Manchester United kick off their 2024/25 Europa League campaign by hosting Dutch side FC Twente on Wednesday evening.
The Red Devils have somewhat shaken off a rocky start to the season since the September international break, beating Southampton and Barnsley before being held to a frustrating goalless draw against Crystal Palace last time out. Erik ten Hag’s side could have tasted victory at Selhurst Park but their profligacy proved costly.
United beat Dutch opposition the last time they lifted the Europa League, defeating Ajax 2-0 in the 2016/17 final under Jose Mourinho. Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt and Donny van de Beek all featured in the showpiece event for Ajax.
While United should have no issues overcoming opposition in the newly formatted league phase, they will want to avoid a slip-up against Eredivisie outfit Twente, who Ten Hag represented for nine years over three spells as a player. The Dutch side were knocked out of Champions League qualifying by Red Bull Salzburg but have bounced back with two wins in their last two matches.
Here is 90min’s guide to United’s opening European encounter of the season.
Man Utd vs Twente H2H Record
Man Utd and Twente have never played one another in a competitive fixture.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Man Utd |
Twente |
|---|---|
|
Crystal Palace 0-0 Man Utd – 21/09/24 |
Almere City 0-5 Twente – 22/09/24 |
|
Man Utd 7-0 Barnsley – 17/09/24 |
Twente 2-0 Heerenveen – 17/09/24 |
|
Southampton 0-3 Man Utd – 14/09/24 |
Twente 1-1 PEC Zwolle – 14/09/24 |
|
Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool – 01/09/24 |
Utrecht 2-1 Twente – 01/09/24 |
|
Brighton 2-1 Man Utd – 24/08/24 |
Twente 1-1 Sparta Rotterdam – 17/08/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ App |
|
United States |
Paramount+, fuboTV, ViX, Univision NOW, TUDN, TUDN App, TUDN.com, UniMas |
|
Canada |
DAZN |
It remains to be seen just how seriously Ten Hag will take the Europa League this season but there are likely to be a few changes from the side that drew with Crystal Palace at the weekend. That includes Marcus Rashford, who was surprisingly dropped to the bench at Selhurst Park.
Christian Eriksen’s ageing legs are likely to be given a rest after three successive starts and either Casemiro or summer recruit Manuel Ugarte will come into the side. Rasmus Hojlund returned from the bench against Palace and may earn his first start of the season.
Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelof are all still sidelined in defence, but Mason Mount returned to the bench on Saturday and could feature against Twente.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Twente (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Ugarte; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.
Twente have just the two absentees for Wednesday’s outing, with Czech midfielder Michal Sadilek and Moroccan winger Younes Taha both absent with significant leg injuries. The latter is likely out for the remainder of the campaign.
Keen Premier League viewers will remember former Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel. He will be competing with former Rangers man Sam Lammers up top, while on-loan Celtic centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke is only likely to make the bench.
Twente predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Unnerstall; Van Rooij, Hilgers, Bruns, Salah-Eddine; Regeer, Eiting; Rots, Steijn, Vlap; Lammers.
United were expected to waltz into the Champions League knockouts last season after being handed a favourable draw, but struggles against Copenhagen and Galatasaray proved that there is never a simple fixture in Europe.
That being said, the Red Devils have flexed their creative muscles in recent weeks while also managing to keep three straight clean sheets. With a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal and some key personnel returning from injury, United should best the Eredivisie’s current fourth-best side.
Prediction: Man Utd 3-0 Twente
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