Manchester United v St Etienne Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 18th February 7.45pm
Routine. That is the only way we can really look at this fixture from Manchester United’s perspective. The Red Devils have gotten an easy draw in the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League and Jose Mourinho’s men are actually the outright favourites to win this season’s competition. They are going along well in unbeaten form at the moment and despite a very low key group stage campaign, they will be expected to maintain their great unbeaten home form in European competition against French opposition. As for St Etienne, they have failed to ever win a match in England and really have drawn the short straw here.
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Manchester United v St Etienne Betting Tips
There is nothing for Manchester United to be sweating about going into this round of 32 tie in the UEFA Europa League. This should be a comfortable night in the north west for them. This is the only major UEFA trophy that they have never won as a club, but they will likely take a step closer through this tie. Manchester United have faced St Etienne before, which was back in the 1977 in the European Cup Winners’ Cup and after a 1-1 draw in France, the Red Devils won the return fixture 2-0 which was actually played at Home Park, Plymouth because of crowd trouble in the first leg. Manchester United will be defending an unbeaten home record in Europe against French opposition, the Red Devils having gone W9 D3 in their previous fixtures. Overall their record in 24 UEFA games against French teams is W12 D10 L2. So they don’t look as if they are going to be taking their eye off of the ball in this one. United the tournament outright favourites, this draw helping them out in that regards.
Manchester United put in some pretty dull and stunted performances in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League this season, but they did win all three of their home matches, and you can’t fault their overall home form in Europe either. The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 14 European games played at Old Trafford (W11 D3) since losing against Real Madrid there in March 2013 in the UEFA Champions League. Manchester United to win to nil at Bet365 is a price of 4/5 and decent value beyond the poor return on them in the match outright. In the Bet365 Correct Score market a 2-0 correct score option is a 9/2 shot, with the 1-0 return coming in at 11/2. During his time with PSG, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is a 4/6 anytime goalscorer market option for this game, scored 14 goals in 13 games at Les Verts. Zlatan is 5/2 first goalscorer favourite. Paul Pogba’s elder brother Florentin will be lining up against the United man for the first time ever in a competitive meeting between the two siblings.
St Etienne’s best run in Europe ever ended as European Cup losing finalists in the 1976 season. They were in the UEFA Europa League last season and this is that stage at which they bowed out, going down against Swiss side FC Basel. In the UEFA Cup/Europa league St Etienne have never been past the quarter final stage of the competition. Les Verts have not had a bad season in Europe actually, as they are unbeaten in ten games this season (W5 D5) so not bad at all. Still, the level of opposition hasn’t exactly been there to the quality of what they will face against Manchester United. St Etienne faced Qabala, Mainz and Anderlecht in the group stage so they are stepping up in level of opposition now in the knockouts. Les Verts have scored in each of their away games in Europe this season and both teams to score at Bet365 is a price of 5/4, but they may not pose a big threat to the United back line. St Etienne have lost each of their three previous visits to England overall hold a W1 D1 L4 record in Europe against English sides. Tough tie for the men in green in this one.
Manchester United v St Etienne Betting Odds
Man Utd 2/7, Draw 17/4, St Etienne 9/1
Manchester United v St Etienne Predictions
It isn’t too likely that St Etienne will cause United too many problems at Old Trafford. Les Verts haven’t faced anyone of note in Europe for a long time and they will probably come up way short in this one. The patience of United may be tested, but they are value to have a crack at a 2-0 correct score in their favour on. Alternatively just back them to go out there and win to nil, as they won’t come under a lot of pressure at the back most likely.
