Manchester United will be travelling to the Parken Stadium to face off against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils will be coming into this game off the back of a crucial 1-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League. So, they will be hoping to keep their winning run in midweek.
After back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Newcastle United, pressure was high on Erik ten Hag. So, last weekend’s victory has given him some breathing space. But, the Red Devils can’t afford to think about anything less than a victory from this encounter to keep their boss out of the firing line.
Man Utd started the Champions League campaign disappointingly as they lost their first two games against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray. However, they won their previous game versus Copenhagen at Old Trafford by a slender 1-0 margin thanks to Andre Onana’s stoppage-time penalty save. So, they will have to win in this encounter to keep themselves on the right pathway to qualify for the knockout stage.
Copenhagen will be coming into this game off the back of three consecutive defeats so they will be full of confidence ahead of this encounter. The Danish champions competed brilliantly versus Bayern Munich at the Parken Stadium in their previous home game of the Champions League. So, United will have to be at their very best to earn all three points from this fixture tomorrow.
Previous meetings
Man Utd have been the dominant force against Copenhagen in the European competitions as they have managed to overcome the Danish side’s challenge on three of the last four occasions. So, they will be hoping to continue their dominance versus Copenhagen tomorrow.
How to watch
The match will kick off at 8 pm UK time and the game will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK. Match-going fans will be desperate to get hold of a ticket but they have already sold out via official club channels. However, supporters can still buy sold-out Champions League tickets from Seatsnet so it’s worth checking them out to see if you can get a last minute ticket.
Team news
Copenhagen have a long list of injury absentees at the moment as William Clem, David Khocholava and Birger Meling are all currently sidelined with their respective issues.
Mohamed Elyounoussi is in doubt ahead of this game after remaining sidelined in the previous game. But, Valdemar Lund might return after recovering from his injury.
Oscar Hojlund and Emil Hojlund, the brother of Rasmus Hojlund, will be in the matchday squad for Copenhagen for this game and it remains to be seen whether they start tomorrow.
As for Man Utd, they also have several injury problems at the moment as Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez have all been sidelined for an extended period due to their respective issues. The new addition to that list is Casemiro as the Brazilian has been ruled out for the upcoming few weeks due to a hamstring issue.
However, the good news is that Aaron Wan-Bissaka has returned from his injury and he even played the full 90 minutes in the previous game.
Kobbie Mainoo has also returned to full fitness after recovering from his injury that he picked up during the pre-season. He was among the substitutes in the last game but he hasn’t travelled with the first-team squad for this game.
Harry Maguire sustained a head injury last time out and it is going to be interesting to see whether he is deemed fit enough to start versus Copenhagen.
Victor Lindelof was absent in the last game due to illness but he is expected to be in the matchday squad for this fixture.
Marcus Rashford was sidelined in the previous game after failing a late fitness test. But, he has been pictured training with the first team squad ahead of this game and has travelled with the team. So, he is expected to be fit enough to start tomorrow.
Predicted line-up
Jacob Neestrup deploys a 4-3-3 formation and it’s expected to be the same in this game, while former Cardiff City star Andreas Cornelius could be leading the line for the Danish side.
Expected Copenhagen line-up vs Man Utd
Kamil Grabara; Peter Ankersen; Kevin Diks; Denis Vavro, Elias Jelert; Lukas Lerager, Rasmus Falk Jansen, Viktor Claesson; Jordan Larsson, Cornelius, Elias Achouri
As for United, Ten Hag is likely to continue his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation for this encounter and Onana is expected to keep hold of his place in goal for Man Utd.
Diogo Dalot could commence in the right-back position, while Sergio Reguilon could return to the opposite side. Wan-Bissaka could be given a breather having played the full game last time out as he has just returned from a hamstring issue.
Maguire could be paired up with Raphael Varane in the centre-back position, leaving Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof on the bench.
Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen should continue in the midfield, while Bruno Fernandes is expected to be in the number ten position once again.
Alejandro Garnacho could start in the left-wing position and Rashford could be on the opposite side, while Hojlund should lead the line for United in this game.
Expected Man Utd line-up vs Copenhagen
Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Reguilon; McTominay, Eriksen, Bruno; Garnacho, Hojlund, Rashford
Key players
The Danish side have been scoring goals in their domestic competition regularly. Cornelius could be the striker for Copenhagen for this game and the onus will be on him to finish off chances.
The two wingers, Achouri and Larsson would be given the responsibility of creating opportunities for the centre-forward and finish off chances if they get any.
Midfield trio, Claesson, Larsson and Lerager have been productive in front of the goal in recent times so United will have to keep a close eye on them.
As for United, Hojlund has managed to score three goals in as many games in the Champions League this season so United will be hoping that he will be able to continue his goal-scoring form in this competition tomorrow.
Rashford hasn’t been at his best this season after enjoying a career-best 30-goal season last term. But he will have to find his form as soon as possible to help his side come out of the recent slum and he will be hoping that it will happen from tomorrow.
Bruno has been the talismanic figure for the Red Devils so the responsibility will be on him to create chances for the attackers and finish off opportunities if he gets any.
Prediction
Man Utd have the quality at their disposal to beat Copenhagen in this encounter, but after a woeful start to this season, they are currently low in confidence.
So, it is going to be interesting to see how they perform tomorrow and a victory in this game will put them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stage. However, they could eventually struggle to do that and they might have to settle for a draw tomorrow. Copenhagen 1-1 Man Utd
