The Europa League round of 32 kicks off tomorrow with a current Super Eagles star and a former Nigeria international set to clash. Club Brugge host Manchester United at Jan Breydel Stadium in the first leg of their Europa League clash on Thursday night.
Blauw-Zwart have Emmanuel Dennis in their ranks, and he could come up against Odion Ighalo who will hope to make his first start for the Red Devils.
Ighalo joined Manchester United from Shanghai Shenhua in a deal that keeps him at Old Trafford till the end of the season.
The former Nigeria international made history in United’s win over Chelsea on Monday night. He was brought on in the closing stages of the win against the Blues, but he will be hoping to earn his first start when United travel to Belgium.
United who finished top of their group are the slight favourites going into the game, but Brugge have shown this season, they are not afraid of playing the biggest teams in the world.
The Belgian side almost stunned Real Madrid in the group stages of the Champions League last September. A first-half brace from Emmanuel Dennis silenced the Bernabeu crowd, but Madrid managed to salvage a draw thanks to goals from Sergio Ramos and Casemiro.
Dennis is expected to lead the line again for Brugge. The 22-year-old has scored eight times for Philippe Clement’s men this season, although his last goal came in December.
Meanwhile, Ighalo will hope to get firing for United if he is handed a start by United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
it will be great to see ighalo starting for man u and denis and okereke starting against man u. i hope to at least see two of them geting involved in tonight’s game. things like this will make the SE tick.