Amid the chaos of the transfer window and the deadline day, Manchester United have discovered their Europa League opponents.
From this year onwards, the European competition has taken on a new league-style format, where all teams are put in a single league table.
Each team faces eight randomly drawn teams, four home and four away, and the teams who come in the top eight based on those results qualify directly for the next round while teams ninth to 24th play another two-legged playoff.
Manchester United have been given some extremely interesting ties, traveling to face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, and welcoming Shola Shoretire back to Old Trafford with PAOK, among others.
United’s opponents are- Rangers (H), FC Porto (A), PAOK (H), Fenerbahce (A), Bodo/Glimt (H), Viktoria Plzen (A), FC Twente (H), FC Steaua Bucharest (A).
Here’s the Manchester United Europa League prediction, ranking and predicting the result of each game-
8- FC Twente (H)
Twente were rightly in Pot 4 of the draw. They finished a distant third in the Eredivisie last season and have no clear standout players who would be huge threats to United.
This is a game United simply have to win and anything less than three points will be a huge blow to their chances of finishing in the top eight of the league stage.
Prediction: Man United 3-0 FC Twente
7- Bodo/Glimt (H)
It would be a different story if this was an away game because Kjetil Knutsen’s Norwegian powerhouse scores for fun there.
However, it would be a huge upset if Erik ten Hag‘s side isn’t able to win vs them at home. Their attack-heavy game should suit this United side to a tee on transitions and an open game should give United’s wingers plenty of joy.
Prediction: Man United 3-1 Bodo Glimt.
6- PAOK (H)
PAOK are the reigning Greece champions, scoring 87 and conceding just 36 in their campaign last season and they’ve begun this season similarly.
Familiar face Shola Shoretire will be energised to make an impact but United’s quality should prove to be too much at home.
Expect PAOK to put up a strong fight and give a scare or two to United but the superior quality and home advantage to win out in the end.
Prediction: Man United 2-0 PAOK
5- FCSB (A)
The only reason why this is not the easiest fixture on paper is because it’s an away game. FCSB won the Romanian league last season but have collapsed this year.
After six league games, they are rooted to the second-bottom spot in the table and are going through a rut of goalscoring.
Having said that, Romanian fans will bring the atmosphere in spades and players will get themselves up for a marquee game. Still, United’s superior quality should tell.
Prediction: FCSB 0-2 Man United.
4- Viktoria Plzen (A)
The next away fixture of the rankings is in the Czech Republic against Viktoria Plzen, a side that finished a distant third in the league last season.
This would be much easier on paper if it was a home game but against a team that generally doesn’t get the chance to host a fixture of this magnitude, United will need to be switched on.
It ha a potential banana skin written all over it if United show up with anything less than 100% because the opponent is sure to bring their A-game. Even a narrow in should be “job done” here.
Prediction: Viktoria Plzen 1-2 Manchester United
3- Rangers (H)
The only reason why this game the quadruple of home games at the start of the list is because Plzen and FCSB’s squads are lacking compared to them.
Otherwise, Rangers at home should be a fixture Ten Hag is marking for three points after the schedule is released officially.
They faced Rangers once in pre-season when both teams were undercooked but United still looked much better.
With five new players and the home advantage, it would be a surprise if United didn’t win this.
Prediction: Man United 3-0 Rangers
2- FC Porto (A)
As per the draw, this is the toughest fixture since it is a combination of the hardest two things- Pot 1 and away fixture.
Rangers and Porto were the two Pot 1 teams and United would have arguably liked to have the home-away dynamic reversed for these.
The Portuguese powerhouse has been somewhat left behind by Sporting and Benfica domestically but a trip to Estadio do Dragao can’t be taken lightly.
They have a wall in the goal in Diogo Costa and the likes of Alan Varela and Pepe are a handful too. A nervy win or even a draw would be good result here.
Prediction: Porto 2-2 Man United
1- Fenerbahce (A)
Who else? Is there any force more dangerous in the world of football than a motivated Jose Mourinho setting his team up to win a one-off game?
United have been on the positive side of this Mourinho and benefitted from it by winning two trophies, or the memorable “Herrera-Hazard man-marking” game at Old Trafford vs Chelsea.
Add that Mourinho to Turkey’s rabid atmosphere, the likes of Fred itching to put one over United, and you’ve got a recipe for an upset.
It wouldn’t even be an upset if they win, considering United’s away form under Erik ten Hag and all the factors mentioned above.
Prediction: Fenerbahce 2-1 Man United
Manchester United Europa League final prediction
There are six eminently winnable games here and 18 points should be more than enough to progress straight to the round of 16 by finishing in the top-eight.
However, football is not as simple as that, United know themselves with their torturous Champions League campaign last season.
This time, they start the tournament as one of the favourites so they have to live up to that tag, starting by putting down a marker against these eight teams.
That starts with finishing in the top-eight and avoiding two more games in a packed calendar.
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