Valencia vs Man Utd Preview | Latest Team News | Expected Line-Ups | Prediction

Manchester United take on Valencia in Spain this evening knowing progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League has already been assured.

The Red Devils secured qualification to the last 16 with a dramatic 1-0 win over Young Boys at Old Trafford two weeks ago with Marouane Fellaini the hero after scoring the winner in injury time.

The win has left Man Utd sitting second in Group H – five points clear of Valencia and two adrift of Juventus – so United are guaranteed second position and need Young Boys to do them a favour in Switzerland tonight if they’re to snatch top spot.

Jose Mourinho seems to have settled for the runners-up position as he’s confirmed he’ll make plenty of changes to his starting eleven this evening with his key men rested ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.

Team news

Mourinho has confirmed he will hand a recall to Paul Pogba after he was dropped for United’s last two games while Andreas Pereira is also set for a rare run-out in midfield.

Anthony Martial misses out once again with a hamstring injury while Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling, David De Gea, Nemanja Matic, Diogo Dalot and Matteo Darmian haven’t made the trip to Spain.

Victor Lindelof remains unavailable due to injury while Alexis Sanchez is also working his way back to full fitness from a hamstring problem.

Goalkeeper Sergio Romero is set to start while Eric Bailly and Antonio Valencia are among those pushing for recalls. Youngster James Garner will be in the squad while Mason Greenwood will be the 19th man.

Valencia are expected to be without former Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista after he picked up a knock at the weekend while Jeison Murillo and Kevin Gameiro are also set to miss out.

Expected line-ups

Valencia XI: Neto; Wass, Garay, Diakhaby, Gaya; Soler, Kondogbia, Parejo, Guedes; Batshuayi, Moreno

Predicted score

Valencia 1-1 Man Utd: United haven’t lost to Valencia in any of their previous eight meetings but five of the last six games between the two sides have ended in a draw – including the reverse fixture at Old Trafford. This won’t be an easy game for a weakened Man Utd team so I’m going to back a 1-1 draw.