Manchester United eager to avoid Serbian slip-up

Manchester United visit Partizan Belgrade on Thursday aiming to improve their chances of qualifying for the next stage of the Europa League.

The two sides have each picked up four points from their opening two matches and will be eager to take control of their destiny in Group L.

United are priced at 13/10 to win in Belgrade and there will be plenty of punters who bet on soccer with Betway eager to back them at what appears to be generous odds.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has chosen a 20-man squad for the trip to Serbia including youngsters Ethan Laird and Matej Kovar.

David De Gea, Axel Tuanzebe, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly and Nemanja Matic all miss out, but Jesse Lingard is in contention to play.


Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Anthony Martial are expected to start after safely returning to action against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

United produced a much-improved performance against the Reds and Solskjaer will be hoping his team continue in the same vein on Thursday.

Marcus Rashford put United ahead in the first-half, but United’s hopes of picking up all three points were dashed when Adam Lallana grabbed a late equaliser.

The Red Devils have made a solid start to their Europa League campaign, winning 1-0 at home to Astana before battling to a goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar.

Partizan, who are priced at 21/10 with Betway to win the game, currently sit on top of the group by virtue of goals scored. They drew 2-2 at home to AZ in their opening game, before winning 2-1 in Astana.

The have a few familiar faces in their squad, with Zoran Tosic previously playing for United while Vladimir Stojkovic and Lazar Markovic have both had spells in England.

Former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic has been the club’s manager since March 2019 and he has already guided them to a Serbian Cup success.

His team are currently fifth in the Serbian SuperLiga after winning seven and drawing two of their 11 matches this term.

Partizan are unbeaten on home soil in Europe in their last 11 matches and will be confident of enhancing that record against United.

However, United are undefeated in their last UEFA Europa League matches (W9, D4), and have kept clean sheets in nine of those outings.

The two clubs have not met since the 1965/66 European Cup semi-finals, which Partizan won 2-1 on aggregate after two bruising encounters.

Goals by Mustafa Hasanagic and Rodaslav Becejac in Belgrade left United with an uphill task at Old Trafford and it was one they failed to conquer.

Paddy Crerand and Jovan Miladinovic were both sent-off for fighting, before Nobby Stiles pulled a goal back for the Red Devils.

Partizan held on to secure a famous victory and a place in the final against Real Madrid, where they would lose 2-1.

Prediction: With injuries to key players still hindering United, a point in Belgrade wouldn’t be a bad outcome. Betway are offering odds of 9/4 for a draw and that looks the call in this one.

About Jordan Street 19723 Articles
Mancunian. Red through and through. Season Ticket holder block E332.

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