Europa League - Thursday
Pick: Fenerbahce Draw no Bet (Pick 'em) at +120 20*
Erik ten Hag may have bought himself some time with a weekend win over Brentford, but this trip to a hostile Fenerbahce ground presents a far greater challenge.
Since their opening day victory over Fulham, Manchester United have managed just three wins across all competitions—against League One side Barnsley, Southampton (19th in the table), and Brentford (currently 13th).
With poor performances and results continuing week after week, it's difficult to see why the market favors United in this matchup.
Let's not forget who's in the Fenerbahce dugout: former Manchester United manager José Mourinho. He will have his squad highly motivated for what is likely their biggest match of the season.
Under Mourinho, Fenerbahce have suffered just one defeat in regulation time this season, which came against Galatasaray. Even in that match, Fenerbahce dominated the underlying xG and shot count, missing six big chances.
Mourinho also boasts a remarkable record against Manchester United, excluding his time at Tottenham. He's gone unbeaten in 18 of 21 meetings, with all three losses occurring during the Ferguson era.
Manchester United have played four away games in Europe since the start of last season, failing to win any and conceding three or more goals in each of those matches.
Despite keeping a few clean sheets away from home in the Premier League, United’s underlying defensive metrics are concerning. Their xGA is a worrying 1.7 per game, suggesting Fenerbahce will have plenty of chances.
Stylistically, this is a terrible matchup for Manchester United. They consistently struggle against teams that sit in a low block and counterattack—something Mourinho's sides excel at.
Fenerbahce have played three home games in Europe under Mourinho and remain undefeated in all.
In typical Mourinho fashion, Fenerbahce also boast the best defensive record in Turkey, allowing just 7.8 xGA through their first eight games.
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