PREVIEW: MANCHESTER UNITED V CELTA VIGO
When is it? The Europa League semi-final second-leg clash at Old Trafford will kick off at 20:05 BST on Thursday, 11 May.
How can I watch it? The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport in the UK and fans can also follow the action in ManUtd.com's live match blog and via @ManUtd, the club's official Twitter account. MUTV subscribers in the UK & Ireland and worldwide users of the MUTV App on iOS and Android can tune in to Match Day Live from 19:00 BST for all the build-up and then listen to live radio commentary, before watching the 90 minutes in full from midnight.
Sweden on the horizon… With the showpiece at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on 24 May edging ever closer, United are within touching distance of reaching a third European final in the last 10 years after last week's significant 1-0 win in Spain in the first leg. Despite facing a strong Celta Vigo side, the Reds will be confident of progressing to the final in a bid to lift the only major trophy left to win in the club's illustrious history and, with it, claim a coveted place in next season's Champions League.
What happened in the first leg? Heading into this all-important clash, the Reds hold a narrow advantage by virtue of a crucial away goal in the tie, as our 19-year-old no.19 Marcus Rashford scored his 19th goal of the season with a sublime free-kick in the second half to give United a deserved victory at the Estadio Balaidos in Vigo.
Any early team news? Jose Mourinho's men were given a welcome boost by the return to action of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata against Arsenal last weekend but are still without five players as Tim Fosu-Mensah, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are sidelined through injury. Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Antonio Valencia and Paul Pogba could be among the stars to return after being rested against the Gunners. Sergio Romero may take his regular starting spot in goal in the Europa League in place of David De Gea and Marouane Fellaini is also available before serving the final match of his three-game domestic ban against Tottenham on Sunday.
How are both sides doing? United's long impressive unbeaten run of 25 games in the Premier League came to an end at the Emirates Stadium in last Sunday's 2-0 defeat against Arsenal. However, the Reds will be looking to maintain our strong home run in Europe, having won all six previous Europa League ties at Old Trafford this season. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, may have lost their last four games in La Liga, including the last two by a 3-0 scoreline, but Eduardo Berizzo's side, bidding to reach their first-ever European final, boast a solid away record in the continental competition – winning three of their four games 2-0 and drawing the other match 1-1. Berizzo has also been resting his players in the domestic fixtures.
Did you know? United have not suffered defeat in the last 17 European matches at the Theatre of Dreams, stretching back to a 2-1 reverse at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2012/13 – when Madrid were managed by current Reds boss Jose Mourinho. The Reds will be up against a Celta Vigo side who have lost their last four games against English opponents, including last week's first leg, but have won more matches (three) than they have lost (two) in England.
Who is the man in the middle? Ovidiu Alin Hategan will lead a team of Romanian officials in charge of Thursday's decisive showdown. The 36-year-old, who has been a FIFA referee since 2008, officiated at Euro 2016 and last summer's Olympic Games. His only other Europa League game this season was Schalke's 3-2 win over Ajax in their quarter-final second leg.
The other semi-final... Whilst United take on Celta Vigo, the two other teams battling it out for a place in the final will face off at the Stade de Gerland in France as Lyon welcome Dutch giants Ajax, who hold a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg last week (kick-off 20:05 BST).
www.manutd.com
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PREVIEW: MANCHESTER UNITED V CELTA VIGO
When is it? The Europa League semi-final second-leg clash at Old Trafford will kick off at 20:05 BST on Thursday, 11 May.
How can I watch it? The game will be broadcast live on BT Sport in the UK and fans can also follow the action in ManUtd.com's live match blog and via @ManUtd, the club's official Twitter account. MUTV subscribers in the UK & Ireland and worldwide users of the MUTV App on iOS and Android can tune in to Match Day Live from 19:00 BST for all the build-up and then listen to live radio commentary, before watching the 90 minutes in full from midnight.
Sweden on the horizon… With the showpiece at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on 24 May edging ever closer, United are within touching distance of reaching a third European final in the last 10 years after last week's significant 1-0 win in Spain in the first leg. Despite facing a strong Celta Vigo side, the Reds will be confident of progressing to the final in a bid to lift the only major trophy left to win in the club's illustrious history and, with it, claim a coveted place in next season's Champions League.
What happened in the first leg? Heading into this all-important clash, the Reds hold a narrow advantage by virtue of a crucial away goal in the tie, as our 19-year-old no.19 Marcus Rashford scored his 19th goal of the season with a sublime free-kick in the second half to give United a deserved victory at the Estadio Balaidos in Vigo.
Any early team news? Jose Mourinho's men were given a welcome boost by the return to action of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata against Arsenal last weekend but are still without five players as Tim Fosu-Mensah, Ashley Young, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are sidelined through injury. Eric Bailly, Daley Blind, Antonio Valencia and Paul Pogba could be among the stars to return after being rested against the Gunners. Sergio Romero may take his regular starting spot in goal in the Europa League in place of David De Gea and Marouane Fellaini is also available before serving the final match of his three-game domestic ban against Tottenham on Sunday.
How are both sides doing? United's long impressive unbeaten run of 25 games in the Premier League came to an end at the Emirates Stadium in last Sunday's 2-0 defeat against Arsenal. However, the Reds will be looking to maintain our strong home run in Europe, having won all six previous Europa League ties at Old Trafford this season. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, may have lost their last four games in La Liga, including the last two by a 3-0 scoreline, but Eduardo Berizzo's side, bidding to reach their first-ever European final, boast a solid away record in the continental competition – winning three of their four games 2-0 and drawing the other match 1-1. Berizzo has also been resting his players in the domestic fixtures.
Did you know? United have not suffered defeat in the last 17 European matches at the Theatre of Dreams, stretching back to a 2-1 reverse at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2012/13 – when Madrid were managed by current Reds boss Jose Mourinho. The Reds will be up against a Celta Vigo side who have lost their last four games against English opponents, including last week's first leg, but have won more matches (three) than they have lost (two) in England.
Who is the man in the middle? Ovidiu Alin Hategan will lead a team of Romanian officials in charge of Thursday's decisive showdown. The 36-year-old, who has been a FIFA referee since 2008, officiated at Euro 2016 and last summer's Olympic Games. His only other Europa League game this season was Schalke's 3-2 win over Ajax in their quarter-final second leg.
The other semi-final... Whilst United take on Celta Vigo, the two other teams battling it out for a place in the final will face off at the Stade de Gerland in France as Lyon welcome Dutch giants Ajax, who hold a commanding 4-1 lead from the first leg last week (kick-off 20:05 BST).
www.manutd.com