Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League clash between Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Ruben Amorim will make his home debut as Manchester United manager when they welcome Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt to Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Given the difference in stature, history and financial strength between the two clubs, Bodo/Glimt remarkably find themselves above Man United at the halfway stage of the league phase.
Match preview
© Imago
The Amorim era began in slightly underwhelming fashion for Man United on Sunday, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Marcus Rashford‘s opener inside 82 seconds was the dream beginning for the new boss, but the game slipped away from them, and after Omari Hutchinson‘s leveller, it was not unfair to suggest that Ipswich had the better chances.
Post-match, the manager stated that it will be a long and arduous road to the top for this Man United team, which is set to undergo huge changes over the next nine months.
For now, the focus will be on the Europa League, with Amorim dropping down from beating Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League with Sporting Lisbon, in order to aim to drag Man United over the line to reach the knockouts.
It took United until matchday four to get their first win of the league phase, beating PAOK 2-0 under Ruud van Nistelrooy, earning the club their first win in Europe for over 12 months.
That has moved them up to 15th, and they now look on course to finish in the top eight, with Bodo/Glimt up next, before trips to Viktoria Plzen and FCSB, as well as a home clash with Rangers.
Four wins would place them on 18 points, and that should be enough to progress in the top eight, but they are unlikely to be one of the highest seeds, given the form the likes of Lazio have shown so far.
Bodo/Glimt will make just a second trip to England – after a 3-0 loss to Arsenal in 2022-23 – in what is set to be the biggest week in their history.
Not only will they make the dream trip to play at Old Trafford in a European competition, the final day of the Eliteserien season is coming up at the weekend, and Bodo only need to beat Lillestrom at home to seal the title.
A 2-0 win over Odd at the weekend paired with Brann’s defeat to Molde means spirits will be very high in the camp, but it may also be slightly overwhelming having two mammoth fixtures in the space of three days.
Kjetil Knutsen‘s side suffered a surprise matchday four defeat to Qarabag last time out, which saw them lose for just the fifth time in 32 European home games, against a team that had no points and just one goal prior to that encounter.
There are still plenty of reasons for optimism though, as that incredible home form continued on matchday one when they beat Porto, and despite often being poor travellers, Knutsen’s side took four points from trips to Braga and Union SG, so the Qarabag defeat felt like a real missed opportunity.
A result at Old Trafford appears very unlikely given United’s home record in this competition, so Bodo will be targeting three or four points in their final three against Besiktas, Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Nice, to ensure they get over the line in the top 24.
Manchester United Europa League form:
Manchester United form (all competitions):
Bodo/Glimt Europa League form:
Bodo/Glimt form (all competitions):
Team News
All of Man United’s injury problems come at centre-back currently, and it is unlikely any of them will return for this one, so Noussair Mazraoui and Jonny Evans may be forced to play in a back three either side of Matthijs de Ligt again.
Lisandro Martinez‘s hip issue is not as serious as first feared, so he could return for the visit of Everton at the weekend, but Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof are slightly further away from a comeback.
Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw both returned to the squad for the first time this season after lengthy setbacks at the weekend, with the latter coming off the bench late on, and both could get minutes here.
Neither Kobbie Mainoo nor Manuel Ugarte were deemed fit enough to start against Ipswich, and will likely be kept in reserve again here, with the Everton game at the weekend taking higher priority.
Bodo/Glimt will be without quintet Omar Elabdelloaui, Samuel Burakovsky, Daniel Bassi, Gaute Vetti and Syver Skeide for their first ever encounter with Man United.
It could be a busy evening again for goalkeeper Nikita Haikin, whose 24 saves in the opening four league phase games of the Europa League is higher than any other stopper.
Patrick Berg has tried his best to lessen the flow of chances flying at Haikin’s goal, with his 22 tackles and 12 interceptions both ranking as the highest of any player in the competition so far, and his presence could be vital again in the Bodo/Glimt midfield.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Evans; Amad, Casemiro, Eriksen, Shaw; Antony, Hojlund, Fernandes
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Sjovold, Nielsen, Bjortuft, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Saltnes; Zinckernagel, Hogh, Hauge
We say: Manchester United 3-0 Bodo/Glimt
In a first-ever meeting with Norwegian opponents, Man United will seek to extend a phenomenal run of form in this competition at home, having lost just one of their last 26 here in the Europa League.
Despite not being the best travellers, Bodo/Glimt have stunned Braga already in this campaign, but in arguably the biggest match in their history, it is unlikely they will cause an upset.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.