Europa League: Red Devils Can Use Twente to Bounce Back

Manchester United vs FC Twente

The Red Devils will open their Europa League account against Eredivisie side FC Twente, hoping to get back on the win column after a thoroughly disappointing Premier League weekend.

Manchester United were hoping to build off from their 7-0 dismantling of Barnsley in the EFL Cup but found themselves stunned at Selhurst Park when Crystal Palace proved to be a tough nut to crack in 90 minutes of game time.

Now hoping to get back on track, Erik ten Hag’s job will now pit him against his boyhood club, with a convincing win a necessity to an up-and-down United season so far.

For Twente, this will be a much-awaited return to the Europa League, and Joseph Oosting has a chance to come out of Old Trafford with one of the biggest upsets in the SBOTOP Europa League 2024 odds should his side escape with a win.

Plenty is at stake for this match, with the pressure to win undoubtedly resting on Man United’s shoulders.

 

Talking Points

United need to convert their chances

Manchester United fans have been longing to be at the top of the Premier League for quite some time now. Well, as of the moment, the Red Devils are indeed on top. But it’s not in a category they’d be ecstatic to be a part of.

The 13-time Premier League winners currently lead the English top flight in big chances missed.

Ten Hag’s side—through five matches played—are well into the driver’s seat of being the kings of wastefulness, with 17 big chances missed.

Aston Villa, Liverpool and Tottenham are all joint second with 12.

And what better way to encapsulate just how unlucky United have been than with their recent draw against Crystal Palace.

Man United were head-and-shoulders above the opposition in the first half of the match, battering the Eagles with massive chances from Alejandro Garnacho, Matthijs de Ligt, Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee.

Dean Henderson, however, wasn’t allowing anything through against his former club.

Crystal Palace had better opportunities to take the lead in the second half, but Andre Onana’s heroics matched Henderson’s as points were shared after the final whistle was blown.

Speaking after the match, ten Hag rued the missed shots, saying that his squad deserved all three points from the game.

“We should’ve won. In the first half, we ate them alive.”

 

Can Sem Steijn carry his domestic form to Europe?

Currently sitting in fourth place in the Dutch top flight, Twente are hoping that their first Europa League outing in over a decade will be a good one.

But whether or not their evening at Old Trafford will be eventful rests with Sem Steijn sustaining his current goalscoring form.

With six goals in six matches played in Eredivisie, Stejin is the leading scorer in the Netherlands. He has scored in Twente’s last three matches, securing a brace against Almere City and Heerenveen in back-to-back games.

Sam Lammers is also one to look out for, with the 27-year-old Dutch forward having three league goals to his name—only Stejin has more in the club.

 

History

Despite the Dutch connection with ten Hag—with him playing for and being the manager of Twente at one point—the two sides have actually never faced each other and are only about to do so for the first time on Thursday.

With over 200 appearances for the club, it will be an emotional time for ten Hag, as he will now have the honours of spoiling his former club’s return in the Europa League.

It should also be noted that ten Hag had also won the Dutch Cup with Twente back in 2001, and a massive win against them could be a bittersweet one.

 

Betting Tip

Manchester United are yet to find a steady groove to their season so far, but I have no doubts in my mind that they would dispose of Twente swiftly.

The first half display against Crystal Palace was just an indicator that United, despite their inconsistencies, remain an elite club in terms of finding chances to score. And playing at home, against opposition that are levels below them, well, I just can’t see any way for them to lose.

There will be plenty of Europa League 2024 highlights for the Red Devils, and for my money, this match will be wrapped up before the half-time whistle is blown.

   

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