Manchester United v Milan Europa League Casumo Preview

A progress check for similar Manchester United and Milan

This clash in the round of 16 could have been the Europa League final. Two teams with European pedigree clash in Europe’s second tier competition and as both sides hope to bring back the glory days, a progress check comes at an interesting time.

Both sides are steeped in history. Football’s biggest stars have played for these clubs and both sides have won it all. We can reel off the names, the trophies, the finals and the eras but frankly there is no point in dwelling on the past. We’re in 2021 and the two teams are desperate to bring silverware back to where they think it belongs.

Old Trafford will host the first leg, Thursday evening’s earliest kick off and it is the home side who go in on better form. Manchester United have not lost in 11 games and are also unbeaten in 5 at the Theatre of Dreams.

Even if it’s the Europa League, this still feels like a proper European night. This season both sides put up a fight with Milan leading the Serie A for the majority of the campaign. A recent blip in form saw Inter replace them at the top, so now our two opponents both sit in second place. Bizarrely they are both second to their city rivals. 

They are both sniffing at glory and those scents are important motivating factors. While the two teams have only won two of their last five, Manchester United’s derby win was a good way to beat their chests and roar. The similarities in form don’t end there. They have only tasted four defeats in their respective leagues this season and have extremely similar goal scoring and concession rates. Both sides are the most successful sides in their leagues and they are both known as the Red Devils. It’s a little uncanny that they should face each other now. 

Injury has robbed Zlatan Ibrahimovic of a return to Old Trafford and Milan will also have to cope without Hakan Calhanoglu, Ismaël Bennacer and Mario Mandzukic for the first leg. Zlatan’s absence is bittersweet for United fans, as he led the line the last time the Red Devils lifted this particular trophy. 

The injuries will hamper Milan and will perhaps make Manchester United favourites on the day. We’re going for a 1-0 home win in the first leg, priced at 13/2 or 7.5

… and we’re already excited for the second leg of this one!

 

 

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