With another three Premier League points in the bag, cup competitions now take priority, as United host PSG in a tie that has been turned on its head since its conception.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s romantic memories of this European competition will no-doubt mentioned a few times; whereas Thomas Tuchel has not been so lucky.
The Champions League is back, with two powerhouses set to take the stage under the floodlights at the Threatre of Dreams. Cue the music.
Kick-off: 20:00 [GMT]
Venue: Old Trafford
Referee: Daniele Orsato
UK television channel: BT Sport 2
PSG
Group position: 1st
Recent form: WWLWW
Top scorer: Kylian Mbappé [18]
Most assists: Ángel Di Maria [8]
One to watch: Julian Draxler
Previous result: PSG 1-0 Bordeaux
Talking points
Although playmaker Marco Veratti has overcome injury, PSG will be without three key players for this leg – as Neymar will also miss the tie at the Parc de Princes (Wednesday 6th March, over three weeks away).
Tuchel has struggled to be positive, calming that his side are now on ‘Plan D’.
Opting for a 4-4-2 at the weekend, Tuchel’s regular 3-5-2 may be scrapped due to a lack of attacking options.
Dani Alves has featured in midfield this year, possibly being deployed as a winger ahead of young German by-trade centre back Thilo Kehrer.
Ángel Di Maria will return to Old Trafford for the first time since departing for France, and the Argentine is set to receive a rough reception.
Teenage sensation Kylie Mbappé has lit up Ligue 1 yet again this season but scored at Anfield earlier in the campaign.
Kehrer and Veratti are one yellow card away from suspension.
Leandro Paredes could make his Champions League debut for the Paris side after being signed last month for an estimated £34.9m.
VAR will also be used for the first time in the competition’s history to resolve ‘clear and obvious’ errors.
Injuries/suspensions (estimated return)
- Édison Cavani – thigh (one week)
- Lassana Diarra – knee (day to day)
- Thomas Meunier – concussion (two weeks)
- Neymar – metatarsal (seven weeks)
Expected lineup
(4-2-3-1) Buffon; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Veratti, Marquinhos; Dani Alves Draxler, Di Maria; Mbappé.
Quote from the boss
“We have our identity and it’s not easy to change a team’s identity. I don’t know if now’s the right time, and we play offensive football. It’s in our DNA. That’s how we play. I imagine #mufc will be bold and we will have to be at our top level.” – Thomas Tuchel
Next match: AS Saint-Étienne [A] 17/2/19
The Red Devils
Talking points
Things went just about as well as possible for United at Craven Cottage at the weekend as they returned to the top four, brushing aside Fulham with ease thanks to Paul Pogba’s strikes sandwiching a magnificent Anthony Martial goal.
This affair marks the first of three imperative games for the reds as they bid to maintain their momentum in three different competitions over the next 12 days.
Victor Lindelöf was left at home on Saturday and was rumoured to have had a knock but the ‘Iceman’ trained on Monday.
Speaking to The Guardian about his reaction to the Round of 16 draw back in December, Solskjær said: “I thought ‘Wow, what a challenge’. Then two or three days later I was in it. Suddenly it’s my challenge, and I can tell you I’ve got goosebumps.”
Ashley Young became the latest player to sign a contract extension, this time for just one more year.
Martial played the role of translator for his manager on Monday, after being hailed to have the same potential as United legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Injuries/suspensions (estimated return)
- Matteo Darmian – knock (day to day)
- Antonio Valencia – muscle (two weeks)
Expected lineup
(4-1-2-1-2) De Gea; Young, Lindelöf, Jones, Shaw; Matić; Herrera, Pogba; Lingard; Rashford, Martial.
Quote from the boss
“We’re gonna play some tough games but now we just need to focus on this one. We don’t want to look too far ahead because you lose your focus. We’re looking forward to this.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Next match: Chelsea [A] 18/2/19
Potential key battles
– Marcus Rashford vs Thiago Silva
– Paul Pogba vs Marquinhos
– Luke Shaw vs Kylian Mbappé
Match facts [credit: FotMob]
- No French team has ever beaten United away from home in European competition (D4 L10)
- PSG have won only one of their 10 away games in all competitions against English opposition (D4 L5)
- The Red Devils have won only one of their last nine Champions League knockout games (D3 L5) – against Olympiakos in March 2014
- Four of the last five two-legged encounters between teams from England and France in the Champions League knockout phase have seen the French side progress
Enjoy the match!
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