Europa League Group A – Qualification not guaranteed for Manchester United
Europa League Group A has proven to be tough for Manchester United and with one match remaining this Thursday, qualification for the knockout stages is far from guaranteed.
When the Europa League draw was made, there was a sense that it was less than kind to Manchester United, with both Fenerbahce and Feyenoord being drawn, two of the strongest teams they could have faced at this stage of the competition. So it has proven to be as Jose Mourinho’s men struggled away from home against both teams, losing 2-1 and 1-0 respectively. Thankfully, home form has kept the Red Devils in second place and Manchester United have won all three games at Old Trafford, including a 1-0 victory over Zorya Luhansk, the team they face in their final group match.
In truth, it has been a less than convincing campaign from Manchester United this season and more was expected of them considering the new managerial appointment and significant outlay on players. Trends show only one defeat in Manchester United’s last nine matches in all competitions, which seems like good form but there have only been four wins during that period and they have failed to win any of their last three Premier League matches.
If the result goes their way in Holland and Feyenoord fail to defeat Fenerbahce, Manchester United will progress to the last 32 of the Europa League, regardless of their result in Ukraine. Mourinho may need to call upon a favour from the Turkish club because Manchester United’s away form in the Europa League has been very poor. Trends show Manchester United have lost their last five away matches in a row, scoring just 3 goals in the process. Not only that, they have conceded 9 goals over the course of those five games and given current form, there is nothing to suggest this is going to change in Ukraine on Thursday night.
Zorya Luhansk are undefeated at home in Europa League Group A, having held both Feyenoord and Fenerbahce to a 1-1 draw and will be confident of doing the same to Manchester United. Zorya were on a ten-match unbeaten run at home in all competitions but this ended with defeat to Oleksandria in the Ukraine Premier League and was followed by another defeat, this time to Dnipro. Zorya’s general form has been poor of late and they are on a run of six games in all competitions without a win.
This will not deter Zorya however, as they are sure to be at their best for their last European match of the season, against one of Europe’s biggest clubs. This is going to be a very difficult match for Manchester United, in temperatures set to be around freezing in Odessa. The mentality must be right, if they are to take anything from this match and if previous form is anything to go by, the best they can hope for is a point.
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