Manchester United start their Europa League campaign at home to Astana as the Red Devils look to replicate their title winning 2016-17 season.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to rotate his squad due to various injuries, although Jesse Lingard could return from illness picked up whilst on international duty earlier this month.
Diogo Dalot could also return from a groin injury as Daniel James sits this one out with a knock.
Luke Shaw (hamstring), Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah (both knee) Paul Pogba (ankle), Anthony Martial (thigh) are all ruled out of the squad but some could return on Sunday away to West Ham.
Astana have a full squad available for selection with no injuries to report.
Stat Attack
- This is Manchester United’s first ever meeting with Astana.
- Man Utd have lost just one of their last six European home games at a Group Stage (W4, D1, L1), although those six matches all came in the Champions League.
- Astana have never faced English opposition before in all competitions but lost twice to Celtic in the 2016-17 and 17-18 Champions League qualifiers.
Prediction
After edging past Leicester on Saturday with a fine defensive display, I can see Manchester United reverting to their usual attacking style here against an unknown team in Astana.
Astana however don’t tend to fare well on their European travels with one win in their last ten, which is a concern against a team of United’s quality so this should be a comfortable home win.
Prediction: Manchester United 3-0 Astana
Result: Manchester United 1-0 Astana
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