Just three days after a rousing win over Liverpool , Manchester
United return to Champions League action with everything still to
play for in the second leg versus Sevilla. Last month, the Reds
barely survived their trip to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan,
coming home with a 0-0 draw thanks to David De Gea’s heroics in
goal.
Performances must improve on Tuesday, as Sevilla outshot United
25-6 in the first leg. But there won’t be any margin for error since
United failed to score an away goal in Spain. Any score draw will
knock the Reds out of the Champions League.
Thankfully, visiting teams rarely find joy at Old Trafford these days.
In twenty home matches in 2017/18, United have won seventeen
with only one loss. Even better, they are rounding into form at
exactly the right time.
Since that dour day at Sevilla, United have reeled off three straight
wins and regained their footing after a choppy February. Jose
Mourinho’s men needed comebacks to beat Chelsea and Crystal
Palace , but wasted no time in grabbing control of Saturday’s match
against Liverpool.
Team News:
Paul Pogba remains a huge injury doubt after he failed a late
fitness test ahead of the Liverpool game, while Marouane
Fellaini appears to be coming back to full match fitness and
could replace Scott McTominay in the starting line-up.
Eric Bailly made his first start since November and will be
expected to lead United’s defence to safety once again in this
crucial tie. Anthony Martial is another doubt for the game and
might miss his third match in a row, joining the likes of Ander
Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Daley Blind on the
sidelines.
Vincenzo Montella’s team have already confirmed that Jesus
Navas will not be travelling to Manchester due to injury.
Gabriel Mercado is expected to cover the former Manchester
City player’s position at right back, meaning Simon Kjaer will
fill in at centre-back. It will be a makeshift defence that could
find it uneasy at Old Trafford.
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