FC Porto and Manchester United will be searching for their first wins of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League when they clash at Estadio do Dragao on Thursday.
The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League resumes this midweek with Matchday 2, with Thursday bringing the curtains down on the latest round of fixtures. The most eye-catching game this week will come from Estadio do Dragao, where FC Porto will host Manchester United.
FC Porto qualified for the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League after finishing third in the Liga Portugal standings last season. However, the Dragons have made a far-from-ideal start to their European campaign by suffering a shock 3-2 defeat to Bodo/Glimt on Matchday 1. But that has not reflected in domestic football, with Vitor Bruno’s side only two points behind Sporting CP in the standings.
On the other hand, Manchester United needed to win the FA Cup to reach the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League. They began their European campaign with a 1-1 draw with FC Twente, a match they should have won. However, the Red Devils are enduring a disastrous start to the new season after losing more games than they have won thus far, with the latest setback being a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester United clinched a 1-0 over FC Porto in the most recent match featuring the two teams at Estadio do Dragao. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
FC Porto
Vitor Bruno does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s first home game in the UEFA Europa League this season. Against Manchester United on Thursday, the FC Porto manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players.
Zaidu Sanusi and Ivan Marcano are long-term absentees due to their knee injuries. In addition, Bruno is sweating over the fitness of Otavio, who has missed the last three games due to a muscle injury.
Diogo Costa is the automatic pick between the sticks, with FC Porto lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against Manchester United. The backline should feature Joao Mario, Ze Pedro, Nehuen Perez, and Francisco Moura.
As for the midfield unit, Alan Varela and Nico Gonzalez will pair up in the double pivot, looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Vasco Sousa will reprise the no. 10 role, with Pepe and Galeno being the two wide attackers. Finally, Samu Omorodion will lead the line for the home side against Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Costa; Mario, Pedro, Perez, Moura; Gonzalez, Varela; Pepe, Sousa, Galeno; Omorodion
Manchester United
Like his counterpart in the FC Porto dugout, Erik ten Hag does not have any new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Estadio do Dragao. The Manchester United manager will be without three first-team players on Thursday.
Erik ten Hag has been sweating over the fitness of Kobbie Mainoo, who picked up a knock this past weekend against Tottenham. However, the Englishman and his compatriot, Harry Maguire, are in the travelling squad. So, Luke Shaw (leg), Leny Yoro (foot), and Tyrell Malacia (knee) remain on the sidelines, with Shaw encountering a setback on his road to recovery.
Andre Onana will take his usual spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him against FC Porto on Thursday. The backline should feature Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot.
As for the midfield unit, Erik ten Hag might hand some rest to Mainoo, with Christian Eriksen pairing up with Manuel Ugarte in the double pivot. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo being the two wide attackers. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will likely make his first start of the 2024/25 season after regaining sharpness in recent weeks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, de Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Key Stats
- FC Porto have won two of their eight European meetings with Manchester United (D3 L3).
- Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 12 major European matches vs Portuguese clubs (W9 D3) since losing 2-1 to Benfica in December 2005.
- FC Porto have won their last three major European home matches, all in last season’s UEFA Champions League. They have not won four successive games at Estadio do Dragao since March 2019.
- In addition, FC Porto have lost only one of their last 22 competitive matches at Estadio do Dragao (W18 D4).
- Manchester United’s last four away European matches have seen 23 goals scored (GF9 GA14). Despite scoring three goals in all three most recent outings on the road, the Red Devils have not won any (D1 L2).
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has been the talk of the town in the last few days, albeit not entirely for the right reasons. The Manchester United captain picked up a bizarre red card this past weekend against Tottenham Hotspur for a challenge on James Maddison.
That has created a discourse among a section of the Manchester United fanbase that the experienced playmaker might not be the right fit at Old Trafford anymore. However, the three-match ban he picked up from the red card is no longer in effect, with the FA overturning the decision. Meanwhile, the aforementioned discourse is ridiculous.
Since his debut on 1 February 2020, Fernandes has played (242) and started (228) more competitive matches than any other Premier League player, while his 148 goal involvements (79 goals, 69 assists) are 46 more than any other Manchester United player across that time (Marcus Rashford, 102). So, if anything, the Red Devils need their captain back at his best instead of cashing in on him.
Prediction
FC Porto 1-2 Manchester United
Thursday’s match features two teams eager to clinch their first win of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign after frustrating results on Matchday 1. In addition, the backs are against the wall at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag facing the heat after a horrendous start to the new Premier League season.
So, Thursday’s match should be an end-to-end affair, with the desperation of both teams showing throughout. Bruno Fernandes will also be eager to prove his naysayers wrong, and The Hard Tackle predicts the Portuguese international will deliver the goods. We expect a closely contested clash, with Manchester United picking up a narrow 2-1 win over FC Porto.