Man United, West Ham round off Premier League midweek action
Manchester United and West Ham United round off the Premier League midweek action at Old Trafford this evening, as the Red Devils reignited their revival over the weekend with a 2-1 comeback triumph at Crystal Palace, while West Ham were left to rue a nonsensical Lucas Paqueta red card in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Man United snapped Crystal Palace’s longest-ever unbeaten home record in the Premier League, conquering the Eagles at a ground where Oliver Glasner’s side had previously gone 12 straight games without defeat.
After overseeing four defeats from his side’s first seven matches of the new season in all tournaments, Ruben Amorim has presided over just one loss from Man Utd’s last seven games, but the Portuguese is at risk of setting yet another unwanted Red Devils record.
Should the hosts lose on Thursday, Amorim would have suffered 10 Premier League defeats at Old Trafford in just 20 matches, thus reaching 10 top-flight home losses in quicker time than any other Man United manager.
Festive cheer was also in short supply for Man United last winter, as they are on a three-game Premier League losing run in the month of December, failing to score a single goal in that time.
However, the Old Trafford faithful may be feeling the Christmas spirit more than the visiting crowd, whose side’s three-match unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of a revitalised Liverpool side in gameweek 13.
After missing Man Utd’s last two matches with a head injury – one that was sustained in a training-ground accident – Matheus Cunha is back in training with the Red Devils and on course to be available on Thursday evening.
However, Mount and Zirkzee arguably have no right to lose their spots in the first XI after their confidence-boosting goals at Selhurst Park, so Cunha may have to settle for a place on the bench.
West Ham’s previous purple patch at home did not translate into results on the road for Santo, whose side should become the latest victims of a rejuvenated Red Devils team.
With Cunha expected to return, Fernandes pulling the creative strings and both Zirkzee and Mount back among the goals, the stage is set for another Man United win.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Lazio and AC Milan clash in the Coppa Italia
Meeting for the second time in five days, Lazio and AC Milan will clash in the Coppa Italia on Thursday evening.
Now vying for a place in the cup quarter-finals, Milan edged a tense league game last week – but this time they must travel to Rome.
Denied by Rafael Leao‘s decisive goal – plus the magnificence of Mike Maignan and a controversial VAR call – Lazio lost 1-0 at San Siro on Saturday.
Both Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri and Lazio assistant Marco Ianni were dismissed for dissent as the referee ruled against giving the Biancocelesti a late penalty, so they ultimately left Lombardy empty-handed.
Having previously been beaten there by Inter, their only defeats since September’s Derby della Capitale have both come at San Siro.
They have also gone almost 400 minutes without scoring an away goal, but the Rome club will have home advantage for this last-16 Coppa Italia tie, as they set off in search of an eighth cup triumph.
Maurizio Sarri‘s men – who sit eighth in Serie A, 10 points behind table-topping Milan – were spared the opening rounds due to a top-eight league finish last season.
Following Saturday’s loss, Sarri has defeated Allegri just four times across 21 previous meetings, with the pair’s rivalry going back 22 years, when they were both working down in Serie C2.
So, Lazio’s head coach will seek a rare victory over his opposite number, who has won the Coppa more often than any other manager – five times to date.
Beating Lazio sent Milan top of the Serie A standings, where they are tied on points with reigning champions Napoli, while both Inter and Roma lurk just behind.
That success followed victory in this season’s first Derby della Madonnina, where more heroics from captain Maignan kept the Rossoneri’s title challenge on track.
Having now extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games – while posting a ninth clean sheet of the season – Allegri’s men certainly look like strong contenders for the Scudetto.
Yet, due to a dismal finish last term, Milan, who will soon defend the Supercoppa Italiana, currently have no European football to contend with.
As a result, the Lombardy giants can afford to focus on a deep domestic cup run – particularly as their wait to lift the trophy dates back more than two decades.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Bologna welcome Parma to the Stadio Dall’Ara
Kicking off the defence of their hard-won trophy, Bologna will make their bow in the 2025-26 Coppa Italia when Parma visit Stadio Dall’Ara on Thursday.
Having ended a long wait for silverware in May, the Rossoblu start this season’s campaign with a tricky last-16 tie against regional rivals.
On a memorable night in Rome, success-starved Bologna finally halted their 51-year wait for a major trophy by beating AC Milan and lifting the Coppa Italia.
That feelgood factor has continued into this season, with the Rossoblu riding high in Serie A and on course for at least a Europa League playoff place.
Top-four contenders in Italy’s top flight, Bologna’s unbeaten streak across all competitions stood at 12 matches before Monday’s apparently straightforward home game against Cremonese.
However, Vincenzo Italiano‘s men were dealt their first domestic defeat since mid-September, when they were beaten by Milan at San Siro, and missed out on a chance to go third in the table.
Bologna’s star man Riccardo Orsolini struck the post before Cremonese unexpectedly seized a two-goal lead; the Italy winger then reduced those arrears by converting a penalty just before half time.
Yet, the visitors effectively wrapped up all three points when Jamie Vardy scored his second shortly after the break, stunning the Dall’Ara into silence.
There is little time to reflect: nearly 90 years after the first, Bologna must now play their 300th Coppa Italia tie while meeting a familiar foe.
Bologna won 3-1 at Stadio Tardini when the clubs met in November, so Parma are intent on gaining swift revenge in this latest battle of Emilia-Romagna.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Premier League Fixture Manchester United 20:00 West Ham United
Coppa Italia Last 16 Fixtures
