European nights at Old Trafford are often special, they carry a Manchester United magic and boy could Erik ten Hag's side could do with some stardust when Real Betis come to town on Thursday, given their weekend thumping at Anfield.
Sunday's 7-0 defeat to Liverpool equalled the heaviest defeat in the United's 145 years of existence. But it's not the first time United have lost a pivotal Premier League match right before a big European occasion at Old Trafford. And while it is the Europa League this time around, rather than the continent's top table, the competition represents a real chance of silverware for ten Hag's side and the chance to right the wrongs of the Merseyside drubbing.
Casting your mind back through the club's recent history provides plenty of examples where United have bounced back from domestic damage to produce European enchantment. Every April 29th for the past 15 years, Paul Scholes' stunning strike against Barcelona resurfaces across social media to mark the latest anniversary of the great goal which sent United through to the 2008 Champions League final, where Chelsea were beaten in Moscow.
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But three days before Scholes scored that stunner, it was Avram Grant's side celebrating instead of Sir Alex Ferguson and company. Michael Ballack scored a late penalty that blew the title race wide open. It meant the west London side moved level on points with United at the top of the table. On that occasion, United dusted themselves down and found a response.
It's a characteristic this club has shown time and again. Almost 12 months prior to the Barca contest, United suffered a shock defeat at Portsmouth in the Premier League on the eve of a crucial knockout tie against Roma in Europe. Edwin van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand were at fault for Portsmouth's goals as Harry Redknapp's side secured a victory that cut United's lead at the top.
How did they respond? They scored three goals in the space of nine first-half minutes against Roma on route to a 7-1 win and a place in the quarter finals of the Champions League. That after trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Italy.
There were similar circumstances four years later. Aaron Ramsey scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal beat United 1-0 to dent title aspirations and open the door for a potential Chelsea challenge. Yet Ferguson's men breezed to a 4-1 victory over German side Schalke to reach the Champions League final again. For good measure they defeated Chelsea the following weekend to all but secure the title.
Indeed in all three of those examples United ended the campaign as league champions. While that is beyond this group, the ability to recover from a damaging domestic defeat with a rousing European performance is one they are capable of emulating.
Winning the Europa League is an attainable target, just as the Carabao Cup was. Beating Real Betis at Old Trafford on Thursday would be the first step towards redemption after the Anfield atrocity.
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