Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
Ruben Amorim’s complex playing model is gradually being adopted by the players at Manchester United. Against Viktoria Plzeň, they will be playing for a win. In an emergency, the English side can turn to their strong bench, which offers ample attacking reinforcements.
Viktoria Plzeň
Following their victory over Dynamo Kyiv (2:1), Viktoria Plzeň are now just a point away from the top eight in the Europa League. However, they have been somewhat fortunate with their results in this European campaign. From the upper half of the table, Viktoria Plzeň only faced Eintracht Frankfurt (3:3). Their win against Real Sociedad (2:1) was largely down to luck (0.52–2.02 in xG), a scenario that rarely repeats against stronger competitors.
Manchester United
Under the new coaching staff, Manchester United have secured only two wins from their first five matches, giving them plenty of motivation ahead of a relatively straightforward European away fixture. Against Bodø/Glimt (3:2) at Old Trafford, the result was largely influenced by Rasmus Højlund, who scored twice and assisted once. In that game, Manchester United dominated possession (2.95 xG vs 0.77 xG and 20–7 in shots). Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelöf, and Luke Shaw remain out of the squad, yet the team are still capable of forming a solid unit without them.
Viktoria Plzeň vs Manchester United Prediction
In Plzeň, Manchester United will take control of the ball and consistently apply pressure on Viktoria's penalty area. The visitors seem to have the strength to secure a victory.
