In the first instance, United would’ve looked upon this game as an opportunity to extract a modicum of revenge for the Europa League final. But defeat in Bern has turned what looked like a friendly group into a difficult one: Young Boys now have a foothold, while Villarreal and Atalanta are no kinds of mug whatsoever. With each team playing five times, nothing will be settled tonight, but a win for United and they take back control; fail so to do and they’ve got a problem.
Champions League / Group Stage
Old Trafford / 29.09.2021
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/match/football-header-bg-mobile.jpg)
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4080.png){kind=logo}
/images.sports.gracenote.com/images/lib/basic/sport/football/club/logo/300/4139.png){kind=logo}
- A. Telles(60')
- Cristiano Ronaldo(90+5')
- P. Alcácer(53')
Live
Live Updates
:focal(136x152:138x150)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/11/13/1731704-36632322-310-310.png)
Updated 29/09/2021 at 20:59 GMT
19:37
I said earlier that I hope Sancho is on the right because United need to stretch teams down that side. At the moment, opponents know they can ignore that flank because the majority of United's offensives come down the left. And they also know that Mason Greenwood wants to attack the box so the full-back can pass him on to the centre-backs, but with Sancho, there's the threat he might go on the outside.
19:37
Or not, another crash. But we should be ok from here.
19:34
Apologies, my system crashed, but we back in the game now.
19:18
As I mentioned earlier, Villlarreal are without key players. Moreno, who scored in Gdansk, is a huge miss, likewise Coquelin, their spoiler-in-chief. But Parejo is such a clever schemer and Alcacer knows where the goal is - my guess is he looks to play on Lindelof and assert himself physically.
19:15
My guess is Villarreal keep it cagey. They know United will offer them chances to counter and will back themselves to be solid in the meantime; on top of that, United really need a win whereas a draw is absolutely fine for them.
19:13
19:09
I'm pleased United have left Fred out. He's far too careless in possession, and it what's likely to be a slow game, they need as many lockpickers as possible. Pogba in midfield makes sense, because they don't want him on the left instead of an attacker with pace. McTominay should be fit enough and strong enough to cover for him and Bruno, but both all three will need to put in a shift.
19:09
19:08
19:07
Villarrreal have had a very Villarrreal start to the season, winning one and drawing five of their first six games, scoring six and conceding three. At the weekend, they drew 0-0 with Real Madrid - they're no Sherif - but are without Coquelin, Moreno and Groeneveld tonight. Trigueros and Danjuma come in.
19:04
United are without Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, who are injured and ill respectively; Victor Lindelof and Alex Telles come in. Otherwise, Fred takes a rest with Paul Pogba moving off the left and into midfield, so that Jadon Sancho can start; I imagine he'll be off the left but I'd like to see him go from the right.
19:02
19:02
19:00
Let's have some teams!