Anderlecht take on Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final clash at the Stade Constant Vanden Stock on Thursday, 13 April.

Where to watch live

Kick-off is at 8:05pm BST. Live coverage of the match is available on BT Sport 2.

Overview

Anderlecht made it to the last eight of the Europa League after defeating Apoel FC 2-0 on aggregate. 1-0 victories in both legs were sufficient for the Belgium outfit to progress further in the competition.

So far, Rene Weiler's side have lost only one match in the second tier of the European competition at home and that came during Game Week 6 against Saint-Etienne. The hosts suffered a 3-2 defeat, despite taking a two-goal lead.

Anderlecht have managed to beat the Red Devils on the previous two occasions at home. Weiler will be hoping his current crop of players can make it three in a row when they face the Premier League outfit on Thursday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his 28th goal in all competitions on Sunday (9 April) and will lead the lineup against Anderlecht Getty Images

United enter this tie after a 3-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League. Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford were sufficient for their side to seal three crucial points.

In the previous round of the Europa League, United overcame FC Rostov to progress to the quarter-final of the competition. Juan Mata's 70<sup>th minute goal was sufficient for his side to seal a 2-1 victory on aggregate.

Jose Mourinho is aware of the importance of progressing further in the Europa League as it gives United another route to make it to next season's Champions League. The Red Devils will be looking for a victory, while also making sure they keep a clean sheet.

What managers say

Rene Weiler: "Lukasz Teodorczyk didn't train today, he's still in pain and is uncertain. He certainly won't be in the starting 11. Isaac is a very good player, but he still needs to become more effective in front of goal. "It's great to be able to test ourselves against a team of this leve. But we're professionals and we always want to win. Nonetheless, we're realists and we know United are favourites," Weiler told Yahoo Sports.

Jose Mourinho: "When it's mathematically very possible to finish top-four, if we play against Chelsea with a second team you would kill me. The football country would kill me. While mathematically it's possible there's no reason not to try. We have to try. With the risks you are speaking about, but we have to try. If in a certain moment of the season we have no chance to get top-four and we are still in the Europa League, then there is a reason that nobody can deny or criticise because we have to focus on the Europa League. But in this moment we don't know if we beat Anderlecht or what happens after that, and in the Premier League it's still possible so we have to go with everything we have and hope for no more injures and suspensions and hope players keep showing the character to go and go to the end. Until it's mathematically impossible, we will fight for the top-four," Mourinho was reported as saying by the Daily Mail.

Betting Odds (betfair)

  • Anderlecht: 19/5
  • Draw: 13/5
  • Manchester United: 17/20

Team News

Ander Herrera
Ander Herrera says Jose Mourinho is building a strong Manchester United Getty

Anderlecht

Possible XI: Martinez; Adjey, Kara, Spajic, Obradovic; Tielemans, Dendoncker, Stanciu; Chipciu, Thelin, Hanni.

Manchester United

Possible XI: Romero; Valencia, Bailly, Rojo, Shaw; Herrera, Fellaini; Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Martial; Ibrahimovic.