Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg

FC Rostov 1:1 Manchester United

Olimp-2 Stadium

Kick-off
Thu, 9 March 2017 @ 6:00pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    FCBarca said:
    Iranian Messi :lol:

    He plays nothing like Messi, closer to Zlatan in terms of play - at least a younger version
    Click to expand...

    Frasbul said:
    Yeah, we Iranians hate that nickname as well. It's pretty funny how it came to life though. For some reason Azmoun's first highlight reel on youtube - when he was about 18 - was dubbed "Iranian Messi". All the media then thought that that was really what he was called in Iran. And they still do to this day.
    Click to expand...

    When did playing style stop people from naming every other talented footballer the Insert_Country_Here Messi? :wenger:
     
    Based on Mourinho's comments on the pitch.

    DDG

    Valencia
    Jones
    Rojo
    Blind

    Herrera
    Pogba

    Mata
    Lingard
    Fellaini

    Ibra
     
    Last edited:
    Zebs said:
    Based on Mourinho's comments on the pitch.

    DDG

    Valencia
    Jones
    Rojo
    Blind

    Herrera
    Carrick
    Pogba

    Mata
    Lingard
    Fellaini

    Ibra
    Click to expand...

    Nice, we can sneak an extra player on no probs. Mata is only small.
     
    I wouldn't risk Henrikh whatsoever, here. We're gonna need him badly in the FA Cup and the next few league games.

    Play a big, physical side (I wouldn't be against Fellaini actually) and aim for a 0-1 win or a draw at worst. I still think we're gonna lose by a narrow margin.
     
    This has long been a source of contention for me, standard of pitches - UEFA doesn't seem to be interested in this at all
     
    Alabaster Codify7 said:
    I wouldn't risk Henrikh whatsoever, here. We're gonna need him badly in the FA Cup and the next few league games.

    Play a big, physical side (I wouldn't be against Fellaini actually) and aim for a 0-1 win or a draw at worst. I still think we're gonna lose by a narrow margin.
    Click to expand...
    Yeah until I saw the pitch I would have disagreed but looking at that photo above I wouldnt be adverse to that.

    We just need to get through this game with minimal injuries and still be in the game for the second leg. A Mourinho bus-park special please.
     
    An absolute pig of a game. We're facing a physical, ultra-aggressive team (8 red cards this season), on a terrible pitch, following a 2200 mile journey to southern Russia. On top of that they've lost 1 of their last 37 home games and have beaten Bayern and Ajax on this ground (scoring 7 goals in the process). They'll sit deep in their 5-3-2 system, win every header, hack us to bits and break at speed.

    It won't be pretty, hopefully the players are up for a battle.
     
    I posted this in the pre-match thread. But just to get an idea of the quality of the pitch. Rostov against Sparta Prague in Feb 16.

     
    Zebs said:
    Based on Mourinho's comments on the pitch.

    DDG

    Valencia
    Jones
    Rojo
    Blind

    Herrera
    Pogba

    Mata
    Lingard
    Fellaini

    Ibra
    Click to expand...
    Mourinho said that he "protected" Valencia because of the pitch against Zorya. Surely the same will apply against Rostov?
     
    Jose Mourinho says Man Utd's Europa League match against FC Rostov should be cancelled due to dangerous pitch

    Jose Mourinho wants Manchester United’s Europa League tie against FC Rostov tomorrow to be postponed after condemning the state of the pitch at the Olimp-2 Stadium.

    The United manager has questioned how the first leg of their last-16 tie can go ahead after likening the playing surface to the shambolic pitch at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing last summer that forced the cancellation of their pre-season tour game against Manchester City.

    Mourinho raised his fears about exposing his players to a heightened risk of injury to a Uefa official, only to be told that his squad are insured “so if something happens, no problem.” To postpone the match, United – who are due to train on the pitch today - would have to make a formal request to Uefa by Thursday afternoon.

    “It’s still hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow,” Mourinho said, before his players were due to train. “I know we have to, but it is hard for me to believe we are going to play tomorrow in that field - if you can call it a field.”

    Henrikh Mkhitaryan is available again after a hamstring injury, but Mourinho said he did not know whether he was prepared to risk the Armenia forward and claimed the pitch had thrown his selection plans into turmoil.

    “I don’t know what team to play, really,” he said. “I don't know if Henrikh Mkhitaryan is going to play. I don't know. I have now a lot to think because I was expecting something more playable. It is very similar pitch in the summer in China when we and Manchester City decided not to play, but it looks like we have to play.

    “I didn't have any contact with anyone until now [about the pitch]. I just had a quick contact with one gentleman from Uefa when I was looking at the pitch and when I told him about my concerns, the gentleman told me the players are insured, so if something happens, no problem.

    “I was analysing these very good opponents that we didn't speak about yet. In their previous matches against Bayern Munich, Ajax, Atletico Madrid, in all these matches it looked for me a very playable pitch and I was very surprised with what I found here today.”

    This is not the first time this season Mourinho has had concerns about the state of the playing surface. Aside from the China debacle, when United’s International Champions Cup game against City was cancelled after the pitch was deemed a safety risk, United’s Europa League group game away to Zorya Luhansk in December was also briefly under threat because of a frozen playing surface in Odessa. Hot air had to be pumped on to the pitch in order to make it playable and Mourinho was also unhappy about the state of the pitch in St Etienne for the away leg of United’s last-32 tie.

    Uefa confirmed on Tuesday night that Rostov had agreed not to train on the pitch on Wednesday in order to protect the surface from “unnecessary damage”.

    Ivan Daniliants, the Rostov coach, had already issued a warning that United may be in for a shock with the pitch. “The pitch is the same for everyone but it will still be a problem,” said Daniliants. “In the final of the League Cup [at Wembley], Man United played on an ideal lawn – it was like a carpet. When they arrive here, they will be surprised.”
     
    Infra-red said:
    An absolute pig of a game. We're facing a physical, ultra-aggressive team (8 red cards this season), on a terrible pitch, following a 2200 mile journey to southern Russia. On top of that they've lost 1 of their last 37 home games and have beaten Bayern and Ajax on this ground (scoring 7 goals in the process). They'll sit deep in their 5-3-2 system, win every header, hack us to bits and break at speed.

    It won't be pretty, hopefully the players are up for a battle.
    Click to expand...
    In theory this is where having a pragmatist like Mourinho in charge will help, I presume he will be more willing to adapt his tactics to suit the circumstances than those two teams, I think we'll be ready for them.
     
    i reckon we will see something defensive like this, cannot see mikhi carrick valencia jones starting. Rashford Mata Martial needed for Chelsea but on bench if needed. not confident about this one. Just need an away goal really.

    romero

    valencia
    blind
    smalling
    rojo

    fellaini
    pogba
    herrera

    lingard
    zlatan
    young
     

    Rui Faria here, possibly providing evidence for #mufc's appeal for the game to be postponed
     

    Rostov manager Ivan Daniliants holding his press conference. Says pitch same for both teams but 'our rivals are not used to it.’


    Daniliants says pitch was worse in last round against Sparta Prague and there were 'no incidents'. Says decision to play is UEFA's.
     
    Russia has just finished a winter break right? So the pitch has been idle for a while. So if the game was postponed wouldnt it in all probability get worse, after they have played a few league games on it?
     
    Adebesi said:
    Russia has just finished a winter break right? So the pitch has been idle for a while. So if the game was postponed wouldnt it in all probability get worse, after they have played a few league games on it?
    Click to expand...

    I think we’d be talking about moving the match to another stadium.
     
    Adebesi said:
    Ah that makes sense.

    So what is the precedent here, would it be a single game played on a neutral ground, in place of the second leg game? If we could wrangle that it would be great.
    Click to expand...

    Don’t know. Although the Zorya away match was played on a neutral ground, as well, no? For different reasons, but still. Guess the game is on for tomorrow, just got to hope for no injuries and a decent result. Kind of like against Zorya.
     
    Since the quality of the pitch is awful, wouldn't it be better if Mourinho's tactics would be playing on counter-attacks? Isn't it easier? Trying to play a creative, attractive and offensive football is not so easy on a pitch like this, especially if you're not used to it. Sure you can play "direct" but isn't that what Rostov wants? Why not allow them to attack and have a strong defence?

    No, expert, but what are your thoughts? Or would it be to risky to let them have most of the possession?
     

    Having held a pitch inspection, UEFA has confirmed Rostov v #MUFC will go ahead. "Deemed playable" despite not being in "perfect condition"
     
    If the game goes ahead I think we'll struggle like feck to get anything from the game.

    Edit: just seen tweet above confirming the game will go ahead
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Henrikh Mkhitaryan image Henrikh Mkhitaryan 40% of 545 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

5.7 Total Average Rating

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Compiled from 357 ratings.
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Score Predictions

260,70,160
  • Man Utd win
  • Rostov win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 24% Rostov 1:1 Man Utd
  • 17% Rostov 0:1 Man Utd
  • 16% Rostov 0:2 Man Utd
  • 12% Rostov 1:2 Man Utd
  • 8% Rostov 0:0 Man Utd
  • 5% Rostov 2:1 Man Utd
  • 4% Rostov 1:0 Man Utd
  • 3% Rostov 1:3 Man Utd
  • 3% Rostov 2:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Rostov 0:5 Man Utd
  • 2% Rostov 5:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Rostov 0:3 Man Utd
  • 1% Rostov 0:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Rostov 3:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Rostov 2:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Rostov 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Rostov 2:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Rostov 3:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Rostov 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Rostov 4:5 Man Utd
Compiled from 490 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Rostov
  2. Man Utd
Possession
49% 51%
Shots
9 9
Shots on Target
5 2
Corners
2 4
Fouls
18 19

Referee

Felix Zwayer

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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