EUROPA LEAGUE BETTING PREVIEW - FCSB VS MANCHESTER UNITED

Europa League

2025-01-30 - FCSB vs Manchester United

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

FCSB v Manchester United
Football: UEFA Europa League Group Stage
Thursday 30th January 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV

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FCSB

They made history with the name Steaua Bucharest, but the former European Cup Winners changed their name to FCSB after a dispute with the Romanian military. The 1986 European Cup success will be talked about forever in Bucharest, but things have moved on and FCSB have had little impact at European level in recent seasons.

The Champions League run was ended by Sparta Prague in the Qualifiers, but FCSB managed to rally for a narrow win over LASK to earn a spot in the Europa League. Credit has to be given to the players for helping FCSB into 8th place in the League Phase and they can secure a direct spot in the Last 16 with an upset over Manchester United, although anything less than that leaves the Romanian Champions vulnerable to dropping into the Play Off Round next month.

FCSB have only just returned from their Winter Break and they are unbeaten in 3 games played in January, while losing 1 of their last 12 in all competitions. However, the side have won 1 of their last 4 games ahead of Match Day 8 in the Europa League. FCSB had won 3 in a row at home in the Europa League, but were held to a goalless draw by Olympiacos in their last European game here.

Manchester United

The fans might have made the Premier League fixture a spectacle at Craven Cottage, but the actual football was poor on Sunday. Ruben Amorim will be well aware that more is needed from his Manchester United players if they are going to achieve what he wants, but the win at Fulham at least allows the squad to travel to Romania with some momentum.

A poor start to the Europa League campaign put Manchester United under some pressure to finish in the top eight and avoid an extra Knock Out tie to be played in February. The players have rallied since Erik ten Hag's Sacking with all four wins in the Europa League under the guidance of Ruud van Nistelrooy or Ruben Amorim and Manchester United are 4th in the standings and needing at least a point to hold onto those places.

Manchester United have lost 1 of their 6 games played in all competitions in the 2025 calendar year and they are looking to win three games in a row for the first time this season. The win at Craven Cottage snapped a run of 4 away games without a victory in normal time. Manchester United came from behind to beat Viktoria Plzen on their travels in the Europa League last month after away draws at Porto and Fenerbahce.

Manuel Ugarte picked up a knock on Sunday and may not be risked. Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are not expected to be involved, while the manager may choose to make some changes to freshen up his starting lineup.

Head to Head

This is the first time FCSB and Manchester United face off in a competitive fixture.

Prediction

Two teams in the top eight of the Europa League standings meet in a big game on Thursday as the League Phase comes to a conclusion.

The permutation is pretty simple for both FCSB and Manchester United with a victory good enough for either team to secure a spot in the Last 16 and avoid the Play Off Knock Out tie scheduled for February.

A draw probably would be enough for Manchester United, but Ruben Amorim will want his team to do more than that.

FCSB have a very simple approach and will want to get on the front foot in a Stadium where they had won 3 in a row in the Europa League before the draw with Olympiacos. In recent years the club have struggled to compete with others in UEFA run competition, but they have played well in the Europa League Group, although FCSB's 4-0 defeat in Glasgow against Rangers is a standout defeat.

They can from behind twice in the big win at Qarabag last week, but FCSB have taken advantage of the fixture list that was handed to them and this is a big step up compared with recent opponents faced.

And for all of the domestic inconsistencies, Manchester United have found a positive level in the Europa League where they have secured four straight wins. Scoring enough goals has been an issue in the Premier League, but that is not the case in the Europa League and Manchester United have scored at least twice in each of those victories, albeit 3 of those have been at Old Trafford.

Playing away from home in UEFA competition has been tough for Manchester United over the last eighteen months, but they have rarely travelled to opponents like FCSB in that run.

Ruben Amorim will note that this team have not won 3 in a row this season, but there is some momentum behind Manchester United and the feeling is that they have enough quality in the final third to edge to another victory in what could be a high-scoring, open game if the situation calls for FCSB or Manchester United to commit more players forward.

The Pick :

FCSB 1-3 Manchester United

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Manchester United to Win & Over 1 Total Goals (Bet Builder) at 1.90 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)