Manchester United host Danish giants Kobenhavn in a crucial Champions League group game on Tuesday night.
Erik ten Hag’s side sit bottom of Group A after European defeats to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray. Kobenhavn collected one point from their encounters with the same opponents but only had their stubborn resolve pierced by late goals.
United have just once before lost three consecutive Champions League matches – and two of those reverses came after the club had qualified for the knockout stage in 2005. If Ten Hag’s side fail to defeat Kobenhavn on Tuesday, they will face an almighty battle to still be in the competition after Christmas.
Here’s everything you need to know about the all-important tie.
Man Utd vs Kobenhavn H2H Record (All time)
Current Form (Last Five Games)
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Country |
TV channel/live stream |
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United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ App |
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United States |
ViX, Paramount+, Univision NOW |
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Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Aside from Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro is the only player to score for Manchester United in the Champions League this season. The Brazilian, who is carrying an ankle injury anyway, won’t be able to add to his tally of two on Tuesday after collecting a red card in the 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray earlier this month.
Casemiro is hardly the only absentee – although he is one of the few injured players that don’t line up in defence. Full-backs Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are set to remain sidelined with muscular issues for the foreseeable future.
Lisandro Martinez is likely to be out with a foot injury until the new year but his fellow centre-back Raphael Varane returned to the bench against Sheffield United on Saturday. Sergio Reguilon didn’t make it into the matchday squad for that narrow Premier League win but is on the verge of his return from a hamstring strain. The exciting academy product Kobbie Mainoo is also back in training.
Man Utd predicted lineup (4-3-3): Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Lindelof; Amrabat, McTominay; Mount, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Kobenhavn manager Jacob Neestrup, the only head coach in this season’s Champions League group stage under the age of 40, has some fitness issues of his own to juggle.
William Clem broke his foot earlier this month, ruling the teenager out until the end of the year. Vice-captain Nicolai Boilesen has been sidelined since August while left-back Birger Meling had to be withdrawn in the first half of Kobenhavn’s 2-1 victory over Vejle Boldklub on the weekend.
Former Southampton forward Mohamed Elyounoussi will return to England with Kobenhavn. On his last appearance at Old Trafford, Elyounoussi set up Che Adams for a second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw against United last year.
Kobenhavn predicted lineup (4-3-3): Grabara; Ankersen, Vavro, Diks, Sorensen; Lerager, Falk, Goncalves; Elyounoussi, Claesson, Achouri
Kobenhavn may not carry the same prestige as Bayern Munich or Galatasaray, but they can very much cause United just as many issues. Neestrup’s title winners are not hostages to home comforts and remain unbeaten on the road this season (W5 D4).
However, the punchy Danes have a wretched record against English opposition, failing to score a goal in any of their seven meetings with Premier League clubs. United’s porous backline may break that sequence but the hosts should come out on top at Old Trafford – the future of their Champions League campaign depends on it.
Prediction: Man Utd 2-1 Kobenhavn
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