-based outfit have also shown their own respective struggles at the back. Signing off October with a shock 2-1 loss at home against OFI Crete, Thursday’s guests have put just a pair of clean sheets on the board since the end of August.
Team News
Yet to make a single appearance since the opening weekend, summer recruit and former Rakow goalkeeper Antonis Tsiftsis remains on the sidelines and will not travel to Old Trafford. Once again omitted from Lucescu’s squad over the weekend, it remains toe be seen if Spanish defender Joan Sastre will return here.
Arriving from Lyon over the summer, former Liverpool star Dejan Lovern will start at the heart of PAOK’S defence on Thursday night. Despite arriving from Manchester United back in July, 20-year-old Shola Shoretire will likely settle for a spot on the bench.
Key Factors to Consider
- Thursday’s showdown at Old Trafford will be the first competitive meeting between Manchester United and PAOK.
- The Red Devils have failed to collect a single win from any of their first three Europa League appearances.
- Likewise, the Premier League giants have recorded just a sole clean sheet from any of their last nine appearances across all competitions.
- PAOK have registered just a trio of wins from any of their last nine appearances across all fronts.
- Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has scored three goals in his back-to-back appearances over the past week.
Conclusion
Eventually forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate at home against historic rivals Chelsea over the weekend, Manchester United will be seeking an immediate response here. Failing to collect a single victory from any of their opening three Europa League appearances so far this season, the Reds will have plenty of pressure on their shoulders here. Although United might be desperately searching for some much-needed defensive steel, they are rightfully pencilled in as a standout contender on Thursday night.
Verdict: Manchester United to score in both halves
Best Odds: 17/20
Bookmaker: Luckster
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