Manchester United must beat Bayern Munich on Tuesday night if they’re to have any chance of advancing into the Champions League round of 16.
Defeats in their opening two group games left United with plenty to do in Group A, and their thrilling draw with Galatasaray last time out means that only a draw in FC Copenhagen’s clash with the Turkish giants will open the door for United to progress.
However, United’s focus must solely be on overcoming a Bayern side that are seething from their humiliation at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday and aiming to extend their unbeaten run in Champions League group fixtures to 40 games.
Here’s 90min’s preview of Man Utd’s upcoming clash with Bayern at Old Trafford.
Man Utd vs Bayern Munich H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
United Kingdom, United Stats & Canada
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
---|---|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+, discovery+ app |
United States |
Paramount+ |
Canada |
DAZN |
Around the World
Victor Lindelof is set to miss Tuesday’s game which means Luke Shaw will likely partner Premier League Player of the Month Harry Maguire at centre-back despite Raphael Varane’s return to fitness.
Amad Diallo is back in training but unlikely to make the midweek squad. Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount could both return before Christmas.
Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, and Tyrell Malacia are longer-term absentees.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Bayern (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Shaw, Dalot; Amrabat, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes; Rashford; Hojlund.
Bayern’s thrashing in Frankfurt was compounded by Serge Gnabry’s hamstring injury which will keep him out of action until mid-January.
Tuchel doesn’t have too many other injury concerns, although he’ll still likely be without Matthijs de Ligt on Tuesday night. Bouna Sarr is also out for the season.
Konrad Laimer should replace Noussair Mazraoui, who had a shocker at the weekend, at right-back.
Bayern predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Kimmich, Goretzka; Coman, Musiala, Sane; Kane.
Bayern’s thumping defeat in the Bundesliga on Saturday isn’t exactly what United needed. Thomas Tuchel will now be looking to oversee an emphatic response in midweek.
The underlying figures highlight the freak nature of Bayern’s defeat, with their week off as a result of heavy snow in Munich postponing their game against Union Berlin perhaps working against them.
The visitors will be desperate to put things right on Tuesday despite already winning Group A. As for United, well, how can you back them to beat a side of Bayern’s calibre? The Germans will give them a chance or two, no doubt, but they’ll likely be overwhelmed at the other end of the pitch to end their hopes of a round of 16 berth.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-3 Bayern Munich
READ MORE BUILD-UP TO MAN UTD’S CRUNCH CLASH WITH BAYERN