Brighton & Hove Albion vs Manchester United: Match Preview

The Premier League is in full swing as we head into the second round of fixtures. Brighton & Hove Albion will host Manchester United at the American Express Stadium on the 24th of August 2024, with both teams eager to build on their opening weekend victories. This early kick-off promises to be an exciting contest as both sides aim to maintain their 100% start to the season.

Date: 24/08/2024
Location: The American Express Stadium
Kick-Off: 12:30 pm

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Brighton & Hove Albion enter this fixture with a wave of optimism after a strong start to the season. Under the guidance of their new manager, Fabian Hurzeler, the Seagulls secured an impressive 3-0 win away at Everton in their opening match. Hurzeler, who joined from FC St. Pauli, has already made his mark with an attacking brand of football.

In their win against Everton, Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring with a well-taken goal, following some dazzling footwork from the newly signed Yankuba Minteh, who joined from Newcastle United. Danny Welbeck, a former Manchester United player, added a second before Simon Adingra sealed the victory.

Brighton finished 9th in home form last season, collecting 30 points from 57 available at the American Express Stadium. They have been strong defensively, with three clean sheets in their last five league games, and have been the first to score in all five of those matches.

Manchester United’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Manchester United also began their season on a positive note, edging out Fulham 1-0 in a hard-fought contest. The Red Devils, under the new ownership of INEOS, have started the season with renewed ambition. Their first competitive outing saw them narrowly lose to Manchester City in the Community Shield via a penalty shootout, but they bounced back against Fulham.

In that match, Joshua Zirkzee, who came on as a substitute, scored the game’s only goal, endearing himself to the United faithful. Erik ten Hag’s side also saw debuts for Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, with the latter delivering a solid performance at right-back.

Last season, Manchester United ranked 6th in away form in the Premier League, securing 27 points from 57 available. However, their recent away form has been inconsistent, with just two wins in their last five league matches on the road.

Team News

Brighton & Hove Albion Team News: James Milner picked up a yellow card in Brighton’s opening game against Everton. Manager Fabian Hurzeler is expected to stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, which has already proven effective.

Predicted Lineup: Steele; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Hinshelwood; Milner, Wieffer; Minteh, Pedro, Mitoma; Welbeck.

Manchester United Team News: Harry Maguire and Mason Mount were both cautioned in United’s win over Fulham. Joshua Zirkzee, who scored the winning goal, may be rewarded with a start. Alejandro Garnacho has only recently returned from international duty with Argentina and could feature off the bench.

Predicted Lineup: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martínez, Dalot; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad Diallo, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.

Recent Form and Head-to-Head

Brighton have been in excellent form, winning their last five matches, including their dominant victory over Everton. The Seagulls have been particularly strong at home and have taken the lead in the first half in four of their last five league games. Historically, Brighton have won three of the last four meetings against Manchester United, although United kept a clean sheet in their most recent encounter.

Manchester United, on the other hand, have had a mixed run of results, with two wins in their last five games. However, they have only lost once in their last five competitive matches, excluding the Community Shield loss on penalties. United have generally had a slight edge in this fixture, winning four of the last six encounters at the American Express Stadium, but they also suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Brighton in one of those matches.

Prediction and Betting Tips

This fixture is shaping up to be a tightly contested affair. Brighton, with their attacking prowess and strong home record, are likely to pose a significant challenge to Manchester United. However, Manchester United’s quality and recent additions to their squad could see them edge out a narrow victory.

Predicted Score: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Manchester United