Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester United LIVE! Europa League match stream, latest score and goal updates today
Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester United LIVE!
Manchester United face Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League this evening. The Red Devils have won their last two games in Europe at home at Old Trafford - against PAOK and Bodo/Glimt - and would boost their hopes of sealing automatic qualification for the last 16 further if they can claim a positive result away in the Czech Republic tonight.
However, Ruben Amorim's side do go into this game having lost back-to-back matches in the Premier League at the hands of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Those disappointing defeats highlighted a weakness at defending set-pieces, an area of their game that must improve under Amorim now his honeymoon period appears to be over having seen a promising three-game unbeaten run snapped.
Czech side Plzen are currently level on points with United in the Europa League standings after beating Dynamo Kyiv and Real Sociedad in their previous two fixtures. In fine form domestically, they are sure to provide a tough test for the Premier League giants at Doosan Arena this evening. Follow Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester United live below!
Viktoria Plzen vs Manchester United latest news
Man United XI confirmed: Rashford returns
Viktoria Plzen XI confirmed: Markovic starts
Kick-off time: 5:45pm GMT | Doosan Arena
TV channel: TNT Sports
Score prediction
HALF-TIME
18:33 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:31 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
45+1 min: Into three minutes of added on time as Marcus Rashford is the first player booked this evening for a push on Cerv.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
43 min: Souare attempts to bend the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box, but he doesn’t get enough curl on his effort and Onana watches it sail past the post.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
42 min: Man United have dealt with set-pieces much better this evening than they did so against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
40 min: Just five minutes left of this half, United have looked bright in the last 10 minutes but they’ve not tested Martin Jedlicka enough.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
35 min: Cameras cut to Ruben Amorim and he doesn’t look happy with what his side have produced so far.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
31 min: First shot on target alert!
Bruno Fernandes is afforded far too much space and he carries the ball forward before aiming an effort towards the bottom corner which is well saved by Jedlicka.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:16 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
30 min: Attempts on target...
Viktoria Plzen: 0
Manchester United: 0
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
27 min: Casemiro is a toenail away from converting Bruno Fernandes’ cross to put the visitors ahead. Looks like Zirkzee got a touch on the ball which put it out of the Brazilian’s reach.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:09 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
23 min: Amad Diallo tricks his way into the box, cuts in on to his left foot for a shot but his effort is deflected which makes the save all the more comfortable for Jedlicka
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
21 min: Plzen threaten but Casemiro spots the danger to make an interception and set United on the attack.
Bruno Fernandes forces Marcus Rashford wider than he would have liked and the forward can’t hit the target from an acute angle.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:04 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
19 min: Decent passage of play from Man United but the move breaks down following an attempted one-two between Rashford and Zirkzee.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
18:02 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
17 min: Not seen a great deal of Marcus Rashford or Amad Diallo so far by Andre Onana is very much involved and not for good reasons.
He gifts possession away and the ball eventually finds its way to Cerv who fires an effort over the bar.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
17:56 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
11 min: Andre Onana is looking rather suspect at set-pieces, that’s another failed attempt at coming to claim the ball.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
17:55 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
8 min: Casemiro is in need of treatment after being clattered into by Onana at that free-kick. The Brazilian is fine to carry on but must wait 30 seconds before re-entering the field of play.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
17:54 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
7 min: Bruno Fernandes brings down Cherv and is perhaps a little fortunate to avoid being shown a yellow card.
Nevertheless, Plzen have a free-kick in a dangerous area. The ball is floated in and Andre Onana comes to claim it but is beaten in the air, though the danger is cleared.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
17:51 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
5 min: Brilliant play from Zirkzee as he shows great pace and strength to get away from Markovic and sees his effort deflected for a corner.
There is a VAR check for a penalty but it is checked and cleared.
Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Man United
17:48 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
3 min: Zirkzee is the most advanced Man United forward but he will probably drop deep which means Rashford and Amad have to exploit the space in behind.
KICK-OFF!
17:45 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
We are underway in this Europa League clash.
Here we go!
17:41 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Players have emerged from the tunnel and out onto the pitch.
The Europa League anthem will blast through the speakers, followed by the player handshakes, team photo and then kick-off.
Not long now!
17:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Less than 10 minutes to go until kick-off in the Czech Republic.
Man United aiming to get back on the winning trail after back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.
Amorim on Amad's role
17:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Amad Diallo, so far under Ruben Amorim, has been operating as a wing-back. But this evening he gets to play much further forward as a number 10 alongside Marcus Rashford.
Explaining the selection, the Man United boss said:
"Yes, I think it’s important for us to have a player in that [attacking] position like Amad. Always I think it is a very good position for him. He’s in a great moment and we’ll try to use it."
Plzen's approach
17:29 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plzen coach Miroslav Koubek has outlined what his side must do in order to claim a positive result against Man United.
"We must be compact, organised, work as a team and run a lot. We cannot succeed without doing that,” he said. “Most of our Europa League opponents are better technically and when on the ball."
Amorim's ideal scenario
17:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
With the small matter of a Manchester derby just around the corner, one can imagine Ruben Amorim would like a victory this evening in addition to no injuries.
English clubs in Europe this week
17:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
So far, Manchester City are the only English side to have lost in Europe this week.
Liverpool beat Girona, Aston Villa secured a dramatic victory over RB Leipzig before Arsenal overcame Monaco on Wednesday night.
Whose footsteps will Man United follow in this evening?
Rashford is back
17:13 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Marcus Rashford is named in a Manchester United starting lineup for the first time since the Everton game where he netted a brace.
With question marks over his long-term future resurfacing this week, how will the forward respond this evening?
Europa League fixtures
17:06 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
With one matchday six fixture already taking place this week, here’s how today is shaping up in the Europa League.
Ready for more Matchday 6 action 👀#UEL pic.twitter.com/i2102ngtlB
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) December 12, 2024
Ruben Amorim arrives
16:57 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ruben Amorim will be hopeful that the changes he’s made can inspire his side to return to winning ways after back-to-back defeats.
Five changes for Man United
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
We make that five changes to the XI that faced Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
Noussair Mazraoui replaces Leny Yoro as Tyrell Malacia starts at wing-back. Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte drop to the bench, with Casemiro coming into the midfield.
Joshua Zirkzee gets the nod over Rasmus Hojlund for the lone striker assignment, and Marcus Rashford starts.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 12, 2024
Plzen XI
16:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plzen XI: Jedlicka; Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka; Cadu, Cerv, Kalvach (c), Souare; Vydra, Sulc; Vasulin
Substitutes: Tvrdon (GK), Baier (GK), Hejda, Paluska, Kopic, Sojka, Mosquera, Panos, Havel, Sloncík, Jirka, Adu
Man United XI
16:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Man United XI: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Malacia; Amad, Rashford; Zirkzee
Substitutes: Bayindir, Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro, Collyer, Eriksen, Mainoo, Mount Ugarte, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund.
Team news imminent
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
We are expecting the team news to be announced shortly.
Stay tuned...
Viktoria Plzen form
16:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The hosts will be no pushovers tonight. In fact, just like Man United they are unbeaten in the Europa League this season after drawing their first three games of the league phase and winning their last two.
In addition, they are unbeaten in seven across all competitions.
Every United goal
16:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Man United have netted 10 times in the Europa League so far this season and arguably Christian Eriksen scored the pick of the bunch against Fenerbahce.
A fine finish from @ChrisEriksen8 🎯
Watch every #UEL goal we have scored in 2024/25 so far ⤵️#MUFC— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 12, 2024
Malacia outlines big challenges
16:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia has outlined the challenge of regaining his full match sharpness after such a long time out injured while learning Ruben Amorim’s style of play.
“[By] training every day, I have to improve week by week by playing games of course,” he told reporters.“I could already see a difference between my first game against Bodo/Glimt and Arsenal.
“Other than that, as a team, we are improving and trying to adapt to the playing style of the manager. I’m happy.”
Strong Man United squad
16:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Ruben Amorim has named a strong squad for this evening’s game. Victory for United will leave them in a healthy position with regards to qualifying for the last 16.
Ruben's Reds for matchday six in the @EuropaLeague 📋🇾🇪#MUFC || #UEL pic.twitter.com/R4QvzrHBQQ
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 12, 2024
Amorim discusses alternative Champions League route
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is refusing to buy into the notion that winning the Europa League is his side’s best chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
"I as a coach I cannot focus on just that,” he told reporters. “The way we can see in the future, titles or something. Our goal is to win our Premier League. That is our goal.
“Of course you can do the math and you can understand that for a big club like us to be in the Champions League is so important. You can see and look at the table that from the Europa League, maybe it is easier.
“You can then perhaps take this information for this context but I am not focused on that and our goal is to win the Premier League, not just to go to the Champions League.
“To go [to] the Champions League is an important point to win the Premier League, that is really clear. But for me, the most important thing is to win and to see something different in the team in every game."
Predicted Man United XI
15:50 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Manchester United are expected to field a strong team as they return to Europa League action against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic tonight.
Amorim has largely rotated during the opening few weeks of his tenure, so it will be fascinating to see what he does with his starting lineup tonight.
Marcus Rashford could start up front amid fresh doubts about his long-term future at the club following recent reports linking him with a move away.
Click here for our predicted Man United lineup.
Score prediction
15:42 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
United are in the middle of a tough run of fixtures and anything but a positive result here would only increase the levels of scrutiny ahead of matches against Manchester City and Tottenham.
Amorim’s side do not look convincing at the back, particularly from set-pieces, and Plzen are capable of taking advantage of any lapses in concentration.
1-1 draw.
Viktoria Plzen team news
15:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Plzen are expected to be without defender Svetozar Markovic, after he was forced off in their league match against Karvina over the weekend.
Man United team news
15:28 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Leny Yoro could make his first European appearance for United, having started against Forest last time out.
Victor Lindelof took part in first-team training on Wednesday and was subsequently named in the travelling squad along with young midfielder Toby Collyer.
Jonny Evans was also back involved at Carrington though did not make the trip, with Luke Shaw still sidelined after his recent injury setback.
How to watch
15:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 2. Coverage starts at 5:30pm GMT ahead of a 5:45pm kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Welcome
15:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzen.
Kick-off from the Doosan Arena is at 5.45pm GMT.