Benfica vs Manchester United – Lineups out!
Ladies and Gentlemen, your protagonists for tonight:
Benfica XI (4-4-2): Mile Svilar (GK), Douglas, Luisao, Ruben Diaz, Alex Grimaldo; Eduardo Salvio, Pizzi, Ljumbor Fejsa, Filipe Augusto; Diogo Goncalves Raul Jimenez
Subs:
Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): David De Gea (GK); Antonio Valencia, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind; Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera; Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Marcus Rashford; Romelu Lukaku
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Jones, McTominay, Lingard, Young, Martial
Preview
Benfica’s Andre Almeida is suspended after having been sent off against FC Basel in Switzerland and wily ol’ Maxi Pereira is expected to slot in – he will have a handful to deal with regardless of who amongst Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial Jose Mourinho opts to play tonight.
Rui Vitoria will, though, miss his prolific striker Jonas Oliviera who has a back injury… Jardel and Eliseu are also missing in action.
Manchester United, meanwhile, are still without Paul Pogba (who is recovering well from that freak hamstring injury he suffered against Basel if his Instagram videos are anything to go by, but this match is probably too soon for him). Eric Bailly may recover in time for the match, but the final assessment of his case will be made later tonight.
Michael Carrick and Mourinho favourite Marouane Fellaini remain on the sidelines, recovering from their ailments – so former Nemanja Matic will be expected to dominate midfield alongside Basque battler Ander Herrera.
