Porto vs Manchester United Preview
- Porto to win
- Omorodion to score
Porto Seeking European Redemption
Despite an early lead and numerical advantage in the second half, Porto’s UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign began with a surprise 3-2 defeat to Bodø/Glimt on matchday one.
That was only their second loss of the season (W7), but Porto bounced back emphatically, thrashing Arouca 4-0 in the Portuguese league. Now, they’ll be looking to avenge their UEL defeat when they face Manchester United at the famous Estádio do Dragão.
The Dragão has been a fortress for Porto, who have won each of their last three home European games, with one of those victories coming against English opposition in Arsenal. Should they achieve a fourth successive European home win, it would be their longest such streak since March 2019.
With an unbeaten run on their home turf in all competitions since April (W6, D2), Porto will be feeling confident heading into this clash.
Manchester United’s European Struggles
For Manchester United, this trip comes at a challenging time as the club is in the midst of a crisis.
Manager Erik ten Hag was given a vote of confidence from the board after a demoralising 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, but the vocal discontent of the Old Trafford faithful showed that things need to change quickly.
European competition hasn’t provided much solace for Ten Hag, as United have won just one of their last nine matches in Europe (D3, L5), including a 1-1 draw against Twente on matchday one.
Their away form in European competitions has been a concern, with United remarkably scoring three goals in each of their last three European road matches but failing to win any of them (D1, L2). Defensive frailties and an inability to capitalise on attacking dominance have hampered their performances.
Key Players to Watch
Samu Omorodion (Porto)
The new striker for Porto has been on a red-hot scoring streak, finding the net five times in his last four matches.
Impressively, four of those goals have come in the second half, making him a potent threat as the match progresses. Omorodion will be a player Manchester United’s defence will need to monitor closely.
Rasmus Højlund (Manchester United)
Højlund, who scored five European goals for United last season, is still looking to make his mark this term.
Three of those goals came in away matches, but his strikes for United in European competition have all been in games that ended in defeat (L3). He’ll be hoping to turn that form around and help secure a crucial win for the Red Devils.
Porto’s Strong Home Form vs United’s European Woes
- Porto’s recent home form: Unbeaten in their last eight home matches across all competitions (W6, D2).
- Porto’s European record: Three consecutive home wins in European competition, including a victory against Arsenal.
- Manchester United’s European away form: Scored three goals in each of their last three European away matches but failed to win any of them (D1, L2).
Conclusion
With a strong home record and recent domestic success, Porto will be looking to continue their form and secure an important UEL win against Manchester United.
The Red Devils, struggling for form and defensive solidity, will be desperate to change their fortunes and restore confidence within the squad. With both teams possessing attacking firepower, this match has the potential to be an open and entertaining affair.
Prediction: A closely contested match, with Porto’s home advantage and United’s defensive issues likely to see the Portuguese side edge out a victory.
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Porto vs Man Utd | UEFA Europa League 2024/25