Manchester United travel to Villarreal in anticipation of a win that will guarantee them qualification to the round of 16. A draw in this fixture can also help ensure that Atalanta fail to beat Young Boys in Group F's other battle on the night.
VILL vs MUN Match Details :
When: Tuesday, November 23
Time: 18:45 (CET)/ 23:15 (IST)
Where: Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal
VILL vs MUN Match Preview :
Villarreal are placed second in Group F table with 7 points, level with Manchester United at the top but sense an opportunity to move a place upward on Tuesday. Unai Emery will feel this is the right situation to take on the Red Devils and achieve all three points to secure qualification to the latter stages of the 2021/22 Champions League season. The Yellow submarines have gone a little bit off the pace after a promising start to their league campaign although they had held their nerves in Europe. With a sensational opening day draw against Atalanta, Villarreal was unlucky to be on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline at Old Trafford by losing the game late through a Cristiano Ronaldo inspired come back. Since then, they have managed to win the following doubleheaders against Young Boys placing them second on the chart. The Europa League winners wish to win this penultimate game to avoid a do-or-die clash with Atalanta next month. The Italian side, currently in third with 5 points, are expected to win their game against Young Boys.
But the spotlight belongs to Manchester United for this fixture again for the wrong reasons. The English giants finally parted ways with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after three seasons in charge following a humiliating 4-1 loss to relegation strugglers Watford. The football from United this season has been poor from back to front, or front to back considering their lack of pressing, with embarrassing defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City not helping the cause even at games they manage to mount a comeback. So the Norwegian sacking was inevitable. But the problem for the Manchester United board they don't have a possible replacement lined up to take the manager job instantly. Instead, it will be Michael Carrick, placed in charge at the moment, overseeing the next fixtures starting with this trip to Spain. United will be wishing to turn their fortunes around with a win knowing they face Chelsea and Arsenal back to back in the Premier League in ten days. Otherwise, they have to do it all in the last group stage game if other results don't favor them.
Recent Form (all competition) :
Villarreal: DWWLD
Man United: LLDWL
VILL vs MUN Team News :
Top scorer for Villarreal, Gerrard Moreno is a serious doubt for this pivotal clash with the hamstring injury he sustained last month. The Spaniard scored the opening goal in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United in the other clash and also the Europa League final earlier this year facing the same opponent. His service will be missed while Serge Aurier is ineligible to compete in any games until January. Emery is also sweating over the fitness of his two key men in Etienne Capoue and Arnaut Danjuma, both missing the draw against Celta Vigo in the weekend. They are expected to be fit in time. One positive news for the La Liga outfit is that former Tottenham player Juan Foyth is back after a spell on the sideline with a hamstring injury. Youngster Yeremi Pino signed a new lengthy contract with the club recently and is ready to demonstrate his talent again.
Manchester United also has a couple of important players missing for the game in midweek. Mason Greenwood missed the defeat to Watford in the weekend altogether after testing positive and is absent from the squad. Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane are facing a lengthy period on the sideline with the former not available till next year after injuring his thing in training with the national team. Edinson Cavani is also unavailable as he battles to recover from a tendon issue. Luke Shaw was taken off in the weekend after suffering another suspended concussion to be replaced by Diego Dalot, the Portuguese left-back favorite to start this game. Carrick will be forced to make key changes with Donny Van de Beek stepping in for Scott Mctominay, scoring the only goal for United in the 4-1 loss, together with Fred replacing Nemanja Matic. Harry Maguire is expected to keep his place at the back as his red card is only confined to the Premier League.
VILL vs MUN Expected Lineups :
Villarreal: Geronimo Rulli; Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol, Pau Torres, Alfonso Pedraza, Daniel Parejo, Etienne Capoue, Francis Coquelin, Yeremi Pino, Boulaye Dia, Arnaut Danjuma
Man United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Diego Dalot, Van de Beek, Fred, Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo
VILL vs MUN Head to Head :
There has been a lot of drama and several talking points whenever these two have locked horns with each other in recent times. In the last meeting in this group in September, Manchester United shook off a 53rd-minute opener from Gerrard Moreno by an Alex Telles screamer and Ronaldo bundling in a last-minute winner to create a spectacle at Old Trafford.
GK: De Gea (MUN)
DEF: Wan Bissaka (MUN), Lindelof (MUN), Albiol (VILL), Moreno (VILL)
MID: Parejo (VILL), Van de Beek (MUN), Fernandes (MUN)
FW: Pino (VILL), Ronaldo (MUN), Danjuma (VILL)
Match Prediction: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United
It is interesting to see Manchester United's approach to this game. They are a depleted side playing another fundamental game of the season with an opponent playing for the same cause to secure qualification and avoid last matchday dramas. It's hard to think anything else than a draw in this game though with both sides facing resistance to find the winner.
Stay tuned to the Fantasy Football section for upcoming match updates.
