Fixture Analysis: April & May

We take a look at the business end of the campaign in the last part of the 2017-18 Fixture Analysis.

APRIL

7th April – Manchester City (A)
14th April – West Brom Albion (H)
21st April – Bournemouth (A)/ FA CUP Semi-Final
28th April – Arsenal (H)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Quarter Final Leg 1:3rd-4th April
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Quarter Final Leg 2: 10th-11th April
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Semi Final Leg 1: 24th-25th April

Manchester United face Manchester City and Arsenal in two crunch April fixtures. This must be huge ‘let-down’ from the 16-17 campaign where United faced 4 of the Top 5 in the last month of the campaign. The FA Cup semi-final is also scheduled for the back end of April. The Champions League also takes center stage with Quarter final ties and the First leg of the semi-finals taking place.

United could begin the month with a Champions League Quarter Final. A potentially taxing fixture on the squad right before the Manchester Derby at the Etihad.

United return to Premier League action at the Etihad Stadium on April 7th. This could potentially be a title-deciding fixture. A defeat at this stage of the campaign against a rival of this magnitude is a non-starter. Mourinho will in all likelihood settle for a draw considering the Champions League and venue but fans will be looking for bragging rights. Expect a typical Mourinho setup.

United then potentially return to Champions League action for the second leg of the Quarter Final.

Back in the Premier League, United face West Bromwich Albion at home. Nothing less than a win will be accepted that week. Manchester City face Tottenham on this matchday.

United then will either face Bournemouth on the south coast or visit Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final. With United falling just short in 2016-17, Mourinho will be hoping to win the Cup competition in the upcoming fixture.

The Champions League returns with the semi-final fixture to be played on the 24th or 25th of April.

Back in the Premier League, United face Arsenal at home. It could be a season-defining moment for both clubs. Wenger and Mourinho will renew their rivalry on the sidelines once again. Like in the case of the Derby, defeat won’t be accepted by the fans and by Mourinho.

MAY

May 5th – Brighton and Hove Albion (H)
May 13th – Watford (H)
May 19th – FA Cup
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Semi-final Leg 2 – 1st/2nd May
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Final 26th May

United will play the second leg of their Champions League campaign should they make it that far on 1st or 2nd May.

Manchester United face Brighton and Hove Albion in the penultimate Premier League fixture of the season. And with Brighton not having plans to make this the last match at their stadium, United should come away with a victory. Chelsea take on Liverpool in one of the most important Premier League matches in May 2018.

United end the season against Watford at Home on May 13th.

The FA Cup final takes place on May 19th while the footballing season in Europe ends with the Champions League Final in Kiev on May 26th.