Having lost 1-0 to Manchester United twice already this season, Fulham will be hoping to make it third time lucky when they visit Old Trafford in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The Cottagers were edged out by the Reds in M16 on the opening night of the Premier League season back in August, being beaten by a Joshua Zirkzee goal, before a deflected drive from Lisandro Martinez undid them at Craven Cottage in January. Both games were tight and cagey and it would be no surprise to this weekend's fifth round tie follow a similar theme.
They last squared up to each other in the FA Cup in 2023, meeting at the quarter-final stage, and United prevailed, winning 3-1 at Old Trafford. They staged a late comeback after Aleksandar Mitrovic fired the Cottagers into a 50th-minute lead before being later sent-off.
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Fulham's matchday squad featured two former United players that day; Andreas Pereira started in midfield and Daniel James was on the bench.
Pereira had left Old Trafford ahead of the start of the 2022/23 season, joining the Cottagers in a deal worth around £10million. He signed a four-year deal in the capital, ending his 11-year stay at Old Trafford.
Despite graduating to the first-team under Louis van Gaal in August 2014, Pereira struggled to fully establish himself as a regular fixture under the Dutchman, Jose Mourinho or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He made 75 appearances in total, with 56 of them being given to him by the latter.
Granted, Pereira had a series of loan spells throughout his time at Old Trafford, spending time with Granada, Valencia, Lazio and Flamengo, but every time he looked as though he was set to become a first-team regular, the opportunity slipped through his fingers.
His best season at Old Trafford was the Covid-hit 2019/20 campaign that saw him rack up 40 appearances across all competitions. He became a trusted operator under Solskjaer that season, featuring in 25 of the club's 38 Premier League matches.
However, he was unable to build on what felt like a long-awaited breakthrough and was sent out on loan for the 2020/21 campaign, moving to Italy to join Lazio. He made 33 appearances for the Serie A outfit before returning to his native Brazil and joining Flamengo on loan for the duration of the following campaign.
He had a productive spell in Brazil, contributing eight goals and three assists, meaning he had put himself in the shop window ahead of the 2022 summer transfer window. He had a year left on his contract and it felt like a suitable juncture for him and United to go their separate ways on a permanent basis.
Fulham came calling for his signature and got a deal done, providing the midfielder, who will be remembered by most United fans for the stunning goal he scored in a pre-season friendly against Brentford at Old Trafford in July 2021, with an opportunity to put down some roots after regularly being sent out on loan in previous seasons.
His move to Craven Cottage immediately paid off, with Fulham boss Marco Silva quickly making him a regular starter. He ended his first season on the banks of the Thames by making 33 Premier League appearances, scoring four goals and claiming six assists.
He built on that tally last season, featuring in 37 of the Londoners' 38 league matches, helping them achieve a 13th-placed finish. He admitted ahead of the start of this season that leaving Old Trafford for Craven Cottage was the "best decision" he has made in his career.
"I think it was the best decision I made in my life," Pereira told The Standard. "To come to live and play here, to enjoy my football, to get back into the national team with great players, to enjoy my football in the Premier League, leaving is the best decision I made.
"The time I was there, I really enjoyed being at a fantastic club. But I don't regret leaving. We [the players in my situation] have this desire to show it was wrong that we didn't play."
Since joining Fulham, Pereira has also resurrected his career on the international stage, earning eight of his nine senior caps for Brazil since trading Old Trafford for Craven Cottage.
As a result of his career taking significant strides forward since exiting Old Trafford, Pereira insists he owes a great deal of credit to Fulham boss Silva, admitting: "He is responsible for everything that is happening in the club. He is responsible for me coming to Fulham.
"I will always be grateful for everything he has done for me. I have to show the trust he has in me by keeping doing what I am doing. He’s been, for sure, the most important piece of our team."
The midfielder, who has been linked with moves away from Fulham at various stages since joining the club, has been in and out of the starting XI in recent weeks. He made his first Premier League start since mid-January in Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Wolves at Molineux.
He will no doubt be hoping to retain his starting berth for the trip to Old Trafford in an attempt to come back and haunt his former club, who, judging by his admission last August, he felt never gave him a meaningful opportunity to prove his worth. He has faced United six times since leaving almost three years ago and only once has he come out on top.
However, he will be hoping to double his win rate against them this weekend. And that outcome would, of course, spell the end of any hopes United have of salvaging something from their domestic campaign.
