Free betting tips and match preview - Europa League: Manchester United v Copenhagen

Recommended bets

1pt Manchester United to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at 13/8

1pt Manchester United/Under 2.5 Goals at 5/2

0.5pt Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to have a combined 7+ shots on target at 7/1

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record

Manchester United v Copenhagen

• 2000 kick-off on BT Sport 1
• Latest odds: Home 1/4 | Draw 5/1 | Away 10/1

Manchester United can rarely have gone into a European quarter-final as heavier favourites.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have a completely fresh, fully-fit side after being afforded the luxury of resting his first-choice XI for their 2-1 win over LASK in the last 16 - you can do that when you've won the first leg 5-0 away from home.

They face a club who have never reached this stage of a European competition before, but Copenhagen shouldn't be written off out of hand for a number of reasons.

The emphatic way in which the Danish side won 3-0 to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Istanbul Basaksehir in the previous round was testament to how well-drilled they are.

Basaksehir are no mugs, fresh from winning the Super Liga for the very first time, and littered with experience and quality - Martin Skrtel, Gael Clichy and Demba Ba - among them, the Turkish champions had no answer.

An early goal was followed by deep, organised defence and swift counter attacks. United beware, for Copenhagen are experts in the rope-a-dope.

Since a 4-1 defeat by Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in February 2018, the undisputed experts in the technique, the Danes have played 31 matches - including qualifiers - in the Europa League and Champions League and have not lost by more than a goal.

One perfect example of them implementing the tactic came in qualifying for last season Europa League.

The hugely impressive Atalanta, this season's Champions League surprise package, were beaten on penalties in the final qualifying round after 210 minutes of goalless action. Copenhagen allowed them 49 shots on goal - but only 14 on target.

This term, they 'shocked' Celtic by winning the away leg of their last-32 tie 3-1, scoring with their only three shots on target. When it happens over such a sustained period, the phrase 'lucky' ceases to be an accurate or fair reflection of reality.

In a one-off tie they are a big odds to qualify at 8/1, though saying that I won't be backing it.

What it does make me like is Manchester United to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at 13/8 as well as Manchester United/Under 2.5 Goals at 5/2 which is a really nice price given Copenhagen's tendency to keep things close.

I actually think Manchester United/Under 3.5 Goals at 11/10 is generous too, given that it covers us for the 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 and 3-0 scorelines. I might live to regret not plumping for that over the other two as a 3-0 United win would hardly be a shock, but I just feel there's value in expecting Copenhagen to perform far better than they're priced to.

Something else that jumps out at me considering the number of shots they seem willing to concede is Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to have 7+ shots on target between them at 7/1.

That is worth backing with small stakes given that the pair have managed an average of six between them since the restart. Granted they've not always been on target, but they have been against sides far less intent on simply sitting in and taking their chances when it comes to the opposition attackers trying their luck.

Score prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Copenhagen (Sky Bet odds: 5/1)

Best bets:

• Manchester United to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at 13/8
• Manchester United/Under 2.5 Goals at 5/2
• Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to have a combined 7+ shots on target at 7/1

Opta stats

• Manchester United and FC København have only met twice previously, playing one another in the 2006-07 Champions League group stages – the Red Devils won 3-0 at Old Trafford before losing 1-0 in Copenhagen.
• In 10 previous attempts, FC København’s only victory against English sides in European competition was against Manchester United in November 2006 (D4 L5). They have failed to score in their last four games against English opponents.
• Manchester United are looking to reach only their second European semi-final since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, doing so in 2016-17 when they went on to win the Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
• This is FC København’s first ever European quarter-final appearance, while they are the first Danish side to reach a major UEFA European quarter-final since Brøndby IF in the 1996-97 UEFA Cup. Brøndby IF are also the only Danish side to reach a major European semi-final, achieving that feat in the 1990-91 UEFA Cup.
• Manchester United’s Juan Mata has been directly involved in seven goals in his nine UEFA Europa League appearances this season (2 goals, 5 assists); in 26 matches in other competitions, Mata has been involved in just three goals for the Red Devils (1 goal, 2 assists).

Monday's other game...

Inter Milan v Bayer Leverkusen

• 2000 kick-off on BT Sport 2
• Latest odds: Home - 21/20 | Draw - 5/2 | Away - 12/5

Sky Bet Price Boosts

• Kai Havertz to score first in 90mins - now at 8/1
• Romelu Lukaku to score a header in 90mins - now at 11/1
• Lautaro Martinez to score a brace in 90mins - now at 16/1

Check out more here

Opta stats

• This will be only the third competitive meeting between Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen, after the Italian side won both clashes in the 2002-03 Champions League second group stage, 3-2 at home and 2-0 away.
• Inter have only won one of their last eight meetings with German sides in major European competition (D1 L6), while Bayer Leverkusen themselves have lost each of their last three such matches against Italian clubs.
• This is Inter’s first UEFA European quarter-final since the 2010-11 Champions League, when they lost to FC Schalke 04. Inter last reached a European semi-final in 2009-10, when they went on to win the Champions League.
• Bayer Leverkusen have reached the quarter-final stage of a major European competition for the first time since the 2007-08 UEFA Cup, while they haven’t reached a semi-final since 2001-02 when they made the final of the 2001-02 Champions League.
• Inter striker Romelu Lukaku has scored in each of his last eight appearances in the UEFA Europa League (11 goals in total), a run stretching across 2014-15 with Everton and this season. He is only the second player to score in eight consecutive appearances in the UEFA Cup/Europa League, after Alan Shearer in 2004-05; no player has ever scored in nine in a row.

Odds correct as of 944 BST on 10/8/20

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