“This is the big one”
…as we quite often say. But this one really is.
Manchester United travel to Copenhagen for a Champions League showdown on Wednesday night. Realistically – the losing team will be dumped from the competition
United shouldn’t have gotten themselves into this position. A mistake-ridden away defeat at Bayern was followed up with a calamitous collapse at home to Galatasary. It was only Andre Onana’s last minute heroics against Copenhagen at Old Trafford that kept the Reds in the competition.
The Danes will take confidence from that performance and will be out for revenge.
Do or die – Champions League survival hangs in the balance
There are “must-win” games and real must-win games, where defeat would be absolutely catastrophic.
This is one of the latter.
There’s no avoiding the noise around Erik ten Hag, the man who probably has the most difficult job in world football. Some shocking performances and defeats have pushed the manager close to the precipice, but United have snatched some results recently to keep some hope of a decent season alive
A good performance is always nice, but this an away game at a relatively small, tight stadium with a hostile opponent for fighting their lives – United really just need to find a way to get over the line, grinding out a 1-0 win would be more than welcome.
Jay Motty and Joe Smith preview this crucial game
Team news
Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez are all still absent for the Red Devils. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Varane should be fit to start but Casemiro has picked up knock. It has been over two months since Jadon Sancho has been excluded from the first team squad.
Antony was poor against Fulham and we don’t think Erik ten Hag should start him for this crucial game.
MANCHESTER UNITED PREDICTED LINEUP
Onana;
Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Reguilon;
McTominay, Amrabat, Fernandes;
Mount, Hojlund, Rashford.
The Outlook – cautiously optimistic
United beat Copenhagen in their last Champions League and picked up a slim but morale-boosting win against Fulham at the weekend.
Comparing the two teams on paper; this should be an easy game for United. However, given United’s current form, the fact this game is away and the Danes are in a good run of form and good Champions League performances; we would expect it to be anything but.
PREDICTION
United are in a bad run of form but have ground out some results recently. Hopefully we play with the fight and spirit we showed against Fulham at the weened, particularly at the back, and can come out on top.
Copenhagen 0-1 Manchester United
