Manchester United will face a Moldovan side at Old Trafford for the very first time when Sheriff Tiraspol visit on Thursday night in the Europa League.
Erik ten Hag’s side are looking to make it four European wins on the spin, after defeating Sheriff away and following it up with triumphs over Omonia Nicosia both in Cyprus and in Manchester.
Ten Hag’s pre-match press conference on Wednesday is likely to provide a definitive update on Raphael Varane, after the centre-back suffered a thigh injury during our 1-1 draw at Chelsea on Sunday. The fitness of his fellow Frenchman, Anthony Martial, could also be on the agenda.
The United boss might also confirm whether Harry Maguire, who was pictured back out on the Carrington pitches last week, is in contention for this one. Donny van de Beek, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe have also been long-term absentees this season.
For the visitors, defender Armel Zohouri is ruled out of this match through suspension, after being sent off for two yellow card offenses in the Moldovan side’s last Europa League match away to Real Sociedad.
The Reds’ most recent outing in the competition was on 13 October, when Scott McTominay’s late goal earned a late home win over Omonia Nicosia.
Sheriff suffered a comprehensive 3-0 away defeat to Real Sociedad on the same night, with Zohouri’s 33rd-minute red card making the task of facing the Group E leaders in their own backyard all the more difficult. La Real scored one goal before the break and two after the restart to secure a valuable three points.
PREVIOUS MEETING
United came out on top the last time the sides met, which was also the first time we had ever faced Sheriff.
In Moldova, Jadon Sancho netted a superb team goal, before Cristiano Ronaldo doubled the lead from the penalty spot as Ten Hag’s side won 2-0, giving the Dutchman his first European victory in charge of the Reds.
FORM GUIDE
The Reds enter Thursday’s match after a challenging but largely successful week in which we faced three of the current top six in the Premier League. Our midweek 2-0 win over Spurs was bookended by closely-fought draws against Newcastle United (0-0) and Chelsea (1-1), and we are now unbeaten in five games since the Manchester derby.
Sheriff come into this one having lost 1-0 away in the Moldovan National Division to second-placed Petrocub on Sunday, a result which reduced their lead at the summit to six points.
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