MY ACCOUNT
While qualification would be secured with a point on Thursday night, Manchester United must beat Moldovan side FC Sheriff to have any chance of topping Europa League Group E.
That is a significant prize as a second-place finish would land United an extra couple of games in the knockout round play-offs — where they could potentially meet the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or Juventus — so Erik ten Hag will be keen to beat Sheriff and take the top-spot scrap to a final day shootout away at Real Sociedad.
The Red Devils should have little problem achieving the first part of the equation, with the managerless Moldovans a poor side who do not travel well in Europe.
Ten Hag has shown his intent in the Europa League thus far, naming strong line-ups in United’s European outings, and with another tough Premier League match to come against West Ham on Sunday, the Dutchman will be keen to get this game put to bed as early as possible.
Team news
Ten Hag is boosted by the return of several players with centre-back Harry Maguire and midfielder Donny van de Beek back in training alongside right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Anthony Martial.
French international defender Raphael Varane faces a race to be fit for the World Cup and this match is likely to come too soon for Axel Tuanzebe.
Brandon Williams is not registered in the Europa League squad.
Sheriff will be without suspended right-back Armel Zohouri but the big news in Tiraspol this week was the resignation of manager Stjepan Tomas, who departed following a run of poor results.
The stats
Sheriff have won only one of six European away games this season, drawing 0-0 away at minnows Zrinjski Mostar and Maribor, while losing 2-1 at Czech outfit Viktoria Plzen during their failed Champions League qualifying campaign.
In the Europa League, Sheriff drew 0-0 at Armenian side Pyunik in the play-off round and were thrashed 3-0 at Real Sociedad. Their only win on the road came in Cyprus at Omonia Nicosia — a side who have won only two of their last 10 games in all competitions.
United have turned a corner in recent weeks, beating Tottenham 2-0 and drawing at Chelsea, but have not been getting the goals that their improved play has promised — Ten Hag’s men have scored more than twice in only three of 15 matches this term.
However, they will get few better chances to do so than at home to Sheriff, who they beat 2-0 in Moldova on Matchday 2.
Prediction
This should be comfortable for United against visitors whose ambitions are limited to finishing third to claim a place in the Europa Conference League knockout rounds and would be happy to keep the scoreline respectable.
Despite the recent improvement in the Red Devils, however, they have not been as clinical as Ten Hag would like and his team managed to beat a dreadful Omonia side only 1-0 at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.
There will be a desire to get the job done as quickly as possible and then rotate key players, with Ten Hag keen to keep his squad as fresh as possible for their push for a top-four place in the Premier League.
A statement victory means little in this match as it is United’s head-to-head results against Real Sociedad that will likely decide their finishing position. Therefore, splitting stakes between the 2-0 and 3-0 correct scores at 10/3 and 7/2 via LiveScore Bet perhaps looks a sensible approach.
