Man United fans who braved the journey to Omonia last week may have been preparing for another miserable journey home when Karim Ansarifard gave the Cypriot champions a 1-0 lead before the break against a somewhat familiar foe in Neil Lennon.
Last time around, however, Erik ten Hag’s changes off the bench paid off with a brace from Marcus Rashford and a goal from fellow substitute Martial turning the game back United’s favour before Nikolas Panagiotou added another consolation for the hosts.Man United are now firmly in the Champions League conversation, sitting fifth in the Premier League table, while their six-point haul from three Europa League games is good enough for second place in Group E behind a perfect Sociedad side.
Ten Hag will be concerned by the Red Devils’ nine goals conceded in their last three games in all competitions, though defensive absentees have played a significant role in that, and the Red Devils – who have lost to Atletico Madrid and Sociedad in their last two European home games – have never lost three continental matches in a row at Old Trafford. While Omonia should be commended for troubling Manchester United’s defence in front of their ardent fanbase last week, spirit and passion do not win points, and the Cypriot champions are still without a single one at the halfway point of the group stage.
Lennon’s men have scored three goals and conceded eight in three consecutive losses to Sheriff Tiraspol, Real Sociedad, and now Manchester United, leaving them in fourth place in the table, and any slim hopes of finishing in the top two could be dashed if they lose this week. It is not impossible for Omonia to overtake Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa Conference League spot – there are only three points between them – but Lennon’s side were unable to regain their momentum last weekend, losing 1-0 to AEL in First Division action.
Omonia’s defeat to AEL was their fourth in five away games, and they have not won a European game on the road since defeating Shamrock Rovers in 1987, one of the Cypriot side’s only two victories on the continent.
If Lennon’s team is to produce a seismic shock and blow Europa League Group E wide open against Manchester United, they must do something no other Cypriot team has done before: win an away game against an English side.
Match Prediction
With Ronaldo returning to his usual prolific self in the attacking third of the pitch and Rashford showing signs of danger in front of the goal, we can expect Man United to emerge as the convincing winners.
Manchester United 2-0 Omonia
