The fourth round of the FA Cup gets underway on Friday, with Manchester United hosting Championship side Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils find themselves fourth in the Premier League table – one point ahead of fifth-place West Ham United and nine points behind third-place Chelsea.
Putting in work on the training pitch.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/N2aBhaAznW— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 1, 2022
Putting in work on the training pitch.#MUFC pic.twitter.com/N2aBhaAznW
As for Middlesbrough, they are pushing for promotion in the Championship and are on course to secure a play-off spot.
Man Utd booked their place in the fourth round with a 1-0 victory over fellow Premier League side Aston Villa.
Thanks in part to that victory, United have lost just one of their previous 13 games across all competitions – picking up eight wins and four draws along the way.
Ralf Rangnick’s men head into Friday’s clash on a four-match unbeaten streak, having claimed three wins and a draw since their last loss.
Not only have the Red Devils scored seven goals across their last four outings, but they have also kept two clean sheets in the process.
There is no denying that Man Utd have improved under Rangnick, but they still have a long way to go before they can challenge the top teams in the country again.
On the flip side, Middlesbrough booked their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mansfield Town.
They were 2-0 up inside 14 minutes but conceded two late goals before a stoppage-time own goal handed them the win.
In the Championship, Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last nine matches – picking up seven wins and a draw in that time.
They are one of the in-form teams in England’s second tier, so they will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds at Old Trafford.
Head-to-head: Man Utd and Middlesbrough last met during the 2016/17 Premier League season. United won both matches – 2-1 at home and 1-3 away.
Middlesbrough have only managed to win one of their previous 13 games against United in all competitions, losing five of the past six.
Team news: Man Utd will be without the injured duo of Paul Pogba and Luke Shaw on Friday. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof are also doubts.
Middlesbrough will be without Cameroon midfielder James Lea Siliki, who is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Although Middlesbrough are enjoying a positive season in the Championship, Man Utd should be too strong for the second-tier side.
For that reason, Forebet predicts that United will keep a clean sheet on their way to dispatching Middlesbrough.