Newcastle United – Manchester Utd

The home team is now much stronger than the upcoming opponents

The closer the end of the season in the English Premier League, the sharper the teams approach each confrontation. However, to a greater extent, it concerns the clubs that claim key positions in the standings or retain their place in the elite. Newcastle is a collective that has the opportunity to make a real breakthrough this season. As a first step, the Magpies won the English League Cup for the first time in history, beating the formidable championship leader Liverpool in the final. The second triumphant step for Howe's men should be to secure a place in the Champions League zone, for which a number of serious contenders are lined up, led by Chelsea and Manchester City. Manchester United have already lost all chances of securing a European place in the Premier League. The Red Devils' failed season can be brightened up by winning the Europa League, for which not only an honourable trophy, but also a ticket to the Champions League 2025/2026. Amorim's wards, of course, will not play with their sleeves up, but the match with the Magpies is scheduled between duels with Lyon for the right to play in the semi-finals of the second in status continental tournament. Bookmakers have identified the hosts as favourites for the upcoming meeting, offering odds of 1.68 on their victory. Newcastle brilliantly conducts March matches. "Magpies" before and after winning the English League Cup have won three times in a row. This allows the team to be in fifth place in the standings, ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa, claiming places in the Champions League zone. A special advantage of "forty" now is a match in reserve, but without wins in each subsequent meeting, the goal of getting a ticket to the elite European tournament will not be achieved. Manchester United in the past two rounds of the Premier League failed to score a single goal. Amorim's side lost 0-1 at Nottingham, before drawing 0-0 with City in the Mancunian derby. The current thirteenth place in the Premier League indicates that the Portuguese coach of Manchester United should focus all his resources on the Europa League, and against such a well-coordinated opponent in Newcastle, he has nothing to catch him.