Berlin - Manchester United cannot afford another slip-up when they host Feyenoord on Thursday in their bid to reach the knock-out stages of the Europa League.
Jose Mourinho’s team are coming off a 2-1 defeat at Fenerbahce, and will be eliminated if they lose at Old Trafford and Fenerbahce beat bottom side Zorya Luhansk at the same time.
But even if United win on Thursday they will still need to complete the job on December 8 in Luhansk in order to reach the last 32 of Europe’s second-tier event.
So far qualified are only four teams: former winners Ajax, Schalke, Zenit St Petersburg and Shakhtar Donetsk.
Thursday’s penultimate matchday in the 12 groups sees 21 teams in contention to advance. Apart from Feyenoord and Fenerbahce they include Southampton, Roma, Anderlecht and the Spanish trio of Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo and Villarreal.
Mourinho has meanwhile said that Henrikh Mkhitaryan will play on Thursday, having made just six appearances since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
United’s Italian defender Matteo Darmian believes the Europa League is an important competition this season because the winner gets direct entry into the Champions League - a task seemingly more difficult to achieve through the Premier League where the top four qualify and United currently rank sixth.
“It gives us a big opportunity to get into the Champions League which is crucial for a club like Manchester United,” Darmian said.
“But if we want to continue in the Europa League, we have to win both games, starting with Feyenoord at home.”
Fenerbahce and Feyenoord have seven points each in Group A while United are on six.
Southampton are second in Group K with seven points but face a tough task at leaders Sparta Prague, who are two points clear.
“We are almost through to the next round, but these winning points are really important for us. We have to make sure we get these points and go through to the next round,” defender Maya Yoshida said.
Also in that group and ranked last with three points are ex-champions Inter Milan, who must beat Israel’s Hapoel Be’er Sheva (four) to stay in contention.
Things look brighter for Roma who take a three-point lead in Group E into their home game with bottom side Viktoria Plzen and will qualify with a win.
Veteran Francesco Totti is sidelined with hip problems and coach Luciano Spaletti has urged the team to show character. “I think it is crucial to display character, which can be summed up as: little men have little goals, strong men have big goals,” Spalletti said.
Fiorentina are also three points clear atop Group J and, boosted by a 4-0 league win over Empoli, aim to clinch their last-32 berth with victory over Greek side PAOK.
“I hope this is the start of a positive run, beginning with the next Europa League match where we want to win and go past the group phase,” coach Paulo Sosa said.
Meanwhile, the fourth Serie A team, Sassuolo, are in a balanced Group F, tied on five points with Rapid Vienna and one behind Genk and Athletic.