Man United kick-start Europa League campaign against FC Twente
Manchester United kick-start their 2024-25 Europa League campaign with an encounter against Eredivisie outfit FC Twente at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.
This contest represents the first-ever meeting between the two teams; the Red Devils have lost just one of their previous nine home encounters with Dutch opposition.
Despite slumping to an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, Man United are competing in the Europa League for the seventh time since it was rebranded in 2009 after winning the FA Cup final against rival Manchester City in May.
Erik ten Hag has claimed that his United side ‘ate Palace alive’ in the first half at Selhurst Park, but they ultimately lacked a cutting edge in the final third and were forced to settle for just a point, leaving them 11th in the top-flight standings after five games and three points behind the top four.
Man United will now shift their focus to the Europa League and their first of eight matches in the newly-expanded 36-team competition, with an opening fixture at home to FC Twente.
FC Twente have found their form in front of goal in recent weeks and could pose a threat to Man United’s backline on Wednesday, particularly through in-form attacker Steijn. The Red Devils, who have lost just one of their last 24 home matches in the Europa League, will fancy their chances of success on matchday one against Twente and are among the bookmakers’ favourites go all the way and win this year’s competition for the second time in their history since their triumph in 2016-17.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Nice and Real Sociedad clash at Allianz Riviera
Both aiming to commence their continental quests for glory with three points, Nice and Real Sociedad will clash for a Europa League match on Wednesday night at Allianz Riviera.
Les Aiglons come into this game following a handsome win in Ligue 1 on the weekend, whilst the White and Blues have endured a tricky start to their 2024-25 domestic schedule.
After losing 2-0 at the home of Marseille following the September international break, Nice returned to winning ways in extraordinary fashion on Friday night at Allianz Riviera, securing an eight-goal success over newly-promoted strugglers Saint-Etienne from a one-sided Ligue 1 clash.
With the Europa League possessing a new format for the 2024-25 campaign, it is clear that French giants Nice will be targeting a top-eight finish in the 36-team league table, a placement that would allow them to miss a two-legged playoff for the round of 16 in February.
On the other hand, Real Sociedad are battling on without the services of some of their top performers from last season, with leading goalscorer Alexander Sorloth and chief creator Mikel Merino moving to Atletico Madrid and Arsenal respectively over the course of the summer transfer window. Failing to win any of their last five matches in La Liga, Real Sociedad are in an early-season rut and look set for a difficult evening at Allianz Riviera.
After hitting Saint-Etienne for eight on the weekend, Nice should be very confident of getting their Europa League campaign off to a positive start on Wednesday night.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Galatasaray and PAOK will lock horns at Adams Park
Both aiming to launch their league phase campaigns with maximum points, Galatasaray and PAOK will lock horns at Adams Park on Wednesday for the first matchday of the 2024-25 Europa League.
The hosts dropped down into this competition after being eliminated from the playoff qualifying round for the Champions League, while the visitors qualified with a 6-0 aggregate win in the Europa League playoff round.
After securing back-to-back Turkish Super Lig titles and making history as the first Turkish team to reach 100 points, finishing with 102 last year, Galatasaray will be set on achieving further success this season.
With four consecutive wins, including a 3-1 triumph over Fenerbahce, Galatasaray will undoubtedly be full of confidence as they prepare for their league phase opener against PAOK.
Galatasaray will be without their first-choice goalkeeper for the opening games of the Europa League league phase after Fernando Muslera received a straight red card in the 87th minute of their 1-0 second-leg defeat to Young Boys in the Champions League playoff round.
Thirty-three-year-old Gunay Guvenc was brought on in Muslera’s place for the final minutes of that game, and the veteran goalkeeper is expected to start between the sticks on Wednesday.
Both sides come into this game in excellent form, but Galatasaray are formidable when playing at home, and we expect that advantage to help them secure all three points.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Anderlecht and Hungarian champions Ferencvaros in faceoff
Belgium giants Anderlecht and Hungarian champions Ferencvaros begin their 2024-25 Europa League campaigns with a meeting at Lotto Park in Brussels on Wednesday night.
The two teams meet for the first time since 1985 when Ferencvaros claimed a 2-1 aggregate win in the qualifying round of the Champions League.
After a year away from European competition, Anderlecht are now competing in the Europa League for the first time since 2018-19 courtesy of 2-0 aggregate victory over Dinamo Minsk in the playoff round last month.
Since beating the Belarusian outfit, the Mauves have failed to come out on top in any of their last four Belgian Pro League matches, and a 2-0 home defeat to Genk ultimately proved to be the final nail in the coffin for head coach Brian Riemer, who was sacked last Thursday after nearly two years at the helm due to ‘insufficient’ team performances.
After finishing third in the Belgian Pro League Champions’ playoffs last season, Anderlecht now find themselves sitting sixth in the current top-flight standings with 13 points from eight matches, but they are only three points behind league leaders Genk.
Ferencvaros are certainly the form side heading into Wednesday’s fixture and will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.
They also boast a strong record against Belgian opposition, but we feel that Anderlecht could frustrate their Hungarian counterparts and find a way to claim at least a share of the spoils from this one.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
League Stage Fixtures
Ludogorets 20:00 Slavia Prague
Manchester United 20:00 Twente
