MANCHESTER UNITED – SAINT ETIENNE PREDICTION (16.02.2017)

Manchester United – AS Saint-Etienne – One of the favorites to win the league, English Manchester United, in the first game of the sixteenth finals on his Old Trafford awaits one of the most famous French clubs, St. Etienne. Otherwise, both the group stage of the Europa League finished with 12 points, with the French representative that was enough for first place in the table, while the “red devils” from Manchester finished only second in its group. Let us add that this is their first mutual view in recent history.

Manchester United

When it comes to the most awarded English club, of course, to let their fans a lot more like that this is a meeting of the Champions League, but the Europa League, but on the other hand is an experienced coach Mourinho stressed that he in no way underestimates the competition and that the all ways to try to win this trophy. However, already in the group stage had some problems because they are losing on the road at Feyenoord and Fenerbahce, but the two teams managed to overcome at home, they with the maximum six points from the matches with Ukrainian Zory, eventually enough for second place and qualify for the knockout phase.

As for the domestic competitions, certainly it is essential to point out that they had already qualified for the final of League Cup and that will test their strength with Southampton, while in the FA Cup have a good chance to meet in the final, as they are in the eighth finals of opponents get second division side Blackburn. Unlike Cup, the championship play with a lot of oscillation and therefore now and take up only sixth place in the standings, but with only four points behind second Manchester City, which means they are still in the game when it comes to placement in the Champions League . Suppose even that the meeting with the St. Etienne questionable only fully fit defenders Jones and Rojo and midfielder Mkhitaryan.

Probable lineups Manchester United: De Gea – Valencia, Smalling, Bailly Blind – Carrick, Herrera – Mata, Pogba, Lingard – Ibrahimovic

AS Saint-Etienne

As for the guests from France, and they recently played on the principle of hot-cold, with the championship typed and four wins in the last five rounds and thus breached but to fifth place in the standings, and this is the only one point behind fourth Lyon. On the other hand, in the French cups are not just celebrate because they were eliminated from Nancy and Auxerre of the second division, so that the rest of the season can still devote more championships, but of course the two matches of the European League with the favored Manchester United.

Namely, that of coach Galtier just and not without chances in this game is best confirmed by the fact that in the group stage did not experience any defeat, although the opponents had Belgian Anderlecht, German Mainz and Azerbaijani Gabal. However, the team of Mainz succeeded to win, but we are at home celebrating against Anderlecht and in both occasions against GABA, they eventually were even enough for first place in the group. However, they did not have much luck during the draw, so it will now have to give their best against the “red devils”, especially because of the violations remain sidelined guard M’Bengue and attackers Tannane, Beric and Soderlund.

Probable lineups St.Etienne: Ruffier – Malcuit, Theophile-Catherine Perrin, Pogba – Veretout, Pajot, Lemoine – Saivet Hamouma, Monnet-Paquet

Manchester United – AS Saint-Etienne TIP

Of course, that “red devils” from Manchester is for absolute favorites in this match, but the other side of the famous French club is no accident the group stage of the European League finished first in their group, so they will surely and now at Old Trafford one solid game the defense will try to achieve a better result before the second leg at home.