Finish the job: MUFC target eighteenth European semi-final


Good first-leg win
By Chris O'Brien
April 15 2021

Manchester United - boasting a two-goal advantage - are huge favourites to secure safe passage to the Europa League last four, as Granada visit Old Trafford for a second-leg tie on Thursday evening.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men took a huge stride towards the last four of a major European tournament with a 2-0 first-leg win at Nuevo Los Cármenes.

Marcus Rashford opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark, while a late penalty from talisman Bruno Fernandes put the Red Devils firmly in control.

Granada - who sit eighth in the La Liga table - are as high as 49/1 to come to Old Trafford and overturn the two-goal deficit.

United, however, have a number of major absentees for the game - with skipper Harry Maguire, on-form left-back Luke Shaw and midfield regular Scott McTominay all suspended.

The team's indiscipline in the first-leg - which saw them chalk up five yellow cards - led to a €7,000 fine from Uefa for 'improper conduct.

Solskjaer is also sweating on the fitness of Rashford, who had to sit out training mid-week with an ankle problem; while he confirmed in a pre-match press conference that Eric Bailly remains unavailable.

The absentees means United's out-of-favour defender Axel Tuanzebe is expected to play a big role. Alex Telles seems certain to start too, while Donny Van de Beek could get a rare chance to impress from the start of a match.

Solskjaer is on the cusp of leading United to a second European semi-final under his stewardship; in what would be the 18th time the Red Devils have reached the last four of a major continental cup. To date, those semi-final appearances have been converted into five European titles - three European Cups, a Europa League and a Cup Winners' Cup success.

If United - who have won three on the bounce - avoid a catastropic collapse against the Nazaríes, they will face Ajax or Roma in the last four; who do battle tonight in Italy's capital, with the Serie A outfit boasting a 2-1 advantage.

Come on Ole's United.

Finish the job: MUFC target eighteenth European semi-final
Posted by: manutdweb.com (IP Logged)
Date: 15/04/2021 16:04

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Re: Finish the job: MUFC target eighteenth European semi-final
Posted by: Salford Lad (IP Logged)
Date: 17/04/2021 10:45

Bring on Roma!

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net