Manchester United and Copenhagen will be aiming to get their seasons back on track after they both suffered defeats in matchday 2. With four games still to go, Manchester United will still fancy their chances of qualification despite tough games away to Galatasaray and home to Bayern Munich still to come.
However, they’ll take solace in the form of a new acquisition, Rasmus Højlund’s form. The Danish star bagged two goals in the home defeat to Galatasaray and is the joint-top scorer in the Champions League so far.
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Recent Form-Manchester United
Copenhagen chances of qualifications on the other hand, look bleak. The Danish club are yet to record a win in their last eight Champions League group stage games, losing four and drawing four in the process. However, they’ll likely look at United’s manner of defeat against Galatasaray and take inspiration from it, knowing that Ten Hag’s men have had a nervy start to the season and do not enter this match in a particularly convincing form.
Despite their dismal Champions League record, Copenhagen have had a pretty decent start in their domestic league, also successfully navigating the qualifying round to get to the Champions League group stage.
United’s start to the new season has been a rollercoaster. Erik ten Hag’s men labored to a 1-0 win over Wolves on the opening weekend, in a match best remembered for the referee Sam Hooper’s decision not to award Wolves a stoppage time penalty after a foul by Andre Onana-who has also had a shaky start to Red Devils career.
Thereafter, they lost 2-0 at Tottenham and needed a spirited comeback at Old Trafford to get a second win of the season against Nottingham Forest after going two goals down in the opening stages of the match. This was followed by a demoralizing 3-1 defeat at Arsenal just before the international break and with another 3-1 home defeat to Brighton.
Although many would point to the injury crisis suffered by Manchester United key players as a contributor to their poor performance, others would argue that they should still be in a strong position to compete after a summer spending spree of just over £174m on new players.
After a strong run to the Europa semi-finals last season, United were expected to put in a strong challenge in this year’s Champions League, however, they have looked short of challenging the top dogs after finding themselves in a tricky group.
So far, they have done nothing to help their causes, falling to defeats against Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in their first group game but then a combination of woeful defending and poor goalkeeping meant Süper Lig winners, Galatasaray escaped with all three points in match day 2.
Recent Form-Copenhagen
On the other hand, Copenhagen have had to go through a long qualifying stage to the Champions League group stage. Their record in the Champions League has been dismal at best, surrendering a two-goal lead against Galatasaray in their opening match in what would have been their first win in seven group stage matches.
While their Champions League form has been patchy, their domestic league form has been almost impeccable, kicking off their season with an impressive 2-1 over Lyngby. Then they bashed Vejle at home before recording a resounding 4-0 victory against Randers in another home match.
They also recorded victories against Odense and Hvidovre, before losing their first league match of the season to Silkeborg. However, they bounced back and recorded straight victories over Viborg, Nordsjaelland and Brondby, before demolishing Lyseng to cap a perfect September.
In their Champions League campaign, they brushed aside Icelandic club Breidalik 8-3 on aggregate to move to the next round where they faced Sparta Prague. After a goalless draw in the first leg, the Danish side rallied to a 4-3 win in the return leg, to seal progression at the expense of the Czech Republic outfit.
Next was the Polish side, Rakow, in the final playoff round. A 1-0 victory in the first leg was followed by a 1-1 draw in the second leg, ensuring that they booked their place in this season’s group stages.
Head-To-Head
Manchester United and Copenhagen first met in the Champions League 16 years ago, with both sides winning their respective home games. However, Copenhagen eventually finished bottom of the group and have not qualified from the group stage since 2011.
United themselves have fallen from the top of Europe’s elite clubs and would be hoping to get their season back on their own with a win at Old Trafford. However, anything short of a victory will leave the hopes of either reaching the knockout stages hanging by a thread. But to experience the adrenaline and thrill you can imagine yourself as a member of the team, playing on your laptop or phone, because now there is a cool screen soccer game for everyone.
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Team news
Manchester United have several players absent for this match either through injury. As a result, Erik ten Hag is not expected to make signing changes to his starting XI for this game. Barring any late injuries, Rashford and Hojlund continue in attack for the Red Devils, while transfer deadline day signing Sofyan Amrabat and the recently returned Mason Mount are expected to play a part as well.
However, Luke Shaw, Lautaro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Tyrell Malacia, Amad Diallo, Tom Heaton are all expected to be out while Jordan Sancho remains expunged from the squad following his public outburst against Erik Ten Hag after the defeat at Arsenal last month.
Predicted Manchester United Line-Up
- Onana
- Dalot
- Lindelof
- Varane
- Amrabat
- Casemiro
- McTominay
- Fernandez
- Eriksen
- Rashford
- Højlund
Unlike their opponents, Copenhagen do not have any major injury concerns going into this encounter. Goalkeeper Grabara is expected to continue in goal, while the likes of Achouri and Elyounoussi will line-up in attack for the Danish side.
Predicted Copenhagen Line-Up
- Grabara
- Melng
- Vavro
- Diks
- Jelert
- Goncalves
- Falk
- Lerager
- Achouri
- Larsso
- Elyounoussi.
Match Prediction
Although, clean sheets have been difficult to come by at Manchester United this season, with Andre Onana having a forgettable start to his United journey, the Cameroonian will be hoping to keep his first clean sheet in the Champions League this season after keeping a club record seven clean sheets with Inter Milan en route to the final last season.
The return of Rafael Varane should help restore some stability to their disorganized backline, however, free scoring Copenhagen are still expected to be a threat, keeping United wait for their first Champions League clean sheet this season a match longer. Nevertheless, Manchester United are still the favorite in this encounter with a win. Manchester United 3-1 Copenhagen.
