Porto vs Manchester United: Europa League – live | Europa League

Say what you like about United, they make a good punch line. Barry Glendenning has some fun at their expense.

Porto (probably 4-3-3) Costa; Mario, Pedro, Perez, Moura; Varela, Eustaquio, González; Pepe, Omorodion, Galeno.

Subs: Ramos, Fernandes, Otavio, Djalo, Grujic, Vieira, Franco, Mora, Sousa, Jaime, Borges, Gul, Namaso.

Manchester United (probably 4-2-3-1) Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.

Subs: Bayindir, Heaton, Lindelof, Maguire, Evans, Collyer, Gore, Ugarte, Antony, Garnacho, Zirkzee.

Rasmus Hojlund, the only bright spot for United in the Champions League last autumn, gets his first start of the season. Erik ten Hag rotates his midfield and replaces Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo with … Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. The old firm.

Evening everyone and welcome to the latest episode of a beloved soap opera. This week, Bruno and Diogo return home in an attempt to find themselves, Erik tries to get out of prison again and Sir Jim wonders if he’s made a terrible mistake. Yes, it’s Desolation Street.

Or maybe it’s the path to redemption. Erik ten Hag’s Man United have it in them to come back from a shocker, after all, they have practiced enough. And this game seems like an opportunity to play on the counter, which often suits them. Porto have the kind of home record this season that is a distant memory for United fans: played four, won four. Opta’s algorithm gives them a 52 percent chance of a win tonight against United’s 23.

Porto has two additional incentives. They are even lower in the Europa League mega-tier than United after losing 3-2 at Bodo/Glimt last week. And they still have a score to settle as the last time they entertained United, in a second leg after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford, the tie was decided by a Cristiano Ronaldo screamer. That was a Champions League quarter-final in 2008/09. Those were the days.

Kick-off is at 8pm BST and I’ll be back with the teams soon.