Just four games left of what has been the worst PL campaign ever with United having to travel to one of the league's best sides at home in Thomas Frank's Bees.
MUFC remained in Spain after their incredible 3-0 win over Bilbao in their semifinal first leg. Due to the quick turnaround and the importance of the second leg, manager Ruben Amorim told us that we should be expecting a lot of changes.
Let's face it, the league is pretty much done and is just an opportunity for us to rest and rotate. If we manage to get a positive result whilst doing so, that is an added bonus.
Much like recent league matches, I'm not expecting much from this encounter.
Predicted Lineup
This is the most interesting part of the match. Amorim's lineup shouldn't be surprising regardless of who he picks and as you can see, I have gone for some youngsters in my predicted XI.
With a few of them being part of the squad for Thursday's trip to Spain in order to train with the team ahead of tomorrow's game, we should be seeing some of them in that lineup.
A goalkeeper change wouldn't surprise me but I've just kept Onana.
A reshuffled defense and back five with Shaw, De Ligt and Fredricson as the three CBs with Amass as LWB and Amad as RWB. This is on the premise that Amad is fit enough to start as it will be important for him to get some minutes before next week's second leg.
As he was substituted, I think Ugarte will start alongside Eriksen in midfield with Mainoo and Mount as the two tens behind the striker of Chido Obi.
Quite the lineup indeed but one that I feel is capable of causing Brentford problems whilst giving time and rest to those who need it.
Approach
Again, as long as we don't get our arses handed to us, we should be okay.
And of course, we don't want any injuries. That is the most important.
With a makeshift team like this, we won't be seeing any dominance from United. Yes Brentford aren't known for being a possession-based side but they will be the team on the front-foot more than us.
I would like to see the likes of De Ligt and Amad have good games because we need them to get back into things ahead of the return match against Athletic Club.
It would also be nice for the youngsters like Fredricson, Amass and Chido Obi to showcase their abilities once again. We know the quality they possess and this will be an opportunity to show the manager that maybe he should consider them a little more.
Amorim did say that those who play on Sunday do have a chance to play on Thursday. I don't think he was speaking about next Thursday specifically but more in general yet even still, it's an opportunity all the same.
Brentford
The Bees are having another good season in the top flight. People thought they would struggle after having lost their main man Ivan Toney to the Saudi Pro League but that has proved to not be an issue as they are in a respectable 11th.
After their 34 matches, Brentford have 14 wins, 7 draws and 13 losses with an impressive 58 scored (19 more than us) and 50 conceded with a total of 49 points.
Their last five haven't been as they would've wanted however, their last two have brought them two wins which came against Brighton and Forest, two sides that did the double over United this season.
At home, the Bees sit 8th in the home table with eight wins, four draws and five losses. More than that, they are the joint-fourth highest scorers with 34 goals. That is 13 more than United have managed at Old Trafford.
On the road, we are 14th and have pretty much no chance in this one. In our last six away games, we've only won one which was the 3-0 victory over Leicester. We drew two and lost the other three.
With the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, they haven't missed Ivan Toney. Between this pair, Mbeumo (a United target) and Wissa have scored 36 goals and have 11 assists. Definitely a deadly combo and one that will surely make a difference tomorrow.
Recent Meetings
United do at least have a good record against Brentford as we've only lost one of the seven matches we've faced against them since their return to the top flight in 21/22. That defeat though was the famous 4-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium in 22/23.
The last time we faced off, it was another 2-1 comeback win as goals by Garnacho and Hojlund saw us get the 3 points.
Prediction
I don't see us winning. At best, we can get a draw but Brentford will be the heavy favorites.
I'm going for a 2-1 or 2-2 draw.
Man Utd beat Brentford 2-1 thanks to goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund | Creator: Michael Regan | Credit: Getty Images Copyright: 2024 Getty Images via Man Utd News