It has been a nervy week or so for Manchester United. Another late goal for Manchester United earned them a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday, coming soon after their injury-time Europa League winner against Omonia Nicosia. Tonight, at the Theater of Dreams, the hosts will endeavour to claim at least the point they need to make it into the knockout rounds of the competition when they tackle Sheriff as part of group E.The Red Devils enter Thursday’s game having gone unbeaten in their last six games in all tournaments, and despite going down to Real Sociedad at Old Trafford on September 8, not since the 1996-97 Champions League have Man United lost two group-stage European games in a single campaign at the Theatre of Dreams.In the Premier League, Erik ten Hag’s men are still playing catchup in the race for a top-four place, and it is a similar story in the Europa League, with Real Sociedad still sitting pretty at the top of Group E with 12 points as Man United occupy the runners-up spot at present.Familiar faces meet at Phillips Stadion – Gunners eager to shake of the Southampton woeThe Red Devils sit three points behind in second place, while the Moldovan visitors to Old Trafford are third in the group having claimed just one win so far.A magnificent showing from stand-in Omonia goalkeeper – Nigerian Francis Uzoho – ultimately went unrewarded on matchday four, as Scott McTominay crashed home the late winner to leave Man United needing just a point from their final two games to advance to the knockout rounds.After being put to the sword 2-0 by Man United on matchday two, Sheriff has since suffered a pair of similarly comprehensive defeats to Real Sociedad by an aggregate score of 5-0, and any slim hopes the visitors have of making the knockout rounds will be dashed if they fail to win at Old Trafford.In the wake of a 1-0 defeat to Petrocub in their domestic campaign, manager Stjepan Tomas handed in his resignation out of the blue, taking responsibility for the fact that his side were too preoccupied with their trip to Old Trafford to perform at home.🚨 Sheriff head coach Stjepan Tomas has resigned two days before their Europa League fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford.(Source: @FotclubSheriff) pic.twitter.com/hyTCDfdGbF— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 25, 2022 The Moldovan champions won just four of their last nine matches in all competitions and they have only ever won three Europa League games away from home in their history, so their chances of becoming the first-ever Moldovan side to beat English opposition in Europe are not exactly high.As far as the rosters go, the biggest question is of course the status of Cristiano Ronaldo. Ten Hag said that Ronaldo would be in the squad for Thursday’s match – a game his side need to win to stand any chance of topping their group. That would allow them to avoid a third-place side from the Champions League in February’s play-off round.Ronaldo returned to first-team training with Manchester United for the first time on Tuesday since his refusal to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last week.Charging up! 🔋#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/RyQUHSjJUq— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 25, 2022 The Portuguese was left out of United’s squad for Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea and did individual training with fitness coaches on Friday.”It’s not difficult (Ronaldo situation). We said everything, answered all the questions. He was out for one game and now back in,” said Ten Hag.”We have an important game tomorrow, we want to top the group.”Jadon Sancho and CR7 were on target as Man United overcame Sheriff 2-0 earlier this season, and the new manager bounce cannot come quickly enough for a Sheriff side still reeling from Tomas’s sudden exit.At the weekend, Raphael Varane was forced off the Stamford Bridge turf in tears with a knee injury – which is a major blow for both club and the French national team. As he is not expected to play for Man United again before the World Cup – Victor Lindelof will deputise this week.Anthony Martial, Brandon Williams and Axel Tuanzebe remain sidelined while Donny van de Beek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire are all in contention.EUROPA LEAGUEGroup stage – Round 5Thursday19:45: (3.60) AEK Larnaca (3.20) Dynamo Kyiv (2.30)19:45: (1.90) Union Berlin (3.50) Braga (4.60)19:45: (3.60) Malmo (3.35) St.Gilloise (2.10)19:45: (2.70) Fenerbahce (3.25) Rennes (2.85)19:45: (3.00) Ludogorets (3.30) Betis (2.40)19:45: (3.60) Zurich (3.45) Bodo (2.05)19:45: (1.60) Lazio (4.00) Midtjylland (5.70)19:45: (2.95) PSV (3.50) Arsenal (2.50)22:00: (10.0) Helsinki (5.10) Roma (1.37)22:00: (7.25) Omonia (4.20) Sociedad (1.53)22:00: (3.80) Sturm (3.60) Feyenoord (2.05)22:00: (1.50) Freiburg (4.10) Olympiakos (7.00)22:00: (2.50) Nantes (3.40) Qarabag (3.00)22:00: (2.25) Crvena Zvezda (3.40) Trabzon (3.45)22:00: (1.12) Man.Utd. (9.00) Sheriff Tiraspol (20.0)22:00: (4.00) Ferencvaros (3.60) Monaco (2.00)***odds are subject to change***
