Sports Blog 09/03/2017: UEFA Champions League Last 16 1st Leg – Rostov vs Manchester United, Thursday 9th March 2017

Will Manchester United give Rostov the run around when they meet in the Europa League last 16, at 6pm on BT Sport 2?

Technically the Premier League’s in form side – they haven’t lost a league game since the 23rd October trip to Stamford Bridge – United nonetheless still find themselves stuck in 6th place, admittedly with a game in hand over the top 4 thanks to their EFL Cup triumph a couple of weeks ago. Last weekend sort of explained why, which United drawing 1-1 with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. That’s their 10th draw of the season, the joint most of any team in the league alongside Middlesbrough (who are all the way down in 18th place).



Their inability to kill off games stems from the same place as their over-reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic who, on 26 goals in all competitions, is far and away the club’s top scorer this season. The rest of their attacking options just aren’t pulling their weight; the next player on that list isn’t even a striker, it’s Juan Mata on just 9 goals. Meanwhile the young heart of the team – Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford – have a mere 7 goals apiece.

That trio should get a chance to shine on Thursday, however, as after dispatching of Saint Etienne in the last round (again, largely thanks to Ibrahimovic), United were given the rather kindly draw of Rostov in the final 16. Not that they should underestimate their Russian hosts; while they are 7th in their national league, in Europe they are proved to be feisty opponents.

In the Champions League group stages they held PSV Eindhoven to a draw, twice, and though they were hammered 5-0 by Bayern Munich in Germany, they managed to beat them 3-2 in their home leg (another kicker for Arsenal fans). The last round of the Europa League then saw Rostov smash Sparta Prague 4-0 on Russian soil before drawing the away leg 1-1.

Mourinho will have to be careful that his men don’t fall into the same Russian trap as a few other sides have this season. Our traders have confidence in the Special One, offering a Manchester United/Rostov (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.65-0.85 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.25-2.45.