Viktoria Plzen vs Man Utd Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Viktoria Plzen have started well and are unbeaten in their opening five matches of the campaign with the Czech side now welcoming a Manchester United still, as was ever thus, ‘in crisis’.

Kick-off date/time: Thursday 12th December, 2024: UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Viktoria Plzen Preview: Unbeaten Viktoria

Viktoria Plzen sit second in the Czech First League behind rampant league leaders Slavia Prague who have already reached the 50-point mark but they are playing well domestically as well as picking up two victories and three draws in the UEFA Europa League.

The home team come into this one on the back of a 2-1 win away at Karvina at the weekend. Their most recent outing on the continent saw them impressively defeat Dynamo Kyiv by two goals to one in the neutral venue of the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg a fortnight ago.

Man Utd Preview: Amorim’s difficult start

Ruben Amorim has been in charge of Manchester United for around a month now but the cracks of the past are already beginning to show with the Red Devils suffering a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford at the weekend against high-flying Nottingham Forest.

That means they have started the Amorim era with two victories, against Everton and from behind against Bodo/Glimt at home, a draw at Portman Road against struggling Ipswich Town as well as the aforementioned defeat to Forest and a loss by two goals to nil at Arsenal.

Viktoria Plzen Team News: Attacking injuries

The only injury absentees for the hosts this week have been long-term knee injury issues. Left-winger Jan Sykora remains unavailable alongside centre-forward duo Rafiu Durosinmi and Christophe Kabongo.

Predicted XI (3-5-2): Jedlicka; Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka; Cadu, Kalvach, Cerv, Sulc, Souare; Jirka, Vydra

Unavailable: Skyora (Injured), Durosinmi (Injured), Kabongo (Injured)

Questionable:

Man Utd Team News: Rotating to find a formula

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim are trying to find the right rotation and formula for his 3-4-2-1 system with Amad Diallo playing well at wing-back but a lot of other things to work on, albeit strikers are starting to score goals for United.

Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez; Antony, Mainoo, Eriksen, Malacia; Fernandes, Zirkzee; Rashford

Unavailable: Evans (Injured), Lindelof (Injured), Shaw (Injured)

Questionable:

Key Stats

Viktoria Plzeň’s only previous UEFA club competition matches against an English team were against Man. City in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage. A 3-0 defeat at home on Matchday 1 was followed by a 4-2 defeat in Manchester on Matchday 5.
Viktoria Plzeň are unbeaten in their previous nine UEFA club competition matches this season (W6 D3) including qualifying.
Viktoria Plzeň have lost only one of their last 25 UEFA club competition matches (W17 D7) including qualifying.
Viktoria Plzeň are unbeaten in their last 12 UEFA club competition matches at home (W8 D4) including qualifying.
Viktoria Plzeň have conceded a total of only goal in their last 12 UEFA competition matches at home (including qualifying).
Man. United have lost only one of their previous six UEFA club competition matches against Czech teams (W2 D3).
Man. United are without a win in their previous three UEFA club competition matches away from home against Czech teams (D2 L1).
Man. United are unbeaten in their previous five UEFA Europa League matches this season (W2 D3).
Man. United are unbeaten in their last ten UEFA Europa League group/league matches (W7 D3).
Only one of Man. United’s last 56 UEFA club competition matches finished without a goal being scored.

Viktoria Plzen vs Man Utd Prediction

Viktoria Plzen do have a limited squad but they are getting a fair bit out of it in this competition, making themselves difficult to beat and relying on moments of quality in attack from the likes of Matej Vydra and Pavel Sulc. They face a Manchester United side that are adapting to the Amorim way but, aside from around 70 minutes against Everton, have been fairly unconvincing if not quite poor. United are favourites but a low-scoring affair remains likely for this one in Plzen.

Viktoria Plzen vs Man Utd Tip: Man Utd to win & under 3.5 goals