Viktoria Plzen vs Man Utd LIVE: Europa League rating and updates as Red Devils attempt to get again on observe
Manchester United travel to the Czech Republic to face Viktoria Plzen in tonight’s Europa League action hoping to respond to two consecutive defeats under Ruben Amorim.
After a promising start to his tenure, the Red Devils suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest leaving the Portuguese boss facing his first dip in form. But Amorim will be confident, especially about improving United’s standing in the Europa League despite the clube being embroiled in off-field drama.
Consecutive wins over PAOK and Bodo/Glimt have sent the team up to 12th in the league table and they are only two points away from fourth with a realistic chance of securing automatic promotion.
Their opponents tonight have an identical record to United with two wins and three draws from their first five games and sit one place below Amorim’s side meaning they would jump ahead of United should they triumph.
Follow all the Europa League action with our live blog below:
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
36 mins: Marcus Rashford may just be the ultimate confidence player. When he’s on song he’s electric and fantastic to watch but when he’s not he looks lethargic and frustrated.
The reports that United are open to selling him won’t help but if he, and the team, can find a bit of form things could turnaround. They need a spark though, a bit of creativity and forward momentum.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
33 mins: Andre Onana also seems to have shaken off his early wobbles. He wants to be assertive and dominating of his own penalty area but sometimes puts himself in terrible positions that negatively impact the team.
Can United push on from this more stable base and get the opening goal?
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
30 mins: Half an hour played and Man Utd are settling down, especially in their own final third. They’re starting to string together a spell and when space opens up they do look dangerous.
Zirkzee lays the ball off to the running Fernandes who carries it forward and shoots forcing a fine save out of Martin Jedlicka.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
27 mins: Close! Amad Diallo wins a free kick that Bruno Fernandes floats into the box. Joshua Zirkzee wins the header and glances it on to the back post.
Casemiro is hovering and sticks out his foot but can’t reach the ball. If he had that would have certainly snuck into the back of the net.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
24 mins: Man Utd are starting to pass the ball around nicely but Plzen are well drilled and have plenty of men behind the ball. United are struggling to put something together in the final third and don’t look confident to take any risks.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
21 mins: Matej Vydra and Pavel Sulc combine after bringing down an aerial ball. Vydra’s cutback is cut out and United transition quickly into a counter-attack.
Amad, Fernandes and Rashford drive forward with the captain slipping Rashford into the left side of the box. Rashford tries to cross but scuffs the ball out of play.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
18 mins: Again United are so sloppy on the edge of the penalty area. Noussair Mazraoui tries to carry the ball out from the back but runs into trouble and the visitors lose possession.
Plzen resort to shooting from range and spooning the effort high and wide but Ruben Amorim won’t be pleased with this start. On another night, United would already have been punished.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
15 mins: Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo combine beautifully to get the ball forward on the right side of the pitch. Fernandes plays the one-two with Amad then continues his run into the box.
He sprints to the byline yet keeps the ball in play before looking for the pass into the six-yard box. His effort is intercepted and cleared away.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
12 mins: Casemiro seems okay and heads back onto the pitch as Plzen push high to keep the pressure on Ruben Amorim’s side.
A long throw comes into the box and Onana tries to punch it away. Again he misses it before Marcus Rashford fumbles an attempted clearance.
United look awful at the back. It’s too panicky.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man Utd
9 mins: Bruno Fernandes gets a talking to from the referee for a lunging tackle on Lukas Cerv but he avoids a yellow card. Plzen win a free kick inside United’s half and lift the ball into the penalty area.
Andre Onana comes off his line to punch the ball but doesn’t get there. Instead Daniel Vasulin wins the header but unfortunately for him can’t direct his header towards goal.
Onana’s lunge for the ball has had bad consequences. He clatters into Casemiro and takes the wind out of the midfielder.