Manchester United have a decent record against FC Porto, but Erik ten Hag’s side is struggling to win football matches.
It’s been a similar story for United for over a year. We’ve started the new season with the same type of form we showed last season.
United go into the game with a winless streak of three matches. The recent defeat to Tottenham Hotspur felt like another nail in Ten Hag’s coffin at Old Trafford.
To make matters worse, Kobbie Mainoo came off against Spurs with an injury and we are waiting on a diagnosis. It remains to be seen if the midfielder will be fit to face Porto on Thursday night.
The Dutchman reportedly has two matches to save his job and he needs a win away at Porto.
However, away from home, United have won just once on the road this season. This means the warning signs are there for Ten Hag.
Porto are unbeaten in their previous eight home games, excluding cup finals where they were the designated home side. That said, the Portuguese giants began this season’s European campaign with a defeat, in a surprise 3-2 outcome at the hands of Bodo/Glimt.
The home side have two long-term absentees going into the game, therefore, will be definitely without Ivan Mercano and Zaidu Sanusi for the tie.
These two teams last met in the Champions League in 2009, where Cristiano Ronaldo provided a memorable goal.
How to watch FC Porto vs Manchester United
The game will be shown live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage beginning at 7pm on Thursday night.
FC Porto form
In the league, you can’t really fault FC Porto’s form this season. They’ve lost just one game in their opening seven fixtures against champions Sporting Lisbon.
Porto have averaged 2.3 goals per game with a 13% conversation rate, so United’s back four will need to be at their best.
In their last outing, Porto beat Arouca 4-0 thanks to goals from Samuel Omorodion, Nico Gonzalez, Galeno and Deniz Gul.
Stretty News prediction
Manchester United need a result on Thursday night. The players won’t want the European campaign going down the swanny, which means the result goes beyond Ten Hag’s future. Our away form is worrying, but I have equal concerns about our record at home. Porto will be going out to cause an upset.
FC Porto 1-1 Manchester United
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