CHRIS SUTTON: Three battles to watch out for in Europa League final

CHRIS SUTTON: From Bruno Fernandes vs Etienne Capoue to Edinson Cavani vs Pau Torres… Three key battles to watch out for in Manchester United’s Europa League final with Villarreal

  • Manchester United and Villarreal go head-to-head in the Europa League final
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will attempt to deliver his first trophy as the United boss
  • Emery may be the first boss to win the competition or UEFA Cup for fourth time
  • However, there are plenty of battles on the pitch to watch out for on Wednesday 

Manchester United and Villarreal are set to go head-to-head in the Europa League final on Wednesday night. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will attempt to deliver his first trophy as the Manchester United boss, while Unai Emery will look to become the first manager to win the Europa League or UEFA Cup for the fourth time.

With both teams eager to get their hands on the silverware, there are several battles on the pitch to watch out for. 

From Bruno Fernandes vs Etienne Capoue to Edinson Cavani vs Pau Torres, Sportsmail‘s Chris Sutton has identified those to look out for.  

Man United and Villarreal are set to go head-to-head in the Europa League final on Wednesday 

A few Premier League clubs are looking at this 24-year-old centre back who was deservedly called up to Luis Enrique’s Spain squad for Euro 2020. 

Well, let’s see how he fares against an experienced goalscorer in Cavani in this Europa League showdown. 

The Manchester United striker’s movement is positively elite, so Torres will have to keep a constant eye on his opponent. Lose him, even for a split-second, and Cavani can punish you. 

He’s been in potent form for United at the back end of this season, with nine goals in his last 10 games. 


Villarreal’s 24-year-old centre back will face Manchester United goalscorer Edinson Cavani

ERIC BAILLY v GERARD MORENO  

To give you an idea of how deadly Moreno is, only Lionel Messi scored more goals than this 29-year-old in La Liga throughout the 2020-21 season (Messi 27, Moreno and Karim Benzema both 23).

He’ll get on the ball, he’ll dribble with it and, when within a reasonable sight of goal, he’ll have a go. 

Harry Maguire has missed the last four matches through an ankle injury, and is unlikely to make the final. 

Bailly is expected to start in his absence and this is going to be a massive test for the 27-year-old who left Villarreal for United for £30million in 2016.


Eric Bailly will be forced to defend Moreno – who almost matched Messi’s tally for the season

BRUNO FERNANDES v ETIENNE CAPOUE 

There’s been a lot of talk about the number of players who leave Tottenham and win trophies – and Capoue could become the latest to achieve that. 

The 32-year-old Frenchman started this season in the Championship with Watford. Now he will be in that Villarreal midfield, nipping at heels and trying to stop this from becoming a Bruno bonanza. 

Fernandes is the main man in this United team. We all know what he can do if given the chance. It will be the job of Capoue to try to limit the damage he can do. 


Bruno Fernandes is the main man for Manchester United but could be kept at bay by Capoue




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