Manchester United versus Galatasaray LIVE: crucial clash in Champions League Group A

United switch it up a bit, and Onana tries to rake a long pass down to Fernandes on the right wing. Angelino gets across though, and puts it out for a throw.

Akturkoglu charges down a cross by Mejbri, and hares away into the United half. Icardi is ahead of him and tries a decoy run to open up space, but Akturkoglu overruns it on the edge of the area and Varane clears.

Amrabat finds himself advanced to the left of the Galatasaray area. He curls a long, looping cross to the edge of the area, but it's cleared.

They're fizzing it about nicely enough so far, and work Fernandes into space on the right of the area. He tries a rabona cross, which lands softly at the feet of Hojlund, who is swiftly dispossessed.

This is superb from Hojlund, who skins Boey down the left and fires a low cross through the box. Fernandes is free, near the penalty spot, but mistimes his finish and doesn't connect with the side of his right foot.

We're underway at Old Trafford. Your referee tonight is Ivan Kruzliak.

We've got teams in tunnels, and we're ready to go.

FC Copenhagen are hosting Bayern Munich in the other game in this group, and we'll keep you up to speed.

I'd be surprised if anyone who works in a frenetic environment, with swift communication required between multiple sources and at the mercy of technology, didn't have a bit of sympathy for those involved. That's just me though, I gather that scores of other opinions are available.

Here's Scholesy and Rio in conversation again, this time with the United boss.

Elsewhere tonight, that audio has been released. Here's Scholesy and Rio with their take on the VAR controversy from Saturday.

PREVIOUSLY ON THE HIT SHOW CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP A

Here's the aforementioned 4-3 defeat for United in Munich.

These two have met six times previously, with United 2-1 up in wins and with three draws. It was almost 30 years ago that United were dumped out of the European Cup in the infamous Welcome to Hell match; what's often forgotten is that their away goals victory was teed up by a goal heavy draw at Old Trafford where Galatasaray recovered from two goals down to stun Alex Ferguson's team and draw 3-3.

Both teams were involved in thrillers in the first round. Galatasaray pilfered a dramatic draw with two late goals against FC Copenhagen, while United landed butter side down in a seven goal brouhaha with Bayern Munich.

By dint of that, these are the bottom two teams in the group. We're only one game in so no one will be walloping the panic button, but there'll be anxieties for the rest of the campaign if either team loses this. And make no mistake, Galatasaray will fancy this; they're in form, and an under strength United aren't. This should be lively.

It's a first European start tonight for Hannibal Mejbri, who comes into midfield alongside Casemiro and Mason Mount. Bruno Fernandes looks likely to be on the right of a front three, with Sofyan Amrabat continuing as an emergency left back.

Galatasaray's squad has plenty of Premier League experience, and there's a first start in the Champions League for Wilfried Zaha, once of this parish.

Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat; Casemiro, Mount, Mejbri; Fernandes, Hojlund, Rashford

SUBS: Bayindir, Maguire, Martial, Eriksen, Garnacho, Antony, Pellistri, Evans, McTominay, Vitek

Galatasaray: Muslera; Boey, Sanchez, Bardakci, Angelino; Torreira, Ayhan; Tete, Akturkoglu, Zaha; Icardi

SUBS: Demirbay, Mertens, Guvenc, Nelsson, Oliveira, Yilmaz, Ndombele, Bakambu

There’s both the history, and the here and now putting the heat under this one. Manchester United and Galatasaray have clashed memorably in the past, and both are in need of a result tonight. Erik ten Hag’s side have lost four of their first seven games this season, and are right under it; the visitors Galatasaray are unbeaten n 14 in 2023-24, but could only scramble a very late draw at home to FC Copenhagen in their first game in Group A.

Plenty on it then, teams to come shortly.