Manchester United vs FC Midtjylland: Europa League Preview & Prediction

Manchester United know that they will have to improve on last week’s performance against FC Midtjylland in Denmark if they are to qualify for the last-16 of the Europa League.

The Red Devils were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by the Danish outfit last Thursday, despite taking the lead through a goal from Dutch forward, Memphis Depay.

Despite advancing through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup following a comfortable 3-0 victory at League One side outfit Shrewsbury on Monday night, the pressure is very much still on manager Louis van Gaal, especially with his team being six points off of the top four spots in the Premier League table.

Of course, winning the Europa League now guarantees you a place in the following season’s Champions League, but first of all United must turn around this tie.

Their Danish opponents knocked Southampton out of the qualifying stages at the start of the season, and will be looking to gain their second Premier League scalp when they make the trip to Old Trafford.

While their home ground may be something of a fortress, shown by the result in Herning last week, the Wolves will know they have to put in an improved performance on the road to get a positive result at Old Trafford – they have lost their last two European away games, scoring none and conceding six.

The club, who were only formed in 1999, when Manchester United last won the treble, will once again look to two of their danger men to make an impact in the North West – speedy winger Pione Sisto and giant striker Paul Onuachu got the goals for the visitors in their shock triumph a week ago.

Team News:

Manchester United’s star man this season, David De Gea, injured his knee in the build-up to the first leg in Denmark and, after also missing the 3-0 win over Shrewsbury, is still out of contention for the second leg at Old Trafford.

Sergio Romero will once again start in the Spaniard’s absence, while captain Wayne Rooney is also unavailable, but Marcos Rojo is back in training.

The visitors are still without their own first-choice goalkeeper Johan Dahlin because of a knee injury, but should welcome back midfielder Jakub Poulsen, who was suspended for the first leg in Herning.

League Position: Man United – 5th (Premier League – 41 pts); Midtjylland – 3rd (Danish Superliga – 31 pts)
Previous Meeting: Midtjylland 2-1 Man United (February 18, 2016)
Form: Man United – WWDLLW; Midtjylland – DDLDWW
Key Men: Man United – Juan Mata; Midtjylland – Pione Sisto
Shoot Says: Manchester United 1-0 FC Midtjylland