Champions League Group A

Manchester United 2:0 Benfica

Old Trafford

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

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    I'd usually say rest Lukaku but I personally think he needs to break this goal drought quickly.

    Romero
    Blind
    Smalling
    Lindelof
    Bailly
    Darmian
    Mctominey
    Herrera
    Mata
    Martial
    Lukaku
     
    Wouldn't mind seeing Martial deployed as a striker in this one.
     
    Some rotation is needed, but we should play a strong team. I think we will need fresh Valencia and Young for the Chelsea game so I would rest them. Darmian don't feel great, but he can hopefully do a decent job. Jones need protection back from injury so would certainly rest him. Bailly as well probably.

    De Gea
    Darmian Smalling Lindelöf Blind
    Matic Herrera
    Mata Mkhitaryan Martial
    Lukaku

    I would start Lingard and Rashford against Chelsea so for that reason have them on the bench here as well. We need Mkhitaryan to find some form and this game could be good for him.
     
    roonster09 said:
    He lost the header, it was Dier who lost Martial for the goal.
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    Well, even better, two players who made errors late in the game, allowing us to win it, in part due to having played midweek.

    It also partially answers the doubts some fans have about why Mourinho doesn't usually start both Rashford and Martial. Who would, later in games, surprise the opponents with their speed and movement, when they are tiring?
     
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    Rest some of the players ahead of Chelsea. A draw here is enough.

    The result on the weekend is far more important than this.
     
    Going to this one, so hoping there's not too much mucking about with the lineup.
    Save that for when we've qualified, which if we win this one, can be the next 2!
     
    sunama said:
    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.
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    What? He’s not even the worst keeper on Merseyside. The Chuckle Brothers at LFC have something to say about that.
     
    sunama said:
    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.
    Click to expand...

    Either this is a poor attempt at humor or you're drunk. Not a good look either way!
     
    A win would be very nice but I think we should be looking to rotate. We should completely change the backline as we have players who deserve/are in need of minutes plus I wouldn't mind seeing Carrick if he's fit. I would also start Martial and Mata.

    We should win this one at home but a draw wouldn't be awful.
     
    There's five days between this and the Chelsea game, so we should be able to play everyone but the most fatigued ones i.e. Matic and maybe Valencia. Would like to see us win this one to turn the last two CL group games into formalities.

    Also hope to see Pogba get 20 minutes!
     
    I know he's getting his fair share of minutes at Valencia but this is the kind of game that would've been perfect for Pereira. It's annoying all the injuries in midfield had to coincide.
     
    Fully expect Jose to run Matic, Rashford and Lukaku into the ground, idk why he does that. I would like to see a few players rested tomorrow.

    DDG
    Axel Bailly Lindelof
    Darmain Herrara McTominay Blind
    Lingard Martial Rashford
     
    "Our aim tomorrow is to qualify," declared Jose. "Ten points would be okay to qualify, but our main aim is to qualify first in the group. The statistics are what they are but Basel have had good results against CSKA and Benfica, a draw is not bad, but Benfica will give us a difficult match. They have their own ambition and pride and they will try to win, we just want to get to the last 16 by finishing first in the group."
     
    Just noticed our game with Chelsea is on next Sunday, so we ( and Chelsea ) will have 4 days to rest before the game. I don't find it a problem for both clubs to play a full team in CL games this week imo.
     
    The boss was asked whether he would consider playing Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial together in any upcoming games and he said: "We played Marcus and Anthony together in Swansea, one week ago, so yes, they can play together, that's no problem. What we cannot do is play with 12 players, and we cannot play with everybody at the same time."
     
    RedDevil@84 said:
    The boss was asked whether he would consider playing Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial together in any upcoming games and he said: "We played Marcus and Anthony together in Swansea, one week ago, so yes, they can play together, that's no problem. What we cannot do is play with 12 players, and we cannot play with everybody at the same time."
    Click to expand...

    I'm cool with that. If Jose wants to give Lukaku a break why not go with Rashford and Martial? Otherwise rotate them on the left again and give the Benfica rightback a 90+ min footballing colonic.
     
    Lukaku needs a goal so I certainly hope he isn't rested for this one
     
    12OunceEpilogue said:
    I'm cool with that. If Jose wants to give Lukaku a break why not go with Rashford and Martial? Otherwise rotate them on the left again and give the Benfica rightback a 90+ min footballing colonic.
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    Don't think Lukaku would want rest. He would be eager to be back on the scoring sheet. Though his assist on weekend was superb effort.

    Meanwhile Jose:
    "I think Romelu is one of the players who should be untouchable in terms of respect from everyone. What he does for the team is fantastic and to play football for a striker is not just about scoring goals. For me, he is untouchable in my team and I think he should be untouchable in the support and the respect he deserves from the fans."

    So in short "My Lukaku always plays"
     
    We should play Mkhi in these sort of games and keep him out of the important ones like the one coming up at the weekend.
     
    Romero

    Axel - Smalling - Lindelof - Darmian

    Herrera - McTominay

    Mkhi - Mata - Lingard

    Martial​
     
    We have enough depth around the park to rotate freely while still having a strong enough team to put Benfica to bed. The only concern for me is midfield. I think we will rest Herrera and play Matic
     
    Benfica are so poor, we should field the reserves given the good start + Chelsea on Sunday.
    Romero, Lingard, Tuanzebe, Lindelöf, Martial (sadly, given the lack of minutes this season), Blind, Darmian, Smalling, Mata and McTominay etc.
     
    This would be a good game to give Shaw a run out. It won't happen though.
     
    I fully expect Jose to play a strong side and attempt to put this group to bed. Some of you have some shocking line ups quite frankly and we shouldn't be assuming qualification from the group just yet. We don't play Chelsea until Sunday, which provides an extra day to rest; no reason not to do everything we can to kill this group off now.

    I don't expect Pogba back until after the international break, at soonest.
     
    PieCrust said:
    I fully expect Jose to play a strong side and attempt to put this group to bed. Some of you have some shocking line ups quite frankly and we shouldn't be assuming qualification from the group just yet. We don't play Chelsea until Sunday, which provides an extra day to rest; no reason not to do everything we can to kill this group off now.

    I don't expect Pogba back until after the international break, at soonest.
    Click to expand...

    I second that. The fact that there's an international break just after that makes it that we don't need to rotate, we need to put this group to bed right now, with the games in november and december we can't allow ourselves to be dragged in a fight for the top spot in the CL in the last two games.

    Before anyone jumps on the "we have a lot of internationals in our squad" well, almost all the national teams of our players are qualified. so it's not like their going to play high intensity games.

    The only players i would understand resting are the injury prone ones: Jones.
    the ones that played all our games: Matic, Valencia and maybe young (Lukaku doesn't put as much effort as Matic so he's okay).
    And the ones that came recently from injuries: Bailly and maybe Marcus.

    I would go with:

    De Gea
    Darmian
    Smalling
    Lindelof
    Shaw/Blind
    Herrera
    Scott/Matic
    Jesse
    Mata/Mkhi
    Martial
    Lukaku
     
    Last edited by a moderator:
    RDCR07 said:
    Romero

    Axel - Smalling - Lindelof - Darmian

    Herrera - McTominay

    Mkhi - Mata - Lingard

    Martial​
    Click to expand...
    No chance he’ll play a second rate team like that in the CL. I’d expect Tony, Matic and De Gea all to start.

    I know we’re running away with our group but Jose knows we can’t be too careful and I doubt he’d use it as an opportunity to give some a run out.
     
    I'd like to see Tuanzebe given another run out, with little changed in the rest of the team. Option to bring on someone (Martial?) for Lukaku if he gets his goal.
     
    Jose insisting we won't field a weak team. No idea what the line up is going to be.
     
    abhayselvan said:
    Jose insisting we won't field a weak team. No idea what the line up is going to be.
    Click to expand...

    GK - Both keepers are excellent
    Defense - Except Lindelof, most are having a par season. So whatever combination we put, we have more or less the same quality. Unless we play youngsters in all positions, which wont happen.
    Forwards - Lukaku, Martial will definitely play. So nothing much here
    Maybe we will experiment a bit with midfield. But I dont see Jose resting Herrera and Matic given how thin we are in midfield options.

    So overall we are still strong team (on paper at least)
     
    Tough to predict the line-up, Jose certainly won't go second string though.

    Man United 2 - 0 Benfica
    Rashford, Martial
     
    Yes, I don't work in the medical / fitness department at United, but surely we need to give some players a rest here?

    The likes of Matic, Valencia, Rashford and Lukaku in particular.

    Need them to be ready to go for Chelsea on the weekend.
     
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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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