For many, 2020 has been an annus horribilis and LASK for one will want to push the first half of the year to the back of their mind as soon as possible and move on. They were going well in the Bundesliga and in contention for their first silverware in 55 years , with a chance to win the double and were also in the knockout stages of the Europa League, since when, it has all unravelled. They lost in the semi finals of the domestic cup, 5-0 at home to United in the first leg of this R16 game, COVID came, they were docked 12 points for breaking virus restrictions and they ended the season with three straight defeats, conceding 7 goals ! They finished fourth in the Championship round and the "reward" for that is a place in the 3rd qualifying round of this competition which will take place at the end of next month. Their own domestic campaign starts in 37 days and instead of being on their break like everyone else, they have this un-winnable tie hanging over them. Their players will get to visit and play at famous Old Trafford , but they have not played in a month, need to restart in five weeks and are at a huge disadvantage, they did get 17 days off I think it was and returned to training two weeks ago. I know these are not normal times, but two weeks into a standard pre season would be just about the worst time to play a competitive game.

 

The Reds do not need to win of course, but are in good form and will have a quarter final game in five days time in Cologne against either Basaksehir or FCK and will want to take the momentum into that and this is a real opportunity to win an international title and their second Europa League. They finished third in the PL, up from 8th at the halfway stage of the campaign, collecting "only" 6 and 5 points respectively less than the top two over the final 19 games when they averaged exactly 2.0 points per game. United to ease home comfortably.