Manchester United will meet with Sheriff Tiraspol this Thursday evening in a must-win game at Old Trafford if the 20-time Premier League champions are to give themselves a chance of advancing into the knockout rounds.
As of now, Real Sociedad are sitting top of this group and ahead of a meeting between them and United to come in the final round of games.
🏟 Matchday 5️⃣ in #UEL Group E awaits on Thursday.#MUFC— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 25, 2022
🏟 Matchday 5️⃣ in #UEL Group E awaits on Thursday.#MUFC
However, should the Red Devils fail to win here and Sociedad defeat Omonoia Nicosia, the Spanish side will finish top of their group.
This will force them through into the knockout rounds, as United then have to deal with an extra game in the Europa League playoffs, which could end up being Juvenuts, Atletico Madrid or Barcelona.
United are, however, still in solid form, despite the 6-3 to Manchester City a few weeks back and a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United shortly after.
Erik ten Hag’s men put on a clinic last week against Tottenham Hotspur, as Bruno Fernandes and Fred scored in a dominating game for the home side that day. Ten Hag’s side did have to wait until the 94th minute to get a draw at Stamford Bridge, as Casemiro scored his first United goal in a looping header that narrowly went over the line.
It means City are the only side to beat them from the top six right now, and with just one defeat to Sociedad on the opening week in the Europa League, the three-times European champions are in fantastic form across both competitions.
United needed to wait until the dying seconds to beat Omonoia in the last Europa League round, with the Premier League side scoring through Scott McTominay in the added time.
As for Sheriff, they are still living off beating eventual European champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last season as their selling point across Europe.
They have since gone on to lose to Real Sociedad 3-0 in Spain and 2-0 back on home soil, while United also beat them 2-0 in the last meeting between these two sides back in September as Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first-ever Europa League goal.
Back on the domestic front, Sheriff once again sit top of the Moldovan National Division with eight wins and one defeat from 12 games. It leaves them with a record of 20 goals scored and just five let in.
Forebet predicts a win here for United and for the game to see under 2.5 goals.