Manchester United take on FC Porto in the UEFA Europa League in what is a must-win game for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Manchester United drew 1-1 against FC Twente at Old Trafford with the Red Devils being pegged back after Christian Eriksen gave Erik ten Hag’s men the lead.
The Red Devils failed to beat the lowest-ranked side in the UEFA Europa League and now travel to Portugal to face Portuguese side FC Porto.
United have a history of playing the Portuguese side in European competition. The Red Devils certainly have a mixed past against FC Porto.
During the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Old Trafford, United were regularly in the latter stages of the UEFA Champions League and this year was no different.
The Red Devils were the holders of the UEFA Champions League, after United beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow, and faced the Portuguese side in the quarter-final.
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg, United picked up a 1-0 victory over Porto thanks to a world-class Cristiano Ronaldo goal. The Red Devils defended well and got over the line.
Prior to the 1-0 victory over Porto, United played the Portuguese side at Old Trafford and this was a time when away goals were still vital in European competitions.
Cristian Rodriguez struck first for Porto after a mistake from Jonny Evans and then Wayne Rooney equalised.
It looked to be another dramatic Champions League victory when Carlos Tevez scored late on before substitute Mariano Gonzalez scored late on.
The away goal for Porto meant United had to win the game against the Portuguese side and they did just that thanks to Ronaldo.
This was the match that seemed to fire Jose Mourinho into the managerial stratosphere with a late goal from Costinha knocking the Red Devils out.
Paul Scholes had given United the lead in the first half and the Red Devils were winning on aggregate but a mistake from Fabian Barthez allowed the Portuguese side to win.
Mourinho charged down the touchline and United were out of the Champions League and Porto went on to win the competition.
The 1-1 draw in the second leg at Old Trafford proved to be the killer blow but it was the 2-1 defeat at the Estadio De Dragao stadium that proved to be decisive.
Quinton Fortune had given United the lead in Portugal before two goals from Benni McCarthy, who was Erik ten Hag’s assistant at Old Trafford, swung the tie in the Portuguese sides favour.
United captain Roy Keane was sent off with just three minutes of the game to play and Mourinho’s side won that game and would go on to lift the UEFA Champions League.
Whilst this match did not live up to the goalscoring hype of previous meetings, this 4-0 aggregate victory over Porto in the first leg may well have been one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s finest victories in the competition to date.
Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole scored against the Portuguese side and the second leg was a consolidation of this dominant lead.
United would go on to lose 2-0 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund but that victory over FC Porto was an important one for the side.
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