Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Spanish side Villareal will square up in the Europa League final held in Poland this Wednesday.
Stadium: Stadion Miejski (Gdańsk)
Key Statistics
Manchester United have won two out of their last five matches
They have kept only two clean sheets from their last ten competitive games.
However, this season, they have the best clean sheet record in the Europa League, having kept a clean sheet in 62.5% of their games this UEL campaign.
Villareal are unbeaten in their last 12 UEL games held outside of Spain (W7, D5).
They have kept a clean sheet in their last five away Europa League games.
They also boast an undefeated record against non-Spanish opponents in 23 European fixtures (W16, D7).
Villareal
Unai Emery has another opportunity to write himself in the sands of time by winning the Europa League trophy for the fourth time in his career.
The former Sevilla manager has a knack for reaching the Europa League final, doing so on three separate occasions with Sevilla and once with Arsenal. He will be looking to join an elite group of managers that have won four European trophies in their career when he leads his side out against The Red Devils.
The Yellow Submarines have a good record against non-Spanish opponents in Europe and will be looking to extend their unbeaten run against non-Spanish opponents to 24.
They head into this tie with two wins from their last five games. They have kept three clean sheets in their previous five games and are yet to trail at half-time in Europe this season.
They qualified for this stage of the competition by beating Premier League side Arsenal, 2-1 on aggregate and will certainly fancy their chances against another Premier League side.
Samuel Chukwueze is the only injury absentee for Unai Emery.
Possible line-ups
Sergio Asenjo; Alfonso Pedraza, Pau Torres, Raul Albiol, Ruben Pena; Etienne Capoue, Dani Parejo, Manuel Trigueros; Carlos Bacca, Gerard Moreno, Moi Gomez.
We deserve to play this final and we will put on our best performance and show we want to fight against Manchester United for this title.
Unai Emery, Villarreal Manager
Manchester United
After finally overcoming the semi-final hurdle, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now has the opportunity to win his first trophy as Manchester United manager when he faces Villareal in front of 9,000 fans in Gdansk this Wednesday.
The Red Devils trashed AS Roma 8-5 on aggregate in the previous round and are heading into this tie as favourites.
With 18 goals to their name in the Europa League this season despite entering in the knockout round, the Premier League side will surely fancy their chances against the Spanish side, who are making their first-ever European final.
Although they head into this tie on a run of two wins in five games, they remain a formidable side as the drop in form has been attributed to a congested fixture list.
With players like Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata, Matic, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, The Red Devils have an elite group of players that know how to win trophies. Their success in this game will be surely tied to the performance of this group of players.
However, Solskjaer will be sweating over the fitness of Harry Maguire, who has travelled with the squad but might not be available in the starting XI or bench on Wednesday night.
Possible line-ups
Dean Henderson, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Fred, Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood
Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Dean Henderson, Lee Grant, Nathan Bishop
Defenders: Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Alex Telles, Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams
Midfielders: Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, Daniel James, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matić, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek
Forwards: Edinson Cavani, Anthony Elanga, Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford, Shola Shoretire
Manchester UNiteD Squad
Every player who goes into a final has the expectation and pressure to win. We plan to win, we expect to win, but I’m sure Unai [Emery] feels the same with his players. It’s been a long way to get here. It’s 50-50 when you get to a final. I’m confident we’re ready. In a final, anything can happen.
It’s always difficult to leave players out. A final is a reward for what you’ve done all season. If there’s a doubt with a couple, it’s about the form in the latter stages. We’ll enjoy the last session and the players will get the team tomorrow.
It’s going to be special. You’ve got to be proud to be able to lead a Manchester United team out to a final. It’s been a fantastic journey and, as we say in Norwegian, veien er målet (the goal is the journey). This is just a step on the road to bringing our Man. United back.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Manchester United manager
Betting Odds
Villareal : Draw : Manchester United :: 4.70 : 3.52 : 1.88
| Villarreal Goal | Man United Goal | Betting Odds |
| 1 | 1 | 6.50 |
| 0 | 1 | 7.00 |
| 0 | 2 | 8.50 |
| 1 | 2 | 8.50 |
| 0 | 0 | 9.00 |
| 1 | 0 | 11.00 |
Prediction
Manchester United 2-1 Villareal
