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Manchester United are set to face FCSB tonight in what’s their ultimate UEFA Europa League group stage match.
Sitting in 4th place with 15 factors, Man United are on the verge of securing automated qualification to the Europa League knockouts, which means {that a} win would cement their progress.
Nonetheless, FCSB, who’re set to host United at The Nationwide Enviornment in Romania, have loved a profitable Europa League marketing campaign as nicely. They presently sit in eighth place, the final automated qualifying spot, with 14 factors.
Whereas a powerful exhibiting by the Romanian outfit, it’s essential to notice that FCSB’s victories have come towards opposition of a decrease calibre than United, particularly RFS, PAOK, and FC Midtjylland.
However even when the hosts are clearly the underdogs going into the encounter, United might want to make sure enhancements with a purpose to safe three factors in Bucharest.
Pulling off a worthwhile 1-0 away win over Fulham final weekend, United confirmed that struggles nonetheless persist by way of creating goalscoring alternatives, however extra particularly, placing their current possibilities away.
Ruben Amorim’s squad took just four shots in your entire match, with a deflection off Lisandro Martinez’s second-half strike handing United a late win.
Whereas the group managed 16 pictures of their earlier match, particularly a 2-1 win over Rangers within the Europa League, the match earlier than it – a 3-1 house defeat to Brighton – noticed United take 10 shots but create only one large likelihood.
Even within the 3-1 victory towards Premier League strugglers, it took till the 82nd minute for United to discover a breakthrough after trailing 1-0 for a lot of the match. Additionally essential to think about is that United took a colossal 23 shots, which means that the three objectives got here after heavy struggles within the ultimate third for a lot of the contest.
Sadly, a scarcity of choices at striker has been a constant situation for United, with Rasmus Hojlund performing poorly but once more, whereas Joshua Zirkzee additionally hasn’t had a lot success in entrance of objective this season.
Finally, faster counter-attacking and fewer hesitation within the ultimate third is required from United, whereas the wingers on the evening, who may very well be Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, may have to point out some creativity of their very own ought to their striker underperform as has been the case as of late.
Surprisingly, United’s defence held regular of their earlier encounter towards Fulham, holding a clear sheet and defending three corners, seemingly leaving their set-piece struggles up to now.
Now, plainly a more durable assault is required if United are to attain the objectives they should get one of the best of their Romanian opponents this night. Given Amorim’s group’s capacity to attain towards top-drawer opposition in latest instances, a easy tweak in mentality and extra urgency up entrance ought to simply catapult the Portuguese supervisor’s group to a snug win.
Featured picture Carl Recine through Getty Photos
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