2020-21 UEFA Europa League Last 16: First Leg – Manchester United vs AC Milan

Manchester United welcome AC Milan to Old Trafford in the first leg of their Last 16 tie in 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.

This match sees Man Utd and AC Milan lock horns for the first time since March 2010 as both teams look to take a step closer towards Europa League glory.

 

Team News

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Marcus Rashford is ruled out for Man Utd after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday’s Premier League win at Manchester City.

Donny van de Beek (muscle) and Edinson Cavani (knock) are doubts but David De Gea (personal), Juan Mata (unspecified), Paul Pogba (muscle) and Phil Jones (knee) remain ruled out.

AC Milan could welcome Ismael Bennacer, Hakan Calhanoglu and Mario Mandzukic back from muscle injuries.

Ante Rebic and Theo Hernandez are doubts after suffering knocks in last Wednesday’s Serie A clash against Udinese.

Zlatan Ibrahimović is unlikely to be risked as he slowly rebuild match fitness after recovering from a muscle injury.

 

Stat Attack

• Man Utd have lost four of five previous ties against AC Milan in all UEFA competitions, although this is the first time that these teams meet outside of UEFA’s top competition (W1, L4).
• AC Milan have won just one of five previous trips to Old Trafford across all UEFA competitions (W1, L4).
• Utd have won three of their last five matches against AC Milan (W3, L2).
• Two of AC Milan’s seven away goals in Europa League this season have come from Jens Hauge, who is the only player to have netted more than once.
• Marcus Rashford has scored five goals in four UEFA appearances for Man Utd this season.

 

Prediction

Man Utd enter this match off the back of a dominant all-round performance on Sunday at local rivals, Man City in a marked turnaround from recent sluggish performances but they need to deliver another performance of that level here if want to win.

AC Milan meanwhile have rediscovered their attacking spark this season with several dangerous players within their squad, having recently endured several seasons in the mid top-ten of Serie A so will certainly provide tough opposition.

Both teams however often play a 4-2-3-1 with a preference for young players so I am expecting them to cancel each other out in a tight battle, but if Utd play like they did on Sunday and take their chances well then they should have enough to get a lead heading into the return leg given Milan’s issues over here.

Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 AC Milan

Result: Manchester United 1-1 AC Milan