There were a healthy 5 cards and 24 fouls last Thursday, not bad for a first leg. More of the same can be expected tonight. Referee Sandor Scharer has handed out 4.3 yellows per 90 across 26 Europa League games. United are playing to try and salvage some silverware and earn a possible back-door entrance into the Champions League next season. Ruben Amorim will be desperate for a result.
Both teams should start almost identical to last week. Joshua Zirkzee scored off the bench for United, but a hamstring injury picked up on Sunday rules him out. Nemanja Matic didn’t hold back when speaking about Onana last week, he’s touted to get a start for Lyon tonight.
The first bet targets two men who love nothing more than falling over. January signing Dorgu has shown glimpses of potential for United so far. The Dane is lightning quick and excellent at winning fouls. He’s won 2.86 per 90 so far for United and has won 2+ fouls in 7/9 starts. He’ll be busy on the left wing facing Cherki, Maitland Niles and quite possibly centre midfielders trying to contain him too. He should have no problem winning a few for us tonight.
Nicolas Tagliafico Is our next target. The Argentine full back has won fouls consistently all year. His European numbers have been solid. He’s won 3, 3, 4, 2, 1, 3, 1 in the Europa League this year and 1.78 per 90 across the season. 1.2/1 is a nice price for two men with averages well above what we need to land the selections.
As mentioned, Tagliafico’s European numbers have been huge. He is more than capable of winning a second foul to land our longshot.
Leny Yoro is the extra piece added and gives us a nicely priced second bet. The young centre half has recently shifted to the left side of United’s back 3. He has committed 0.92 fouls per 90 this season and will have a great matchup in Rayan Cherki who draws about 1.50 offences per 90 from his opposition. He’ll also be battling one of Lacazette and Mikautadze. Both are capable of drawing fouls themselves with numbers of 1.42 and 1.59 per 90.