Teams which start in the Champions League and ultimately finish third in their groups often have wildly inconsistent results when they fall into the Europa League. A team like Manchester United is certainly not used to playing on Danish soil, but that's exactly what's happening on Thursday when the Red Devils travel to take on FC Midtjylland.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
FC Midtjylland +433
Manchester United -143
Draw +265
Over/Under 2.5 (under -140)
ODDS ANALYSIS
You can look up and down at the thousands of matches which BookMaker.eu will have soccer odds posted on this week, and you might not find a harder one to line than this. Theoretically, Man U should just roll over its Danish competitors, but with the way it has played of late, especially after a 2-1 loss against Sunderland on Saturday, we aren't so certain.
The oddsmakers aren't sold completely either. Manchester United is the odds-on favorite as it should be at -143, but the margin certainly isn't convincing.
The total is somewhat average, especially considering the fact that this is the first leg of this home-and-home affair at 2.5 and -140 vig on the under.
KEY INJURIES
There's a serious question about the depth of the team which Louis van Gaal is going to bring with him to Denmark on Thursday night. Adnan Januzaj, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia are all hurt and surely won't be playing, and we just can't imagine that some of the superstars of this team are going to be making the trip either, especially with a Champions League spot very much so still up in the air back home in the Premier League.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Miracles have happened before, and we will probably need one again. However, we do not just lie down. We deserved to qualify for the round of 32, and we aim to prove that to ourselves and to our opponents." – FC Midjylland manager Jess Thorup on the task ahead for the Wolves against the English giants
RECENT FORM
United really looked like it was taking some steps forward in January. However, things have come apart at the seams these last couple weeks. The Red Devils were up 1-0 and were looking to coast against Chelsea before giving up a late equalizer. That hangover held over into the next week against Sunderland, a match which was lost 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
The results haven't been great for Midtjylland of late. The Wolves did beat Horsens on Saturday, but prior to that, they have gone four straight matches without a victory.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Let's not forget that Midtjylland has already shown that it has what it takes to get rid of an English team from this competition. The Wolves already knocked Southampton out of the Europa League back in the summer, claiming a home and home victory over the Saints.
You might think this is a totally different discussion against Manchester United, but we aren't sure if the Red Devils are really going to care much at this point. Keep a really close eye on the roster which van Gaal brings with him. We have a feeling there isn't going to be a heck of a lot of care here, and it'll show on the field.
Talent will ultimately probably keep the Danish side down in this one, but we wouldn't be surprised if this matchup at Old Trafford in a couple weeks ends up being a winner-take-all situation.
FC Midtjylland 1, Manchester United 1
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