Club Brugge vs Manchester United Prediction and Preview – 26/08/2015
Champions League football tips – Club Brugge vs Manchester United prediction
With Phil Jones still out with an injury and Marcos Rojo proving his match fitness, the defence could remain unchanged as Blind retains the centre back spot, where he has looked decent. Carrick might come in for Schweinsteiger in order to maintain squad fitness and to hold possession in the middle of the park. Another change could see Rooney dropping into the number ten role replacing Januzaj, with Hernandez at the pinnacle of the attack.
The red card to Brandon Mechele in the match at Old Trafford will be a blow to Brugge, as well as the injury to Timmy Simons. This could compromise their defensive solidarity which will most likely see young centre back Stefano Denswil step into the fray. Vanaken will need help from the players in front of him if he starts in defensive midfield. The combination of height and pace in Oularé and Diaby could trouble the United defense.
Possible Line-ups
Club Brugge: 4-1-3-2 formation: Bruzzese; De Bock, Duarte, Denswil, Cools; Vanaken; Víctor Vázquez, Vormer, Dierckx; Oularé, Diaby
Manchester United: 4-2-3-1 formation: Romero; Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Shaw; Schneiderlin, Carrick; Memphis, Rooney, Mata; Hernandez
Statistics
- Club Brugge have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 6 of their last 10 matches
- Manchester United have won 6, drawn 3 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Club Brugge have scored an average of 1.4 goals and conceded an average of 1.5 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Manchester United have scored an average of 1.3 goals and conceded an average of 0.6 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Club Brugge’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Manchester United’s previous 10 matches
- This will be the second meeting between the two teams. Manchester United came out victorious during a 3-1 home win in the first leg of this qualification tie last Tuesday
Prediction
Manchester United are still struggling to score goals in the league despite remaining unbeaten after a 0-0 draw with Newcastle. With one win in their last seven European away matches they will need to approach this match with caution. Many think they have wrapped up qualification after the home leg but that Brugge away goal could haunt them detrimentally.
Club Brugge are unbeaten in ten European home games so there is cause for encouragement. They needed an own goal in order to score at Old Trafford, and they must supress a misfiring United attack if they are to advance, lining up a nervous tie for sure. Needing virtually a reverse result of the first leg, it seems unlikely that Brugge will progress through this round.
United look certain to qualify having done most of the hard work in the home leg. They are looking solid in defence and if they get an away goal it would seem almost impossible for Brugge to qualify.
We say: Manchester United to win and under 2.5 goals in the match at 7/2 with Bet365
What are your predictions?