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Manchester United are making ready to welcome FC Twente to Previous Trafford of their opening Europa League match of the season.
Within the revised format, the Pink Devils is not going to play in a gaggle of 4 groups, however will in actual fact play eight video games in opposition to eight completely different groups in an general league desk consisting of 36 sides.
To qualify for the following spherical outright, they need to end within the prime eight to achieve direct entry to the final 16 or at worst within the prime 24 to achieve the knockout stage of the final 32.
Listed below are some storylines from what will likely be a vital night to get United’s European marketing campaign off on the precise foot.
First ever match between the 2 sides
The match in itself is historic as it’s the first time the 2 groups could have performed one another.
The aspect from Enschede final performed within the group stage of a European competitors in 2012-2013, after they certified for the Europa League however completed backside of their group.
Twente wouldn’t have the perfect file in opposition to English sides, as they’ve solely received certainly one of their earlier 13 matches in opposition to English opponents, drawing 5 and shedding the opposite seven.
Nonetheless, they did beat Fulham in December 2011 the final time they confronted a Premier League aspect.
United defending excellent Europa League residence file
Regardless of a poor begin to life within the Europa League at Previous Trafford, the Pink Devils have racked up quite a few factors and key victories through the years at their storied residence stadium, together with a 6-2 thrashing of Roma and a memorable 2-1 defeat of FC Barcelona.
United misplaced their first two residence matches within the competitors in 2012 after they had been crushed by Ajax and Athletic Bilbao however since then have solely misplaced certainly one of their earlier 24.
This run contains 18 victories and 5 attracts with the one defeat coming in opposition to Actual Sociedad in a 0-1 loss in 2022.
Regardless of shedding to Ajax, United have had a robust file in opposition to Dutch sides at Previous Trafford, beating Feyenoord 4-0 in 2016 and AZ Alkmaar by the identical scoreline in 2019. They did nevertheless solely handle a 0-0 draw with PSV Eindhoven within the Champions League in 2015.
With powerful away fixtures to Porto and Fenerbahce on this marketing campaign, residence matches in opposition to Twente, PAOK FC, Bodo/Glimt and Glasgow Rangers are should wins to present the Pink Devils the perfect likelihood to qualify for the following stage outright.
The Erik ten Hag connection
Only a few folks will likely be wanting ahead to this sport as a lot as United’s supervisor, Ten Hag.
The 54 yr previous coach began off each his taking part in and training careers on the Eredivisie aspect, taking part in there on three separate events.
In complete he performed 234 video games for the membership, profitable the KNVB cup in 2001.
He additionally started his teaching profession at Twente, managing the underneath 17s and 19s and was a part of Steve McClaren’s background setup when the Englishman was supervisor of the membership.
While he will likely be determined for the three factors, it’s certain to be an emotional night time for the boss.
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