Manchester United predicted XI vs FCSB as Rúben Amorim fulfils one star’s “destiny” (Europa League)

Rúben Amorim is predicted to make three changes as Manchester United line up to face FCSB in their final Europa League tie of the competition’s league phase.

Manchester United will round off their Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday evening as they travel to Romania to face FCSB.

After a sluggish start with three consecutive draws, United have hit their stride, winning four games on the bounce. This surge has propelled them from 21st to 4th in the standings, with Rúben Amorim eyeing the competition as a chance to claim his first silverware at the club.

Their most recent European victory came against Rangers, followed by a narrow 1-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League. With four wins from six matches in 2025, they are gaining momentum, but FCSB will present a tough challenge.

The Romanian side currently sit 8th in the standings and must win to guarantee automatic progression to the knockout rounds.

Meanwhile, teams finishing between 9th and 24th will need to battle through a two-legged play-off, while the bottom eight will be eliminated from the competition.

Amorim predicted to make three changes

As stated above, United’s trip to Bucharest is no small challenge, with the club needing to make sure to seal a top-eight finish against a side looking to leapfrog them, sitting just one point behind.

Although Altay Bayındır has had a few opportunities in goal, he is still very much the second choice behind André Onana, and it’s hard to believe that Amorim would choose to swap Onana out of goal in such a crucial game.

With Leny Yoro conducting the pre-match press conference alongside Amorim, this hints that the Frenchman is set to return to the starting XI after being benched against Fulham, and would probably replace Matthijs de Ligt on the right hand side, with trusted centre-backs Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez continuing.

As for the wing-backs, although Amad has played well on the right, he will likely start further forward, meaning Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot will continue in the position. However, the signing of Patrick Dorgu on the left is due to have an effect on this duo going forward.

In midfield, Bruno Fernandes has often played deeper when the club are favourites for the game and could start alongside Manuel Ugarte on Thursday evening.

An attack is when the selection becomes interesting. Amad will likely start as the right-sided attacking midfielder, and Amorim may choose to put Kobbie Mainoo on the left, with some fans feeling it’s his “destiny” to play a more forward role.

Mainoo has played just 25 minutes across the last two games while Alejandro Garnacho has started both, meaning Amorim may choose to rest the Argentina international and trial Mainoo in his place after a great cameo in the position against Fulham.

Up front, it was pretty unanimously decided that Rasmus Højlund had a “nightmare” performance against Fulham, and will likely be replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.

United predicted line-up vs FCSB

Onana, Yoro, Maguire, Martínez, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dalot, Amad, Mainoo, Zirkzee.

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