Manchester United are looking to give themselves a Champions League fallback for next season, in case they don’t finish this season in the Premier League’s top four. That Plan B for Jose Mourinho and his men is to win the Europa League.
Their next obstacle in Europe’s second-tier competition will be 33-time Belgian First Division winners, RSC Anderlecht.
The Purple and Whites, managed by Rene Weiler, are currently top of their domestic league and will prove a stubborn test for the Red Devils in their two-legged quarter-final… but what exactly can we expect from them?
Formation
4-3-3, 4-5-1 or 4-1-4-1
Anderlecht are a fluid side and often switch between formations during their matches. They predominantly play five midfielders, with Lukasz Teodorczyk deployed as a lone striker, which he is certainly most suited to.
With Leander Dendoncker their anchor in front of the back four and Youri Tielemans capable of playing behind the striker or in a box to box role, they have the foundations for all three of the above formations.
In a 4-5-1, Tielemans and Nicolae Stanciu play on either side of Dendoncker in central midfield, with captain Sofiane Hanni and Romanian Alexandru Chipciu out wide.
Their 4-3-3 is very similar, but the wide players are much further advanced and Tielemans and Stanciu rotate in sitting deeper with Dendoncker.
In a 4-1-4-1, which we may see against United as the hosts try to keep the Red Devils from creating opportunities, Dendoncker drops in almost as a centre-back, with Tielemans playing in a box-to-box role to support Teodorczyk.
Attacking record
Anderlecht have scored 22 goals in their last eleven games in all competitions – and haven’t failed to score in a loss since August last year – with their only goalless games having come in 0-0 draws with Gent, Lokeren, Liege and Club Brugge.
They have found the back of the net 49 goals in their last 20 home games in all competitions – and average of nearly 2.5 goals per game in front of their own crowd.
Their top scorer, Lukasz Teodorczyk, has scored three times in his last ten games, and 30 times in total this season.
Defensive record
First and foremost, Anderlecht have kept clean sheets in 20 of their 48 games so far this season (41.7%).
However, they have conceded eight goals in their last ten games in all competitions – although they are more stubborn at home.
The Purple and White haven’t conceded any goals in their last five games at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, and have let their opponents find the back of the net just three times in their last ten games there.
They have lost two of the last three games they have conceded in, though – and a 1-0 away win would certainly be good enough for United to take back to Old Trafford for the second leg!
Key men
Click HERE to read our piece on who Anderlecht’s most important and/or dangerous players are.
