Manchester United return to European action on Thursday, when they welcome Saint-Etienne at Old Trafford for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League clash. The two teams have not met since 1977, when Manchester United earned a 3-1 aggregate victory in the first round of the European Cup Winners' Cup. The Red Devils have lost just two of their 24 European matches against French opposition, while Saint-Etienne have won just one of their six matches against English teams.
Manchester United have lost just one match since the start of November, and they have won their last two Premier League matches. However, they are lying in sixth place in the league table and the battle for a top-four spot will most likely be a heated one until the end of the season. If the Red Devils win the Europa League they would be guaranteed a Champions League spot next season, it's definitely something worth playing for. Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones are injury doubts after having missed last weekend's 2-0 victory over Watford.
Saint-Etienne are still in with a chance of playing European football next season, they are fifth in Ligue 1 and they can hope for a fourth-place finish as they are just one point behind Lyon. They are undefeated in ten European games this season. Cheikh M'Bengue is a fitness doubt, so Florentin Pogba will have a chance of playing against his famous brother Paul Pogba on Thursday. Oussama Tannane, Robert Beric and Alexander Soderlund are injured and will most likely miss out.
Probable line-ups:
Man United: De Gea - Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo - Herrera, P. Pogba - Mata, Mkhitaryan, Martial - Ibrahimovic
St Etienne: Ruffier - Malcuit, Theophile-Catherine, Perrin, F. Pogba - Veretout, Pajot - Hamouma, Saivet, Monnet-Paquet - Roux
My prediction: Manchester United to win 3-1.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Man United win - 1.33
Draw - 5.50
St Etienne win - 11.00
03/02/17, 02:03:12 AM
