4th May 2017 Kickoff: 2005hrs Celta Vigo v Manchester United– Football – Europe – Europa League Following a 4-1 win over Lyon on Wednesday, Ajax appear to have one foot in the final of the Europa League and will be looking on with interest as Celta Vigo and Manchester United do battle to join them in Stockholm. United have long been at the head of the market to win this competition, but a loss of form and a horrendous run of injuries means they will be vulnerable against a Celta team who have targeted the Europa League since the turn of the year.
Celta may not carry the same prestige or history as some of their Spanish counterparts but they have went further in European competition than all bar the two Madrid clubs this season. Eduardo Berizzo has done a tremendous job with the Galician club and by reaching this stage ensures they have already achieved their best ever result in European competition. Not since reaching the round of 16 in the 2003/04 Champions League have Vigo enjoyed a run like this and they’ll be looking to continue it despite facing the favourites. Their passage to the semi-finals has been one of plenty of drama and a lot of excitement. Heading into the final game of the group section it appeared Celta would be heading out, but results went their way and they have not looked back since – eliminating the fancied Shakthar Donetsk after extra time, comfortable seeing off the Russian’s Krasnodar and most recently edging out Genk in a 4-3 thriller. They will be seen as underdogs heading into this tie but they could yet spring a surprise and ensure another meeting with Ajax who finished above them in the group stage.
The Europa League is not a competition that United or Jose Mourinho want to be participating in come next season but it’s looking more and more likely that they will have to win it in order to be competing in the Champions League. The Red Devil’s league form continues to falter and Mourinho has admitted that it is their European commitments that will be their main focus in the remainder of the season. That aim has not been helped with injuries to numerous key players, most notably Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and it could be those injuries which act as the main barrier to winning the Europa League. There’s no doubting that United have the most quality at their disposal but that squad is looking more and more unbalanced with so many defenders missing. Mourinho will hope a couple of his centre halves make it as it’s been their defensive capabilities that has seen them through some tricky ties. That said, United hold a massive advantage in terms of the resources at their disposal over the other three teams left in, and anything but winning the whole thing would be seen as a failure.
Celta Vigo v Manchester United Betting Tip
Berizzo has opted to rest the majority of his first choice team in the last couple of weeks in La Liga as he prepares his squad for the test of two games against Manchester United in a week. They’ve lost seven of their last 10 and only won once at home in the league in their last six attempts. That does not tell the full story, though, as Vigo have been able to return to winning ways in European competition. United continue to stutter along and frustrate the life out of their supporters with an inability to kill teams off when on top. That said, they have still not tasted defeat in any competition since October which illustrates just how difficult they are to beat.
The other three European ties to have been played across this competition and the Champions League this week have been very one-sided but I expect we’ll see a tighter affair on Thursday. United do not know how to lose games but they’re finding it more and more difficult to close games out. Mourinho is a master at these two legged games and will set up with defence in mind. Celta have only lost one game at home in Europe this season and will do all they can to ensure they’re in this game going into the next leg. I fully expect the tie to still be alive heading to Old Trafford, with the draw the most appealing result.
Draw 9/4 @ Paddypower
