Friday night, starting at 22:00, the first stage of Premier League leader Manchester United receives a visit from Southampton FC in the prologue of the second stage, a match that could help the hosts to consolidate status favorite for the title of champion.
Manchester United this season a claimant is visible and vocal champion status, having failed to bring Jose Mourinho as manager and acquisitions and impressive on the middle attack. “Red Devils” have started the season could not be better, managing to win the Super Cup against England Leicester City 2-1 in the first match of the championship at Bournemouth FC 3-1.
It is worth mentioning that in both matches, Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic managed to score in the second inning, giving greater security to his team on the desired result. The only apparent problem is the team coached by Mourinho defensive zone, where they received goal in every game in domestic competitions and friendlies against teams rated as Galatasaray or Dortmund.
Southampton FC comes from the position of undefeated teams in the first stage after a draw with Watford, 1-1, in a situation like Manchester team with a new coach – Claude Puel. The two teams have one thing in common – both will participate in the group stage of the Europa League. Unlike Man Utd, “saints” are undefeated in exhibition games – managed to score in all six matches of preparation (five wins and a draw).
It is worth mentioning that the Premier League is one of the strongest teams at the results and their consistency with a single defeat in the last ten games of the Premier League last season (he suffered in March 2016 to the champion of the last edition – Leicester City) . In eight of the ten matches, Southampton managed to score at least two goals – a problem that could complicate his defensive insecurity in Manchester.
Man Utd: De Gea – Valencia, Bailly Blind, Shaw – Fellaini, Pogba – Mata, Rooney, Martial – Ibrahimovic.
Southampton FC: Forster – Cedric, Yoshida, van Dijk, Targett – Romeu – Davis, Tadic, Ward-Prowse – Redmond, Long.
When they returned to the Premier League in 2012, Southampton played four times at Old Trafford, managed to go undefeated in the last three games (1-1 in 2013 and 1-0 two victories in 2015 and 2016). Also in the eight matches of the Premier League comeback against Manchester United, “saints” have managed to score every time.
In the last three matches against Southampton in the Premier League, Mourinho failed to defeat (as coach of Chelsea), obtaining two draws and one defeat (each scored).
