Thursday March 16, 20:05
Live on BT Sport
Manchester United
After a bad-tempered defeat at his old club Chelsea on Monday in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Jose Mourinho has just one more route to silverware left. He has already bagged the EFL Cup in his first season at Old Trafford, and United are now the 2.96 favourites to win the Europa League.
One by one, United's chief challengers have fallen by the wayside. Spurs and Shakhtar slid out in the round of 32, and in this round, Roma are behind the 8-ball after a 4-2 defeat at Lyon. One of Schalke or Borussia Monchengladbach will exit the competition at this stage too.
Of course, United need to overcome Rostov before thinking of further challenges. The first leg was a 1-1 draw played on a dreadful pitch, the game littered with fouls. Mourinho elected to play a 3-5-2 formation, and although his side surrendered a lead on the night, a draw was a good result against a team that had beaten Bayern Munich and thrashed Ajax in Russia this season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is serving a domestic suspension, but will return fully rested, while Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial are carrying knocks.
FC Rostov
It's been a wild ride for Rostov in Europe this season. They weren't even expected to get to the Champions League group stage, but they dumped out Anderlecht and Dutch giants Ajax in the qualifiers. They also broke Dutch hearts at the end of that group campaign, drawing 0-0 at PSV to secure a place in the last 32 of the Europa League. No-one associated with the club will ever forget the magnificent 3-2 win over mighty Bayern Munich, a result that really put them on the map.
However, there isn't much to suggest Rostov will prolong their adventure beyond this week. They were destroyed 5-0 at Bayern in the group stage, lost 2-1 (albeit bravely) at Atletico Madrid, and they have only won once on the road in Europe this season.
They are also missing key players. Timofei Kalachev, who created the equaliser for Aleksandr Bukharov, is suspended. Rostov will miss his creative ability on the right flank. Defender Vladimir Granat broke his collarbone last Thursday, while Aleksandru Gatcan is also banned.
Match Odds
United have won all four of their Europa League home games, and the last three of those wins were by two goals or more. Fenerbahce, Feyenoord and Saint Etienne were all swept aside, so you my be tempted to boost the hosts' odds of 1.29 by using the Asian Handicap.
If you back United -1.5 on the AH at 1.81, you'll get a winner if they win by two goals or more.
First Goalscorer
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been in magnificent form this season, and he set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan's goal in Russia last week. The Swede has scored seven goals in his last eight games, he got a hat-trick in United's last Europa League home game, and I fancy him to step up again.
He's only trading at 1.61 to score, so let's push the boat out and back him to net the first goal at 3.70.
Recommended Bets
Back Manchester United -1.5 on the Asian Handicap at 1.81
Back Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be first goalscorer at 3.70
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