With top four chances looking seemingly farce, Manchester United will try to do the other way when they face Celta Vigo in the much anticipated Europa League semi-final. Stakes will be high as Manchester United have never won this tournament in their history and Jose Mourinho would be the first manager to take the trophy home if the Red Devils manage to beat their opponent in Stockholm.
There is an outside possibility that United might finish outside the top four. Their draw against Swansea City has made it really difficult for them and they are yet to visit their North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the upcoming matches.
Europa League could be the key to participation in the Champions League next season but for that, they have to see off the challenge of Celta Vigo who are having a dream run in this European competition. They might have lost their last three La Liga games but their recent form suggests that United need to be at their best to secure a positive result.
Team News And Predicted Lineups
Manchester United
Jose Mourinho has been boosted by the return of Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly have returned to the fold. Jose Mourinho was supposed to field a makeshift backline but now it seems United might deploy a fully fledged alineup. Juan Mata is also back after his surgery and he might see some minutes on the field. Luke Shaw has been ruled out for the season while Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo and Tim Fosu-Mensah continue to recover from injuries.
Romero; Darmian, Bailly, Blind, Valencia; Herrera, Carrick; Martial, Mkhitaryan, Lingard, Rashford.
Celta Vigo
Former Liverpool player Iago Aspas was rested in the last match and will be unleashed against the Red Devils. Ex-United striker Giuseppe Rossi won’t be available due to a knee injury.
Alvarez; Roncaglia, Fontas, Gomez, Lemos; Diaz, Sanchez; Bongonda, Wass, Hjulsager; Aspas
Key Players
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The Armenian playmaker has been the Europa League specialist for Mourinho’s side and once again he will take the field in the hope of giving United the taste of their first major silverware this season. He has so far scored five goals in this second-tier European tournament and could prove to be the difference between United and the Spanish side.
Iago Aspas
We have seen earlier what the player is capable of and the Spanish side would be relying on him to give another superb performance.
Odds
Manchester United- 13/10
Draw- 9/4
Celta Vigo- 5/2
