Omonia surprised Manchester United in Nicosia.

On Thursday, Manchester United prevailed over Neil Lennon's Omonia in a match that took place in Nicosia. Despite their victory, Manchester United did not make things simple for themselves. The team captained by Erik ten Hag fell behind early but rallied to win 3-2; despite this, the opposing Cypriot team gave the Dutch team some late worries.

Therefore, for United, the performance during the return leg is just as crucial as the outcome, even though the result is important. In order for the club to have any shot at winning this competition, they will need to have an easier time beating opponents like Omonia than they did previously.

Who exactly are some of the players that United needs to keep an eye on? On Thursday night, Omonia will be playing at Old Trafford, and Manchester United needs to be aware of three things before the match:

Karim Ansarifard

The 32-year-old Ansarifard may not be a household name in Cyprus given that he only joined Omonia in the summer, but after scoring the opening goal in the match against Nicosia in the first leg of the series, he will be revered by the fans for many years to come. After the striker put the ball in the back of the net, the crowd erupted in celebration all throughout the stadium, and the noise did not stop for the majority of the game.

Brandon Barker

Barker began his professional career as a youth player for Manchester City, and there is nothing that would make him happier than to score against the team that used to be his team's biggest rival. Barker, who is now 25 years old, has played in the lower leagues of football in both England and Scotland. He has also played professionally in the Netherlands for NAC Breda.

Barker joined Omonia in the summer as a free agent and has already contributed to the Cypriot club by scoring one goal for them. When United played him in the first match, he took the field as a midfielder, and his high level of energy made things difficult for Ten Hag's midfield.

Adam Lang

Since joining Omonia in 2019 from CFR Cluj, the Hungarian central defender has established himself as a rock in the club's defensive unit. He has represented Cyprus in more than 100 matches across all competitions during his career.

Since making his debut for Hungary in 2014, Lang has appeared in 51 matches for the national team, making him an experienced veteran on the international stage as well. In the first game, which took place in Cyprus, he was assigned to play on the left side of a back three; therefore, he will be hoping for a better performance at Old Trafford.