Ruben Amorim will be hoping that a European trip to Czech side Viktoria Plzen can help his Reds return to winning ways after consecutive domestic defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
The honeymoon period seems to be over for the new Portuguese head coach, with a result tonight crucial to lift the fluctuating spirits around Old Trafford.
Although yet to taste defeat, there has been a mixed bag of emotions in this season’s Europa League, finding themselves unexpectedly amongst the middle of the 36-team table.
United sit on identical points to tonight’s opposition, with both teams currently unbeaten on nine points. On paper, a win today would appear plain sailing, whilst taking some weight off the shoulders by seeing United through to the knockout stages without the requirement of a playoff round.
Manchester United Team News
A strong squad has made the journey to Plzen, which lies just over an hour outside the Czech capital. The only notable omissions come defensively, with Luke Shaw sidelined for United’s trip to Doosan Arena following his latest injury setback and Jonny Evans unavailable with a knock despite starting his recovery in training earlier this week.
There are some returners amongst Amorim’s 24-man travelling squad as centre-back Victor Lindelof is back in the fray and young midfielder Toby Collyer will have a chance to make his first appearance under the new boss.
Amorim revealed that Tyrell Malacia is guaranteed action and could set to earn his third start in our last five outings saying, “Tomorrow is going to be really really tough. Ty (Malacia) is prepared for that and he is going to play so we are really prepared for the game.”
The Dutch defender spent 18 months out with injury, making his return in this competition against Bødo/Glimt last month.
Rotation has been a key aspect of Amorim’s setup. Across the forward line, it is anyone’s guess who could feature at the focal point of the attack but I would opt for Amorim’s trust to be put in Joshua Zirkzee.
Predicted XI
Onana;
Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro;
Amad, Mainoo, Casemiro, Malacia;
Rashford, Fernandes, Zirkzee
Opposition Preview
Viktoria Plzen are somewhat of an unknown quantity but will no doubt be relishing the opportunity of entertaining Manchester United at home.
Approaching matchday six of the European campaign they have recorded some impressive results thus far, having grown in confidence as the fixtures progressed. They opened with three draws to Eintracht Frankfurt, Ludogorets and PAOK before gaining six points in their last two outings against Real Sociedad and Dynamo Kyiv.
They have scored just one less goal than United so far in the competition (9) with attacking threat coming from Pavel Sulc, Prince Kwabena Adu and former Watford and Burnley man Matej Vydra all on two goals.
Their league form is equally as consistent currently sitting in second place, ten points behind Czech First League leaders Slavia Prague. You would have to go back to the 3rd of November for the last time Plzen tasted defeat, one of only two losses so far all season.
Form Guide
Manchester United (All Competitions): DWWLL
Victoria Plzen (All Competitions) Form: WWWDW
Prediction
Given the strength of the travelling squad and the utmost requisite for a win on both morale and competition progression fronts, you can’t see anything other than a United win. How comfortable that win proves to be is definitely up for question, but with a squad worth over 20 times the market value, Ruben Amorim’s men should have too much for the Czech outfit. If United can take their inevitable chances and stay tight at the back they should cruise into the last-16 by 7.30pm tonight.
Prediction: Viktoria Plzen 1-3 Manchester United
