Champions League Group A

Benfica 0:1 Manchester United

Estádio da Luz

Kick-off
Wed, 18 October 2017 @ 7:45pm BST
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    De Gea
    Lindelof Smalling Jones
    Valencia Matic Herrera Darmian
    Mata Lukaku Rashford

    Subs: Romero, Bailly, Young, Mkhi, Lingard, Martial, Tuanzebe (Carrick if he's fit)

    We should easily beat Basel and CSKA in the reverse fixtures so it wouldn't be a disaster if we drew here, but it would be nice to have the group wrapped up as soon as possible.
     
    Tom Van Persie said:
    Andre Almeida. They did sign Douglas from Barca on loan but he hasn't made an appearance yet and was called unfit by the manager.
    Click to expand...

    André Almeida won't play both matches since he got a 2 game suspension after that red card against Basel. But that could be a blessing for Benfica since i don't rate him. Douglas will struggle since he lacks playing time bar the portuguese cup tie against a lower league club. I think United will win fairly confortably. Last year's Benfica would give United a match, this year i don't really believe it.
     
    I'm hoping the traveling squad will clarify all the injury doubts, specially on our depleted midfield. One of Carrick or Pogba would be nice to have in the bench, at least.
     
    Perhaps Lingard should have started in Mkhitaryan's place against Liverpool, but I still feel these European games are very adaptable to his game and he ends up justifying his selection.
     
    Devil may care said:
    The only one I'm not sure about is RB, Jose has been keen to rest Valencia when he can, I wouldn't totally rule out Lingard getting a start either.
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    Gosh, I have so many doubts, specially because of injuries. I think Valencia and Young each can play, since Valencia didn't participate in the international game he might not need such a rest.
     
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    Android1974 said:
    Gosh, I have so many doubts, specially because of injuries. I think Valencia and Young each can play, since Valencia didn't participate in the international game he might not need such a rest.
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    With Valencia I think it depends on how he views the Huddersfield game as I can see Tony sitting out next mid-week vs Swansea and one of this weeks games. The midfield picks itself due to the injuries and I think Jose will likely revert to the front 4 he's been using to great success this season. You could be right asbout Young but the rotation at LB has been pretty consistent and I think Blind is a good fit for this game.
     
    Cantonagotmehere said:
    Is there any way to rest Matic? Probably not. He needs a break.
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    This.

    The guy didn't have much of a pre-season either. Really needs a break.

    I wonder whether Carrick will be fit in time for this game? The other option being playing someone like Blind in midfield?

    Oh and I would drop Mkhitaryan for Lingard. Mkhitaryan I think needs some time on the bench. His early-season form has tailed off in the last few weeks. Maybe time on the bench will help egg him on.
     
    A big question mark for Mkhi now. I mean for Jose.

    It's not just the Liverpool game. Since the start of the season, his performance has been bad/mediocre, only to be masked by his stats.

    But that said, if he takes off Mkhi and moves Mata to #10 in 4-2-3-1, given that Jose seems very unlikely to play Rashford at RW, Lingard doesn't sound promising either.

    I think he will still give Mkhi a few "automatic" starting XI position. Mkhi better starts performing otherwise I believe Jose will definitely replace him or change the system.

    For now I will still stick with Mkhi, sadly.


    -----------------Lukaku---------------
    Rashford--------Mkhi-----------Mata
    -----------Matic-------Herrera-------
    Young--Smalling--Lindelof--Valencia
     
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    This is how Benfica could potentially start. I think we have been recently linked with Zivkovic so he may be one to watch.








     
    So....Rojo is back just like that. No one even bothered asking about him as our club and manager refuse to keep us updated. Good to have him back.
     
    ManuMou said:
    A big question mark for Mkhi now. I mean for Jose.

    It's not just the Liverpool game. Since the start of the season, his performance has been bad/mediocre, only to be masked by his stats.

    But that said, if he takes off Mkhi and moves Mata to #10 in 4-2-3-1, given that Jose seems very unlikely to play Rashford at RW, Lingard doesn't sound promising either.

    I think he will still give Mkhi a few "automatic" starting XI position. Mkhi better starts performing otherwise I believe Jose will definitely replace him or change the system.

    For now I will still stick with Mkhi, sadly.


    -----------------Lukaku---------------
    Rashford--------Mkhi-----------Mata
    -----------Matic-------Herrera-------
    Young--Smalling--Lindelof--Valencia
    Click to expand...
    Yea Mkhi has been playing badly and needs to be dropped. The problem is that lingard is the only alternative. Pereira would have done a job.
     
    Who could line up this way too, assuming Carrick and Rojo are fit.

    Degea​
    Smalling, Lindelof, Rojo​
    Darmian, Carrick, Herrera, Blind.​
    Mata, Rashford​
    Lukaku​
     
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    I definitely expect a tougher game than our previous fixtures in this group so far. I know Benfica lost both games against the other sides whilst we won comfortably, but this probably makes Benfica more dangerous now. They know that they simply cannot lose both games in this double-header or they are out. Definitely out of the Champion's League without ever getting going and it's pretty unacceptable for a side like Benfica in this level of group.

    José was very critical of our energy against Liverpool, so there will definitely be changes, especially for players who featured during the international games and at Anfield (bar Matic, IMO, it's still probably a bit too important to rest him, he'll get the Swansea game off). Blind, Lingard and Mata are the most likely to come in, maybe Lindelof too.

    de Gea
    Young Smalling Lindelof Blind
    Herrera Matic
    Lingard Mata Martial
    Lukaku
    ---
    Romero; Rojo, Jones, Shaw; Carrick, Mkhitaryan; Rashford​

    Probably something like that, though still unsure on the fitness of Carrick, Rashford, Jones, Bailly, Rojo, and Shaw. However, that's why the odds are none of them start IMO. We'll probably be playing Huddersfield with a similar group of players available, then hopefully we can really freshen things up at Swansea and get some no longer injured players minutes on the clock (Shaw, Rojo, maybe Fellaini and Pogba with some luck).
     
    Rojo is back ? Well that's a surprise.

    Welcome back Bailly-Rojo partnership. :drool:
     
    I'm going to watch this game in the stadium as my friend who has a season-ticket can't go.
    I don't go to a Champions League match for a long time, and my first-ever live football match. The score was 2-1 to Benfica, which eliminated Liverpool by 3-0 in the 1/8's. Hope we can do it again :D
     
    Mkhitaryan should absolutely not be dropped for this game IMO, but rather shifted to the right wing in our games against Spurs and Chelsea.

    Mkhitaryan is much more effective in Europe where teams are less physical and energetic.
     
    Why the club and/or the boss don't update us with the injured players return or approximate date?
     
    I want to see Mkhitaryan and Mata to start this one. We need the creativity. Hopefully we don't go ultradefensive again. Want us to attack them a bit. Although I can see this being another 0-0 game very easily.
     
    breakout67 said:
    Mkhitaryan should absolutely not be dropped for this game IMO, but rather shifted to the right wing in our games against Spurs and Chelsea.

    Mkhitaryan is much more effective in Europe where teams are less physical and energetic.
    Click to expand...

    Jepp he has done really well in europe and it suits him well to play against teams at the level like Benfica play at. For the Spurs game though I would probably drop him and go with Mata instead and maybe Lingard.

    Mata despite his physical limits often step up in the big games mentally and I don't understand why Mourinho started to drop him in all those games. As long as you have physicality around him he will be fine.
     
    I'd rest Lukaku and Mkhi to be honest. I'd play Rashford up front with Lingard, Mata and Martial behind him. I'd throw Mkhi on in the last 20' or so in place of Rashford and switch Martial upfront.

    Midfield picks itself. Blind LB, Darmian RB, Lindelof & Smalling at CB.
     
    Ronaldo's Mum Eh? said:
    Can any of the Portuguese fans on here who also watch United regularly tell us what our chances are here?
    Click to expand...
    We lost at home to CSKA and were humiliated by a shit Basel. It will be another humiliation if Mourinho choses so.
     
    breakout67 said:
    Mkhitaryan is much more effective in Europe where teams are less physical and energetic.
    Click to expand...

    Agreed 100%.
    He has been consistently poor in the EPL, but in EU, he is always decent.
    For the next EPL game however, I'd bench him.
     
    Paul_Scholes18 said:
    I want to see Mkhitaryan and Mata to start this one. We need the creativity. Hopefully we don't go ultradefensive again. Want us to attack them a bit. Although I can see this being another 0-0 game very easily.
    Click to expand...

    I'd be happy with Mata at 10 with Mkhi rested to be honest, I thought the latter looked very laboured against Liverpool.

    Also given Benfica's form I can't see a 0-0. I think we'll back on the front foot and will score at least two.
     
    Tough match ahead, even with Jose's knowledge of Portuguese league and that particular style of football... but win this and you'll have tons of psychological comfort ahead of rest of the group games.
     
    We should just win this one and coast the other games. With CSKA and Basel both on 3 points and playing each other, us winning this all but seals our qualification informally.

    We also have tougher PL fixtures after the next home CL game as compared to this weekend (Huddersfield), so better to go all out to win this one. 0-2 United.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Nemanja Matic image Nemanja Matic 42% of 556 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

6.1 Total Average Rating

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Compiled from 392 ratings.
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Score Predictions

544,25,75
  • Man Utd win
  • Benfica win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 32% Benfica 0:2 Man Utd
  • 12% Benfica 0:3 Man Utd
  • 12% Benfica 1:2 Man Utd
  • 11% Benfica 0:1 Man Utd
  • 9% Benfica 1:3 Man Utd
  • 8% Benfica 1:1 Man Utd
  • 6% Benfica 0:4 Man Utd
  • 2% Benfica 0:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Benfica 0:5 Man Utd
  • 1% Benfica 2:1 Man Utd
  • 1% Benfica 1:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Benfica 1:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Benfica 2:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Benfica 3:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Benfica 2:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Benfica 2:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Benfica 3:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Benfica 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Benfica 5:0 Man Utd
Compiled from 644 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Benfica
  2. Man Utd
Possession
36% 64%
Shots
11 10
Shots on Target
0 4
Corners
6 9
Fouls
10 12

Referee

Felix Zwayer

Man Utd Lineup

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