Manchester United vs Club Brugge Predictions

• Club Brugge have scored in four of their last five away matches in Europe, notching against Real Madrid in the process.
• Club Brugge have kept a clean sheet in just one of their seven matches in Europe this season.

United well positioned

There was nothing flashy about their performance in Brugge, but United did what they had to do. They felt their opponents out, scored an important away goal and avoided defeat. Such efforts mean that they come into this second leg in a relatively strong position.

Playing at home has suited Solskjaer’s men in Europe this season. Not only did they win each of their three group games at Old Trafford, but they also kept three clean sheets. In addition to shutting their opponents out at home in the group stages, United did an excellent job of restricting teams. They surrendered just four shots on target in three matches against Astana, AZ and Partizan. Brugge may be better than each of those sides, but such a stat bodes well. That said, the Red Devils weren’t too solid in Brugge, especially when trying to guard against the counter.

Visitors carry a threat

Club Brugge proved that they’re no easy side to beat last week, as they battled their way to a 1-1 draw in front of a home crowd. However, there was nothing about their performance that pointed towards them going to Old Trafford and thriving.

During the first leg, Brugge struggled to dominate the ball, while they were also outshot but almost two to one, which given that they were in front of a home crowd is displeasing. However, they did create some reasonable openings, while they were certainly a threat on the break. Moreover, Brugge came into this Europa Legaue knockout campaign having scored away against the likes of Real Madrid and Galatasaray in the Champions League group stages. The fact that they notched twice in the Bernabeu, effectively utilising the break, suggests that they can make their presence felt in this second leg.

Goals for both on the cards

United were the better team in Brugge and they ought to have enough about them to get the job done on Thursday, though much as they did in the first leg, they may struggle to keep a clean sheet. In the betting, ‘Both Teams to Score’ looks on the large side. Clean sheets have been commonplace for United at home in this competition, which doesn’t exactly bode well for the selection, but Solskjaer’s men found it tough to guard against the break last week. Moreover, Brugge, who from what we’ve seen this season lack the defensive strength to shut the hosts out, have scored in four of their last five travelling European matches. Their counter-attacking goals against Real Madrid suggest that they can profit on the break against a United side that will almost certainly dominate possession high up the pitch.