Celta de Vigo vs Manchester United - Preview, team news, form guide, match info, lineups and prediction
José Mourinho has turned his team around since taking over. Their defence is one of the best in Europe, they have already, technically, won two trophies - the League Cup and Community Shield - and they find themselves in a Europa League semi-final.
The Red Devils are still firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish, but the draw against Swansea in the Premier League last weekend was further indication of a stale home record this season.
Manchester United still have to make two away trips to North London - against Arsenal and Tottenham - and so securing Champions League qualification domestically appears to be an uphill battle.
There is a continuous theme that accompanies United’s games this season: dominate possession, the opposition goalkeeper has an excellent game, failure to take chances and end the game with a draw.
However, Mourinho’s men will not be disheartened with a draw - provided they get on the scoresheet.
Team News
Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw limped off in some pain at the weekend against Swansea, which is more bad news for an already depleted squad; but Paul Pogba and Juan Mata should be back to fighting form and make the squad for the trip to Spain.
A concerning problem for the Red Devils appears to be the lack of players in central defence. Given Bailly’s injury, as well as Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones’s, Mourinho’s choice of defenders are very limited.
The most likely occurrence appears to be a partnership of Michael Carrick and Daley Blind. Unorthodox to say the least.
While Carrick has played, under Sir Alex Ferguson, as a central defender a fair few times, it is obviously not his most natural position. The former England international’s pace is diminishing rapidly and, at 35-years-old, you cannot really blame him for that.
Against a quick forward line, Carrick can look exposed very easily as the opposition’s striker will always look to try and run in-behind. However, given Celta Vigo’s attacking style, they play a very narrow 4-3-3 with John Guidetti, the former Manchester City player, as their target man.
Iago Aspas, Celta Vigo’s winger, has 24 goals this season in 44 appearances - a quite scintillating return given the club’s size and stature.
Their manager rested a number of first-team players in their 3-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao last weekend, in the hope that they come into this Europa League semi-final with newfound energy.
Form Guide
While the Spanish team have been overachieving in Europe, they have forfeited their league form. They have lost their last three La Liga fixtures and sit 11th in the table. Perhaps that is what is expected of them, but given their form in Europe, there is an argument to be made for achieving more.
The Red Devils might be on a 25-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, but a vast amount of those have been draws. There is a reason why The Theatre of Dreams has jokingly been renamed ‘The Theatre of Draws’.
Mourinho has watched his side draw 10 times at home this season and have lost valuable ground in the top four race.
Celta Vigo: W-D-L-L-L
Manchester United: W-W-W-D-D
Match Info
Timing – Friday, 5th May, 00:35 IST
Venue – Celta Vigo, Balaídos
Predicted Lineups
Celta Vigo – Álvarez; Mallo, Cabral, Fontas, Jonny; Hernández, Radoja, Wass; Aspas, Guidetti, Sisto
Manchester United – De Gea, Valencia, Blind, Carrick, Darmian; Herrera, Pogba; Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Mata; Rashford
Predicted Score
Celta Vigo 1-1 Manchester United