Manchester United will be looking to make the perfect start to their 2021-22 Champions League group-stage campaign when they take on Young Boys in Switzerland on Tuesday night.
Manchester United have won 50% of their UEFA Champions League games against Swiss opponents (W4 D2 L2), with every game coming in the group stages against either Basel (W2 D2 L2) or Young Boys (W2).
Young Boys have lost their previous two UEFA European matches against Manchester United, losing two group stage matches in the 2018-19 season.
In all European competition, Young Boys have only won one of their eight matches against English opponents (D1 L6), winning 3-2 against Spurs in the UEFA Champions League qualifying play-offs in August 2010 under Vladimir Petković – they lost the second leg 4-0 and went out 6-3 on aggregate.
Young Boys featured in the UEFA Champions League once previously, finishing bottom of the table in the group stage in 2018-19. Their first match in that campaign was at home to Manchester United, losing 3-0.
Manchester United have lost their first match in just one of their last 21 UEFA Champions League campaigns (W13 D7), losing 2-1 to PSV in the 2015-16 season under Louis van Gaal.
Manchester Uniterd Teasm News:
United, meanwhile, will again be without the services of Marcus Rashford and Alex Telles, while Dean Henderson and Phil Jones are unlikely to be involved despite recently recovering from their recent issues.
Scott McTominay could be in contention, having made a quick return from groin surgery, but it seems more likely that the Scotland international will be saved for the West Ham clash. Fred, though, is in line to return to the midfield, having been an unused substitute against Newcastle due to the uncertainty surrounding his participation stemming from a FIFA suspension, which was ultimately lifted.
Edinson Cavani will be hoping to shake off the knock that forced him to miss the clash with the Magpies, but Solskjaer could resist the temptation to rest Ronaldo following his two-goal performance on Saturday.
It would not be a surprise to see Paul Pogba moved to the left, dropping Jadon Sancho to the bench, but Solskjaer might feel that the England international needs minutes in his legs, so a very similar side could take to the field for the second successive match despite the relatively quick turnaround.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Pogba; Greenwood, Fernandes, Sancho; Ronaldo
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