After Solskjaer’s departure: Will United find their way back to success?
As a player, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored a total of 91 goals in his 235 appearances for Manchester United and was a major factor in their success during the Sir Alex Ferguson era. In return, the Manchester United club icon has disappointed beyond measure in his coaching adventure in Manchester. It was therefore to be expected that United’s board would fire the Norwegian if his crisis of form continued.
The defeat at promoted Watford was ultimately the moment when those responsible at Manchester United pulled the ripcord. A successor at Manchester United has not yet been announced. For the time being, the Red Devils are under the leadership of interim coach Michael Carrick.
The first tough task for Carrick is already scheduled for this week. Manchester United are guests at Villareal and are still fighting for a place in the last 16 of the premier league.
If Villarreal vs Manchester United win away from home in Spain, odds of 2.55 are available on this bet, which also means a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. In the first leg, United already won 2-1 against the Spanish representatives – a good omen before the second leg?
Villarreal – Statistics & current form
Last season with the big triumph in the Europa League, Villareal CF is making a splash in the top flight this season. Two matchdays before the end of the group stage, the “yellow submarine”, as the club from the small town in the east of Spain is known, is on the verge of reaching the last 16.
The match against Manchester United before the showdown against Atalanta Bergamo will set the tone. Even in the event of a defeat against the islanders, Villarreal would still have their ticket to the knockout stage in their own hands. For the yellow submarine, there are therefore two attempts at the last 16 of the Champions League.
In the dress rehearsal before the match against Manchester United, Villarreal only played to a draw in the away game in Vigo. Although Unai Emery’s team led at half-time, they only managed a draw away from home and thus failed to win away from home in La Liga for the seventh time in a row. On the other hand, the yellow submarine was at least convincing at the Estadio de la Ceramica.
Will the next win be at El Madrigal?
Villarreal have lost just one competitive match at home so far this season. Unai Emery’s side have gone unbeaten in their last three home games. In fact, they have recently won two home games in a row without conceding a single goal.
For the first time in the club’s history, the Spanish representatives are now looking to win a match in the top flight against Manchester United. In the five previous attempts, there have been four draws and one defeat in the Champions League.
The latter was in the first leg of the current group stage, where Villarreal CF narrowly missed out on a point at Old Trafford. The defeat was by no means surprising, as the yellow submarine has never won against an English representative in the top flight. It is quite possible that the negative trend will continue this time.
Unai Emery will probably only have to do without Gerard Moreno against Manchester United due to injury. There are no other absentees for the Spanish hosts.
Predicted Villarreal line-up:
Rulli – Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza – Parejo, Capoue, Coquelin – Pino, Dia, Danjuma
Last matches played by Villarreal:
LaLiga
11/20 2021 – Celta Vigo 1 – 1 Villarreal FC
11/07 2021 – Villarreal FC 1 – 0 Getafe
Champions League Grp. F
11/02 2021 FC Villarreal 2 – 0 BSC Young Boys
LaLiga
10/30 2021 – Valencia 2 – 0 Villarreal FC
10/26 2021 – Villarreal FC 3 – 3 Cadiz
Manchester United – Statistics & current form
No successor for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has yet been announced by Manchester United. Therefore, the Red Devils will tackle the hurdle in the top flight for the time being under the leadership of interim solution Michael Carrick. After the bitter defeat in the Premier League, Manchester United will also be looking to make amends.
In their current form, an away win at their Spanish group rivals would be a real liberating blow. After all, United would not only be able to defend their group lead on their own, but would also punch their ticket to the knockout phase of the Champions League.
If you take a look at the recent away record in the top flight, there are hardly any arguments to back bets on an away win. Manchester United have won only seven of their last 24 away games in the Champions League. Most recently, there have even been four consecutive no away wins for the Red Devils in the top flight.
Has United digested the recent defeat yet?
Betting fans who still want to bet on Villarreal vs Manchester United can pick up odds of up to 2.55 in the event of success. After the away debacle against Watford FC, however, betting on this is not recommended at all. Especially since Carrick, as Solskjaer’s former assistant coach, is unlikely to change United’s playing system in the short term.
Villarreal will also be without Pogba, Greenwood and Varane. Players such as Cavani and Shaw are still question marks.
How many changes Michael Carrick will ultimately dare to make is not yet clear. It is quite possible that at least the offensive line around Cristiano Ronaldo will remain unchanged. After all, “CR7” has scored at least one goal in each of the four group matches so far.
Predicted line-up of Manchester United:
De Gea – Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Dalot – Van de Beek, Fred – Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford – Ronaldo
Last matches played by Manchester United:
Premier League
11/20 2021 – Watford 4 – 1 Manchester United
11/06 2021 – Manchester United 0 – 2 Manchester City
Champions League Grp. F
11/02 2021 – Atalanta Bergamo 2 – 2 Manchester United
Premier League
10/30 2021 – Tottenham 0 – 3 Manchester United
10/24 2021 – Manchester United 0 – 5 Liverpool FC
Villarreal – Manchester United Direct Comparison / H2H Record
This is the seventh time the two clubs have met across competitions. In the top flight, it will be the sixth meeting between Villarreal vs Manchester United. So far, United have never lost a match in the Champions League against Villarreal. However, four of the five matches ended in a draw.
The match in the first leg of the current Champions League was the first competitive match between Villarreal and Manchester United in which a prediction of more than 2.5 goals in normal time paid off. Previously, the three-goal mark had not been broken five times in a row.
Villarreal – Manchester United betting tips
Manchester United are currently in free fall. Before the international break still with a derby defeat against Manchester City, there was an away debacle against a promoted team last weekend. Reason enough to pull the ripcord and sack Solskjaer after the ongoing form crisis.
It is still unclear who will take over, so Michael Carrick remains the interim solution for the time being. Carrick & Co. have the chance to book an early ticket to the last 16 with an away win in Villarreal.
Tuesday’s opponents were the home winners for Manchester United at Old Trafford in the first leg. Now, for the first time in the club’s history, United are targeting an away win at the Villarreal Stadium. Not only have there been two draws at the Estadio de la Ceramica in two attempts so far, but Manchester United have also failed to score in both away games.
We therefore do not rule out a low-scoring encounter at the home of the yellow submarine this time around either. In the first leg, the three-goal mark was only broken with a last-minute goal by Cristiano Ronaldo. Before that, it was a match of equals for long stretches.
With a stake of five units, we dare to bet on Villarreal vs Manchester United at attractive odds on under 2.5 goals in the match. Alternatively, we recommend betting on a draw before the break. A prediction on this already paid off in the first half of the season.
