LASK welcome Manchester United to Austria on Thursday for the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 tie.
This will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the teams and LASK’s first match against English opposition.
LASK are enjoying a promising debut season in the Europa League so far, finishing ahead of Sporting, PSV, and Rosenberg at the top of Group D.
The Austrian outfit only lost one of their six group games earlier in the campaign and hammered PSV 4-1 before beating Sporting 3-0.
LASK then booked their place in the last 16 by knocking out AZ Alkmaar in the previous round. Following a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands, LASK best Alkmaar 2-0 in the second leg.
Things are also going well domestically for Valerien Ismael’s men. LASK are currently six points clear at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga and have lost just two of their 22 league games this term.
Manchester United also cruised through the group stage, finishing four points clear at the top of Group L after winning four of their six matches. The English club only conceded two goals in six group games.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side then hammered Club Brugge in the Round of 32. Following a tense 1-1 draw in the first leg, United thrashed the Belgians 5-0 at Old Trafford.
Man Utd are currently on a ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions and have remarkably kept eight clean sheets during that period.
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The Red Devils will be brimming with confidence after seeing off bitter rivals Manchester City last time out. Goals from Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay wrapped up a fine win in the derby.
Three wins in four league games have propelled United to fifth – two points ahead of sixth-place Wolves and three points behind fourth-place Chelsea.
LASK are unbeaten in eight of their last nine Europa League games, but Man Utd’s outstanding run means the Austrian side will struggle to avoid defeat on Thursday.
ℹ️ Following guidance from the Austrian government, we have been informed by UEFA and LASK that our #UEL game on Thursday will be played behind closed doors.#MUFC— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 10, 2020
ℹ️ Following guidance from the Austrian government, we have been informed by UEFA and LASK that our #UEL game on Thursday will be played behind closed doors.#MUFC
In fact, United have only lost one of their previous 19 games in this competition, so the English side are undoubtedly favourites heading into the first leg.
LASK left-back Marvin Potzmann is ruled out of the first leg through injury, while wingers Husein Balic and Thomas Goiginger are also sidelined for the Austrians.
Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford are both unavailable for Man Utd. But January signing Bruno Fernandes has notched up three goals and three assists in his first eight games for the club.
With the second leg still to come, Thursday’s game is likely to be a cagey affair. However, Man Utd are expected to build a first-leg lead to take back to Old Trafford.
Forebet predicts that this game will produce over 2.5 goals, while Manchester United should come out on top.