injuries, suspensions and Granada unlikely to stop Manchester United from Europa League progress – originally posted on Sportslens.com
Manchester United are in a powerful position to axe European debutants Granada in their Europa League quarter-final tie after securing a 2-0 first-leg victory in Spain.
Goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes in the first leg back last week brought United on the verge of securing a semi-final berth, which would be their first since lifting the crown in 2016/17.
Warming up for this fixture, the Red Devils performed a stunning second-half comeback to hammer Tottenham 3-1 in their massive Premier League showdown on Sunday.
Manchester United Preview
Despite seeing off Real Sociedad in this season’s Europa League round of 32, United have navigated their way past Spanish rivals in just 43.75% of their UEFA two-legged ties so far (W7, L9).
The Red Devils were winless in nine European matches on the bounce against Spanish sides before claiming a 4-1 win over La Real in the first leg of their last-32 tie.
At home, the Premier League heavyweights lament a disappointing 33.33% win ratio against La Liga visitors across major European competitions (GP27 – W9, D12, L6), having registered a single win in their last ten such contests (D5, L4).
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have racked up an intimidating 16-game unbeaten home streak in the Europa League (W12, D4), although they have drawn both home outings in the knock-outs this term.
On each of the 19 previous occasions that United won the first road leg of a European tie, they have gone on to reach the next round, notably winning the return leg in five of their six UEFA ties that yielded a 2-0 away first-leg success (L1).
Granada Preview
A 2-0 first-leg defeat was Granada’s first-ever official meeting with Premier League opposition.
It was also the fourth game in the Europa League proper in which the Nazaries had failed to get on the scoresheet.
The two identical 2-1 reverses in the Europa League knock-outs are part of Granada’s three-match winless UEFA streak outside Spain (D1, L2).
If Diego Martinez’s men find the net here, they may well do it quickly, considering that four of their six goals scored in this season’s knock-outs have come within the opening 26 minutes of play.
Granada had lost five consecutive away matches in all competitions before pulling off a second-half comeback to defeat Valladolid 2-1 in La Liga last weekend.
Ten of their previous 11 competitive away games have seen over 2.5 goals and both teams score, including the last seven.
Team News
Manchester United
Out: Anthony Martial, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay.
Doubts: Daniel James
Granada
Out: Neydor Lozano, Luis Milla, Quini, Domingos Duarte, Yan Eteki.
Doubts: Alberto Soro
Predicted Line-ups
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): David De Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Victor Lindelof, Alex Telles; Fred, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Mason Greenwood; Edinson Cavani
Granada (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Victor Diaz, German Sanchez, Jesus Vallejo, Carlos Neva; Yangel Herrera, Maxime Gonalons; Angel Montoro, Antonio Puertas, Kenedy; Roberto Soldado