Man Utd Match Centre
Man Utd vs Astana preview | Utd dealt injury blows | Expected line-up | Prediction
This is our match preview ahead of Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Astana at Old Trafford including team news and line-up.
Manchester United kick off their Europa League group stage campaign against Astana at Old Trafford tonight.
United had to settle for Europa League football after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will know it’s another realistic route back to the Champions League if they can go all the way this year.
The Manchester giants will face a fierce battle to finish in the top four so the Europa League shouldn’t be discounted and Man Utd will be confident of progressing to the knockout stages after being drawn in Group L along with Astana, AZ Alkmaar and Partizan Belgrade.
They’ll begin their campaign against Kazakhstan minnows Astana this evening and Solskjaer will be looking to build on Saturday’s win over Leicester – which was their first victory in four matches.
Team news
Manchester United will be without Paul Pogba tonight as he’s still nursing an ankle injury that’s kept him out of action recently while Anthony Martial is also out with an on-going thigh problem.
Luke Shaw will sit this one out as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury while Daniel James is also expected to miss out after picking up a knock against Leicester at the weekend.
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However, Jesse Lingard is back in contention after recovering from illness while Diogo Dalot is set to feature for the first time this season after overcoming a niggling hip injury.
Solskjaer has confirmed Mason Greenwood will start against Astana along with Fred and Axel Tuanzebe while Sergio Romero will replace David De Gea in goal.
The Man Utd boss is set to make a number of changes with Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Angel Gomes also pushing for recalls with the likes of Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Scott McTominay rested.
Expected line-up
Prediction
Man Utd 2-0 Astana: United are unbeaten in their last 11 Europa League games since winning the tournament in 2017 and they should extend that impressive record this evening against a limited Astana side. The Kazakhstan champions will probably play for a draw and try to make life difficult for United but the hosts should still have too much quality, despite playing a weakened side. I’m backing United to win 2-0 this evening.
