MANCHESTER UNITED Europa League struggles look set to continue.
Erik ten Hag’s side surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Porto last night.
Having drawn 1-1 with FC Twente in their European season opener, the Red Devils are still searching for their first win in the revamped competition.
United’s two points earned so far has them 21st in the 36-team league phase.
After each team has played eight league phase games, the top eight in the table will qualify for the round of 16.
Those placed between ninth and 24th will then go into a knock-out play-off round, which they must win to advance.
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Boffins and brainiacs over at CSDB have built a supercomputer tasked with predicting the outcome of this season’s competition.
They have tipped United to rise from their current 21st-place position, but not by much.
The Red Devils have been predicted to finish 19th in the league phase – with a record of three wins, two draws and three defeats.
Ten Hag’s men will next travel to Turkey to face former boss Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
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Their remaining league phase games will then be against PAOK, Bodo Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, Rangers and Steaua Bucharest.
The supercomputer has then determined that United could face Dutch side Alkmaar in February’s play-off round.
It reckons the Red Devils will have enough to get past the Eredivisie outfit and into the round of 16.
Incredibly from there, the supercomputer backs United to get all the way to the final by beating Lazio, Olympiakos and Hoffenheim.
In the final, the supercomputer believes that the Red Devils will face… Tottenham.
Compared to United, Spurs are predicted to cruise through the competition.
Ange Postecoglou’s men began their campaign with a 3-0 win over Qarabag last month, despite Radu Dragusin’s seventh minute red card.
They then beat Ferencvaros 2-1 in Hungary last night, having fielded four teenagers in their starting XI.
The supercomputer backs Tottenham to come third in the league phase, with an unbeaten record of six wins, two draws and zero defeats.
Spurs’ next European action will come on October 24, when they host Alkmaar in North London.
Their further league phase games will be against Galatasaray, Roma, Rangers, Hoffenheim and Elfsborg.
Coming third would see Postecoglou and Co jump straight into the round of 16, with no need for a play-off.
From that point, they are tipped by the supercomputer to beat Athletic Bilbao, whose stadium will host the final, and then Braga and Roma.
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This would set up an incredible all-Premier League final – with huge stakes for both teams.
The supercomputer tips Tottenham to come out on top 1-0 in Bilbao, beating Man Utd to see Son Heung-min lift the Europa League trophy, therefore ending his club’s agonising 17-year trophy drought.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
