Manchester United is set to face Porto in the second match of their 2024/25 Europa League campaign on Thursday, October 3, at the Estdio do Drago in Porto, Portugal. This encounter comes at a critical juncture for United, who are under intense scrutiny following a string of disappointing results.
Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, is facing significant pressure after his team's humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham last weekend. This loss has exacerbated the existing concerns, with United having managed only two wins from their first six matches, leaving them 13th in the Premier League. The team is also on a three-match winless run, including a 1-1 draw with FC Twente in their opening Europa League fixture.
Team News and Lineups
For Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund is set to make his first start of the campaign, as Erik ten Hag makes several changes to the lineup. The absence of Kobbie Mainoo, who suffered an injury against Tottenham, means Casemiro or Christian Eriksen may return to the side. Bruno Fernandes, despite his red card against Spurs, is likely to start given his suspension only applies to league games. The probable United lineup includes Onana in goal, with Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, and Dalot in defense, and Diallo, Fernandes, and Garnacho in the attacking midfield roles.
Porto, on the other hand, have no new injury concerns following their 4-0 win over Arouca last weekend. However, attacking midfielder Fabio Vieira, on loan from Arsenal, remains a major doubt due to a muscle injury. Samu Omorodion will lead the line for Porto, supported by Galeno, Pepe, and Vasco Sousa. The midfield will be anchored by Nico Gonzalez and Alan Varela, with Joao Mario, Jos Pedro, Nehun Prez, and Francisco Moura forming the back four.
Coaches' Pre-Match Thoughts
Porto coach Vitor Bruno has expressed his respect for Manchester United despite their current form. Bruno stated, 'Even though Manchester United are going through a difficult period, its a club with history and European experience, which has great individual values. We cannot underestimate them. At the same time, we must always aim to achieve victory, because representing this club means that'.
Erik ten Hag acknowledged the challenges posed by Porto, saying, 'We know that Porto are a good team, with good players and good strategy. We have to play good football to get a positive result. The way they attack, with dynamism and creativity, and the way they defend, with aggressiveness, will be a real challenge for us'.
Historical Context and Recent Form
This match marks the ninth meeting between Manchester United and Porto, with the Red Devils holding a slight historical advantage, having won three games to Portos two, and three draws. Their last meeting was in April 2009 in a Champions League quarter-final, where Cristiano Ronaldo scored a decisive goal for United.
Porto have had a strong start to their domestic season, winning six of their seven league matches, although they did suffer a 3-2 loss to Bodo/Glimt in their first Europa League match. Manchester United, however, are struggling to find consistency and are in dire need of a positive result to alleviate the pressure on Erik ten Hag.
Travel and Fan Issues
The match has also been marred by travel issues for Manchester United fans. A flight carrying around 180 fans was cancelled due to the lack of available landing spots in Porto, leaving supporters stranded at Manchester Airport for over ten hours.
The Estdio do Drago, known for its challenging atmosphere, will host the match. This stadium has previously proven difficult for Premier League teams, as evidenced by Porto's victory over Arsenal in the Champions League last season.
The match kicks off at 8pm BST and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports in the UK, with subscribers also able to watch via the Discovery+ app and website.
As Manchester United navigates this critical phase, the team's performance will be closely watched, especially given the historical context of their matches against Porto. The Estdio do Drago is set to be the stage for what promises to be an intense and pivotal encounter in the Europa League.
