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Porto Vs Manchester United Team News, Preview And Predicted Lineups Ahead Of Vital UEFA Europa League Clash
Ben Horlock is a sports news and features writer who holds a degree in sports journalism (BA Hons) from Southampton Solent University. Ben has been published across a wide variety of news outlets and websites including HITC, 90min, GiveMeSport, Betfair and Zoo Magazine. As well, Ben has worked in social media for four years in the sports gambling industry. For his sins, Ben is a QPR fan and is a keen follower of all the major European football leagues.
Get to know Ben Horlock betterPublished14 hours ago on October 02, 2024
Ahead of matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League, we have the latest Porto vs Manchester United team news, preview and predicted lineups.
Porto Vs Manchester United Preview
The Red Devils will be looking to bounce back after their 3-0 humiliation against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Manager Erik ten Hag is certainly feeling the heat after United’s latest setback. The Dutchman has overseen their joint-worst start to a Premier League campaign.
Ten Hag insists he doesn’t fear being sacked. Or that he’ll walk away from the dugout. Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has already been touted as a replacement.
Meanwhile, former United hero Gary Neville labelled the Spurs performance as ‘disgusting.’ He went on to say it was ‘one of the worst performances’ he’d seen under Ten Hag.
Subsequently, United head to Portugal having already suffered three losses this season. Two of those by at least three goals, too. On matchday 1, United laboured to a 1-1 draw with FC Twente at Old Trafford.
Porto’s Strong Start
In contrast, Porto’s fortunes have been the polar opposite than that of their visitors. This season, the Primeira Liga side have won six of their opening seven games and netted 16 goals. Conceding just three.
Their only blemish came back in August when they suffered a 2-0 defeat to champions Sporting Lisbon. In the Europa League this season, Vítor Bruno’s side suffered a surprise 3-2 loss to Bodo/Glimt.
In fact, the Dragons have a poor record in recent times in Europe’s secondary club competition. They have just one win in their last seven. However, they did trounce Arouca 4-0 on the weekend to set them up nicely against United.
You have to go back 15 years for the last time the two sides met at the Estádio do Dragão. A certain Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sublime free-kick to give Sir Alex Ferguson’s side a 1-0 UEFA Champions League victory.
Thursday can't come soon enough 😍#UEL pic.twitter.com/XenMEpA5Ql
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 30, 2024
Porto Vs Manchester United Team News
Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira is expected to feature for Porto after he returned from injury on the weekend. Vieira managed the last 20 minutes in the 4-0 win over Arouca.
However, the Dragons will still be without long-term absentees Zaidu Sanusi and Ivan Marcano. Both players suffered ACL injuries and won’t be available for the foreseeable future.
Samu Omorodion is expected to lead the line up front. The 20-year-old scored on matchday 1 in the 3-2 defeat to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt.
For Manchester United, Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are definitely ruled out. Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire trained on Wednesday to give the Red Devils a boost. Both aren’t expected to start, though.
Mason Mount sat out of practice owing to the head wound suffered on the weekend against Tottenham. However, he is expected to travel to Portugal.
Despite his red card against Spurs, Bruno Fernandes is expected to go straight back in to his midfield role as he returns to his home nation. The best football betting sites in the UK price Fernandes at 9/1 to score first.
Porto Vs Manchester United Predicted Lineups
Porto (4-2-3-1): Costa; Mario, Pedro, Perez, Moura; Gonzalez, Varela; Pepe, Sousa, Galeno; Omorodion
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Eriksen, Ugarte; Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund