Champions League Group A

Manchester United 2:0 Benfica

Old Trafford

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Tue, 31 October 2017 @ 7:45pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    Gotta rotate.
    Chelsea have a tough game away to Roma with a thin squad, it's too big of an advantage to give up.
     
    Mourinho should risk it with a weaker team, we will probably still qualify easily, even if we got a shock result at OT (Basel away game is in the middle of two apparently easier games at home.)

    Having said that, I wouldn't start Valencia, Smalling, Young, Herrera and Rashford to have them in proper conditions to face Chelsea. Even Jones, Matić and Lukaku, if possible, should be rested.
     
    If Carrick is ready I'll play him instead of Matic, that's a big if. Such a mysterious injury.
     
    Yeah we should rotate.

    Would like to see Tuanzebe, Shaw and McTominay get games.
     
    I agree with the majority of posters here that we should rest the majority of our first team players so they are fresh for Chelsea. I have bagged Luke Shaw but surely he needs an opportunity to prove himself. Jose has to start Shaw, Lindelof, Tuanzebe and perhaps Demetri Mitchell. Use the remainder group stage games and the league cup games as a proving ground for the fringe players. We will never know who's got it and who hasn't if they never get a chance.
     
    We're 9 points and Basel are 6. We may have secured qualifying but we didn't secure first position in the group at all, we need to get a win here at first before going to face Basel away.

    Those dreaming about resting many player, it just won't happen imo. I predict only Valencia, Jones and Bailly to get a rest. If Carrick is fit he may play instead of Matic but that's it. The game isn't meaningless. The rest of the games after we win it maybe but we need a win here.
     
    sincher said:
    Yeah we should rotate.

    Would like to see Tuanzebe, Shaw and McTominay get games.
    Click to expand...
    Shaw is the least likely to feature of those, although Blind can start as leftcenterback if we keep the formation, and let him in on the team.
     
    el3mel said:
    We're 9 points and Basel are 6. We may have secured qualifying but we didn't secure first position in the group at all, we need to get a win here at first before going to face Basel away.

    Those dreaming about resting many player, it just won't happen imo. I predict only Valencia, Jones and Bailly to get a rest. If Carrick is fit he may play instead of Matic but that's it. The game isn't meaningless. The rest of the games after we win it maybe but we need a win here.
    Click to expand...
    I understand your point, and probably Mourinho thinks like you. But I find it easier to get a good result here with a rested team than one on the weekend with tired players. Extremely unlikely to have both with the same players.
     
    We can get a draw with a weaker team without much trouble. Beat CSKA at home if we have to.
     
    Android1974 said:
    I understand your point, and probably Mourinho thinks like you. But I find it easier to get a good result here with a rested team than one on the weekend with tired players. Extremely unlikely to have both with the same players.
    Click to expand...

    Except for the midfield I think we have enough fresh legs, Lindelof, Blind, Lingard, Mata all will feature most probably. I don't think Lukaku needs rest much as he's not the type of striker that keeps running all the game. The ideal will be Carrick playing instead of Matic but that's it.

    We also have 3 days before the weekend game. We'll be fine.
     
    Even with a second string team, United should win comfortably. I just don't rate Benfica's team this year. With a Chelsea away fixture next sunday, rotation should be a non brainer.
     
    el3mel said:
    Except for the midfield I think we have enough fresh legs, Lindelof, Blind, Lingard, Mata all will feature most probably. I don't think Lukaku needs rest much as he's not the type of striker that keeps running all the game. The ideal will be Carrick playing instead of Matic but that's it.

    We also have 3 days before the weekend game. We'll be fine.
    Click to expand...
    Not so sure we will be fine. Was it a chance that it was Alderweireld, a player who had 90' minutes during the week, that let Martial escape later in the game today? These details count.

    I feel Herrera needs more rest than Matić, who didn't start Swansea and can sit back and control his effort and our game calmly against Benfica.
     
    Android1974 said:
    Not so sure we will be fine. Was it a chance that it was Alderweireld, a player who had 90' minutes during the week, that let Martial escape later in the game today? These details count.

    I feel Herrera needs more rest than Matić, who didn't start Swansea and can sit back and control his effort and our game calmly against Benfica.
    Click to expand...

    Our problem in the midfield, as we only had 2 available and were forced to do zero rotation in it for about a month now. It's a big problem, but we'll soon get Pogba and Fellaini and will have more variable options to rotate.

    Defense and attack I think our rotations in them have kept them all fresh enough for each game, so I'm not worried much about them.
     
    el3mel said:
    Our problem in the midfield, as we only had 2 available and were forced to do zero rotation in it for about a month now. It's a big problem, but we'll soon get Pogba and Fellaini and will have more variable options to rotate.

    Defense and attack I think our rotations in them have kept them all fresh enough for each game, so I'm not worried much about them.
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    We did half rotation in the midfield against Swansea, playing McTominay–Herrera, but this game is in a more important competition and probably Mourinho won't deem McTominay ready for it, so unfortunately perhaps you're right.
     
    What are the chances of blind starting in midfield to help rotate Matic or herrera
     
    ChaddyP said:
    Thought so. It really should be am option though, especially since we only have 2 senior mids available at the moment
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    Mourinho would probably play Tuanzebe or Lindelöf there first than giving another chance to Blind there.
     
    -----------Romero----------

    mateo-Lindelof-Smalling-Blind

    ------------Tuanzabe---------

    -------Herrera-----Mata------

    --Lingard---Martial----Rashford
     
    Romero

    Darmian Lindelof Smalling Blind

    Tuanzebe Herrera McTominay

    Mata Martial Lingard
     
    Rotate ffs. Rest Matic, world wont end even if we screw up.

    Romero/Darmian/Lindelof/Blind/Shaw/Axel/McT/Mata/Martial/Lingard
     
    Android1974 said:
    Not so sure we will be fine. Was it a chance that it was Alderweireld, a player who had 90' minutes during the week, that let Martial escape later in the game today? These details count.

    I feel Herrera needs more rest than Matić, who didn't start Swansea and can sit back and control his effort and our game calmly against Benfica.
    Click to expand...

    He lost the header, it was Dier who lost Martial for the goal.
     
    When is Carrick back? Does anyone even know what his injury is. We could really use him here.
     
    Everyone has Smalling in their team. How many games has he played in a row? I expect him to start against Chelsea too so maybe he should be given a rest against Benfica.
     
    @Niall @Damien , Luisao is suspended, right? Got sent off in last match. Not updated in OP. Is Almeida still suspended?
     
    R'hllor said:
    Rotate ffs. Rest Matic, world wont end even if we screw up.

    Romero/Darmian/Lindelof/Blind/Shaw/Axel/McT/Mata/Martial/Lingard
    Click to expand...
    Tbh, I wanted to team to play in a way to score as much as possible for the confidence to come back but this is the sensible thing with Chelsea coming up at S.B. Whoever plays is good enough to at least draw.
     
    Do we qualify with a win? Either way we must rotate players for Chelsea. We need 1 final push in that game before the international break. 6 points out of 6 vs Spurs and Chelsea would make up for the disappointing results against Huddersfield and Liverpool. Even a draw isn't a bad result against Benfica. Darmian, Blind, Lindelof, Tuanzebe and Mctominay should all play in this one.
     
    I would give a rest to some of the guys - De Gea , Valencia , Matic for sure
     
    Wont happen, but hope we play Shaw. League cup was a knockout. This isnt. Its worth the risk..

    --------------Romero
    ------Tuanzebe-Lindelof-Blind
    Darmian --------------------Shaw
    ----------Ander-McTominay
    ----Mata----------------Lingard
    --------------Martial
     
    Last edited:
    Matic should be rested really.
     
    Pogba to play i think. Should be playing in this game if he has any hopes of playing against chelsea. Rojo could also be back as it was two weeks jose said, two weeks ago.
    Expect Lindelost to start also with Tuanzebe, mata, martial, blind, darmian maybe even shaw. Need to rotate matic and herrera as theya re playing too much. Basically rotate everyone.

    Give injured players game time-
    Rojo- 30 mins
    Pogba-60 mins
    Fellaini -45 mins
    Shaw-45 mins

    Dont know who else could be back. i hope the above players get minutes as we will need them, well pogba and fellaini atleast in the chelsea games.
     
    MuranoLover said:
    I would give a rest to some of the guys - De Gea , Valencia , Matic for sure
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    Valencia almost never plays two games in a week so he will be rested surely. We have darmian who can play there, even tuanzebe can. Not worried about that or the other fullback positions.
     
    I think Lindelof, Blind, Lingard, Mata, and Martial are certs to start, from those who didn't start against Spurs anyway. I don't think we'll see McTominay or Tuanzebe starting just yet, but at least one of them should make the bench and then they'll definitely feature in the last two group games if we win this one. CB's are the hardest to pick - I want Smalling to keep playing as he's in good form now, but it's difficult to decide whether Bailly & Jones should be left out or play more to get fitness before Chelsea, especially with internationals coming up!

    de Gea
    Darmian Smalling Lindelof Blind
    Herrera Matic
    Lingard Mata Martial
    Lukaku
    ---
    Romero; Shaw, Bailly, Tuanzebe; McTominay, Mkhitaryan; Rashford​

    Think it's probably best case to try and rest Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Young, and Rashford for Chelsea away. I'm hopeful at least one of Pogba/Fellaini can get on the bench here, but I won't be surprised if everyone who's currently injured is just given until after the international break to recover fully (can probably avoid them having to go hopefully).
     
    I think Jose will play a 3 at the back as preparation for Chelsea, hope we don't though. The Likes of Mata and Lingard could use some game time. I don't know why everyone think Pogba is close to a return. Jose seems to have rebuffed that idea. Anyway, here's my predicted team.

    DDG
    Darmian - Lindelof - Smalling - Tuanzebe - Blind
    Herrera - McTominay
    Mata - Lingard
    Martial​
     
    Last edited:
    Havak said:
    I think Lindelof, Blind, Lingard, Mata, and Martial are certs to start, from those who didn't start against Spurs anyway. I don't think we'll see McTominay or Tuanzebe starting just yet, but at least one of them should make the bench and then they'll definitely feature in the last two group games if we win this one. CB's are the hardest to pick - I want Smalling to keep playing as he's in good form now, but it's difficult to decide whether Bailly & Jones should be left out or play more to get fitness before Chelsea, especially with internationals coming up!

    de Gea
    Darmian Smalling Lindelof Blind
    Herrera Matic
    Lingard Mata Martial
    Lukaku
    ---
    Romero; Shaw, Bailly, Tuanzebe; McTominay, Mkhitaryan; Rashford​

    Think it's probably best case to try and rest Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Young, and Rashford for Chelsea away. I'm hopeful at least one of Pogba/Fellaini can get on the bench here, but I won't be surprised if everyone who's currently injured is just given until after the international break to recover fully (can probably avoid them having to go hopefully).
    Click to expand...
    Good line up. But I'd make two changes to it. I'll play Mkhi here and start Lingard against Chelsea. Mkhi seems to do better in Europe where he has more space to run into. He'll be absolutely useless against Chelsea anyway. I would also rest Matic and play McTominay instead. The idea is keep Matic fresh for Chelsea where he'll be paired with Pogba hopefully. The midfield looks a little light weight but I think we'll have enough attacking threat to beat an underwhelming Benfica.
     
    Ijazz17 said:
    I think Jose will play a 3 at the back as preparation for Chelsea, hope we don't though. The Likes of Mata and Lingard could use some game time. I don't know why everyone think Pogba is close to a return. Jose seems to have rebuffed that idea. Anyway, here's my predicted team.

    DDG
    Darmian - Lindelof - Smalling - Tuanzebe - Blind
    Herrera - McTominay
    Mata - Lingard - Martial
    Lukaku​
    Click to expand...
    You have 12 players mate
     
    As long as Benfica play their 18 year old in goal, we'll win this.
    That GK was dreadful...perhaps even worse that Jordan Pickford, who for me, is the worst EPL GK I've seen in a long long time.
     
    We're probably gonna play more youngsters again and win this one easily.. Luke Shaw has to get 90 mins.. so should Mctominay and Tuanxebe
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Anthony Martial image Anthony Martial 41% of 645 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

6.3 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

587,5,16
  • Man Utd win
  • Benfica win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 45% Man Utd 2:0 Benfica
  • 29% Man Utd 3:0 Benfica
  • 7% Man Utd 4:0 Benfica
  • 5% Man Utd 1:0 Benfica
  • 4% Man Utd 2:1 Benfica
  • 3% Man Utd 3:1 Benfica
  • 2% Man Utd 5:0 Benfica
  • 1% Man Utd 0:0 Benfica
  • 1% Man Utd 1:1 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 3:2 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 4:1 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 0:2 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 1:3 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 4:3 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 2:2 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 4:4 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 1:2 Benfica
  • 0% Man Utd 5:1 Benfica
Compiled from 608 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Benfica
Possession
51% 49%
Shots
16 12
Shots on Target
5 4
Corners
4 6
Fouls
13 11

Referee

Gediminas Mazeika

Man Utd Lineup

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