A few things to be clearer and before delving into this Match Analysis:
Firstly, everyone’s goal is Europa League. 

From the Staff, Board to the players and fans, there are no doubts, Europa League is the driver now. 

Therefore, all the strategies, line-up, substitutions, etc, everything is considering the match on Thursday against Athletic Bilbao.

Secondly, we all need to assume United is now in a different performance position and expectation, regardless the defeats at Premier League.

The team is (way) more stable, we can recognize a lot of patterns, with and without the ball, but with the exception of the Game against Newcastle (where a lot of changes were made, thinking about the Game against Lyon for the Quarter-Finals), the team concedes less goals.

Generally.

Thirdly, the teams is also, consequently, more predictable, specially offensively.

And this element of predictability has a good side and another not so positive.

Because, if we can now see movements, behaviors and patterns on the players and we can actually feel some to be more comfortable and aware where their teammates will be positioned (the importance of time to train), it’s also clearer why United keeps struggling with scoring.

And there’s only so much training can do, if collective decision-making and efficiency is poor.

Understanding these, we can now observe some data from this weekend’s match against Bournemouth:

. 62% Ball Possession

. 10 corners (against 5 from Bournemouth)

. 15 tackles (against 9)
. 25 shots (against 8)

. Big chances: 2 (against 1 – that wasn’t the goal scored)

Therefore, we can understand that even with Evanilson’s red card on the 70th minute of the Game, United dominated the Game since the 1st Half  (already had 58% Ball Possession, more tackles, more corners, more shots, more big chances, more Goal expected), but we can also understand that the opposite teams can score even without shooting a lot, or creating a lot of offensive volume and danger situations.

And that’s very hard to manage.

Creates frustration, desperation, inside and out the field.

Because people can see that the team is improving, but then we can also see that it’s definitely easier to concede than to score.

So, the question is: which United will be there on Thursday?

The one that creates more, doesn’t allow much to the other team, but ends with an even or close score in the end; or the one that can materialize the chances created and take a good advantage to Spain on the 2nd leg?

Because that will be decisive.

Taking a positive result, with a comfortable advantage to Bilbao next week, is not only important but crucial, because the environment will be tough.

Bilbao’s team is strong, experienced and fast on the attack, with the likes of the brothers Williams.
Hopefully, they will not be as inspired as they can, and get affected by Old Trafford’s environment!

Let’s hope that!
To the Final we go!

Data presented here is taken from sofascore and zerozero websites.