Manchester United vs Astana
Europa League 2019/20 season
Venue: Old Trafford
Date: Thursday 19th September, 2019
Kick-off time: 8pm BST
Manchester United begin their Europa League campaign at home to Astana at Old Trafford on Thursday.
United compete in Europe’s secondary competition for the third time in five seasons this term courtesy of another disappointing sixth place finish last season.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got his side back on track after an early wobble against Leicester last Saturday but is already seeing his squad tested as injuries set in.
Kazakh champions Astana will hope to throw another spanner in the works in what is their first ever game against English competition.
Team news and predicted line-up
Daniel James will miss Manchester United's Europa League opener against Astana along with Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial.
The fleet-footed winger picked up a knock in Saturday's win against Leicester and was absent from United's session on Wednesday, when Pogba (ankle) and Shaw (hamstring) did individual work.
Martial (thigh) and Eric Bailly (knee) are out through injury, but Jesse Lingard (illness) and Diogo Dalot (hip) trained with the rest of the squad on the eve of the match. Solskjaer has confirmed Mason Greenwood, Fred and Axel Tuanzebe will start against Astana, along with back-up goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Possible Man Utd XI: Romero; Dalot, Jones, Tuanzebe, Rojo; Garner, Fred; Lingard, Gomes, Chong; Greenwood.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Astana
While Solskjaer plans to field a young and largely experimental side, it shouldn't prevent United cruising to a relatively comfortable win.
Tickets
Click here for more information about Man Utd tickets.
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- Man Utd to win: 1/4
- Astana to win: 12/1
- Draw: 9/2
First goal scorer
- Mason Greenwood: 9/2
- Jesse Lingard: 11/2
- Juan Mata: 15/2
TV channel and live stream information
The match will be televised live on BT Sport 2 and can be streamed live online via the BT app and website.
You can follow all the action and analysis on Standard Sport's LIVE blog with James Robson at Old Trafford.
Head to head (h2h) results and history
This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides.
