Manchester United aim to snap a three-game winless streak on Thursday against Porto as both teams eye their first win of the UEFA Europa League campaign. United opened the competition with a 1-1 draw against Twente last week, another disappointing result on the record for manager Erik ten Hag and company. Their point is still better than Porto’s zero, as the Portuguese side came up empty handed in a 3-2 loss to 10-man Bodo/Glimt last week. It sets up a high-stakes encounter for both teams in one of the most anticipated matches of Matchday 2 of the Europa League.
Here’s what you need to know before tuning in.
How to watch and odds
- Date: Thursday, October 3 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio do Dragao — Porto, Portugal
- Watch: Paramount+
- Odds: Porto +130; Draw +230; Manchester United +195
Storylines
Manchester United’s three game winless run in all competitions refreshes questions about the direction of the team, with neither the manager nor the players impressing in real way this season, even on the days they’ve won. They dominated against Crystal Palace in Premier League play and Twente in European competition, but failed to take their chances and came out with draws, demonstrating some genuine goalscoring problems. They have just five goals in six Premier League games, and not a single one of their players has more than one goal or assist in the league this season.
Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, though, was easily their least convincing performance of the season. United’s whole team looked absent for much of that game, conceding 26 shots as they went down to 10 and eventually conceding three goals. The performance harkened back to last season, when they would concede shots and goals at exorbitant rates. Last season, though, they scored in almost equal measure – something that has yet to carry over into this campaign.
Prediction
United’s drab start to the season suggests another underwhelming performance could be in store on Thursday, especially against Portugal’s second-best team that has a point to prove of their own. Expect the two sides to cancel each other out and share the points. Pick: Porto 1, Manchester United 1
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