Man Utd vs. Roma: Tempting 9/4 Bruno Fernandes price worth backing in Champions League clash

Manchester United host Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, needing a result, with Michael Carrick under pressure after going nine games without a victory across all competitions.

The Red Devils suffered a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday, leaving them 17th in the Premier League table, while their European form has been no better, having been thrashed 4-1 by Como last time out and winning just two of their last 12 Champions League matches.

Roma, by contrast, arrive in good form, unbeaten in Serie A this season and fresh from a 5-2 victory over Udinese. However, they have never won an away match in the Champions League proper against an English club.

With United desperate to get their season back on track, captain Bruno Fernandes will be expected to lead the response. One betting angle worth considering is backing the midfielder to register at least two shots on target at 9/4 (3.25) with bet365.

Man Utd vs. Roma: Bruno Fernandes shoots often enough to make this a bet worth backing

Fernandes is expected to start against Roma after returning to the starting lineup at Chelsea, and his willingness to shoot could make this an interesting selection.

The 32-year-old has attempted 25 shots in eight Premier League appearances this season, averaging 3.1 per 90 minutes, with 13 of those efforts coming from outside the box. Six have been on target, giving him an accuracy of 24%, so he will need to be more precise than usual to land this bet.

The Portuguese midfielder's Champions League numbers offer some encouragement, having registered seven shots in three starts, at an average of around 2.7 per 90 minutes. Three of those efforts have tested the goalkeeper, giving him a 43% accuracy rate, while he also found the net in the 4-0 win over Sabah on matchday one.

Across all competitions, Fernandes has taken 33 shots in 12 appearances this season, with nine on target. Two shots on target is still a demanding target, but his willingness to shoot gives him a route to making the selection pay, particularly at odds of 9/4 (3.25).

Man Utd vs. Roma: Bruno Fernandes has happy memories against the Italians

Fernandes also has good memories of facing Roma, having scored twice in Manchester United's 6-2 victory in the first leg of their 2021 Europa League semi-final at Old Trafford. He was directly involved in five goals across the two legs of that tie.

Old Trafford could also provide a welcome change of scenery for a United side that have struggled on their travels, with the Red Devils unbeaten in eight home European matches and having scored at least four goals in each of their last four.

Roma's defensive record away from home in the Champions League offers further encouragement, as they have conceded in each of their last 32 away matches in the competition’s main stage, giving Fernandes and his teammates reason to expect opportunities.

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