MX23RW : Tuesday, October 2 17:21:55
Oct 2, 2018 at 8pm UK at ​Old Trafford
Man UtdManchester United
vs.
Valencia

How Manchester United could line up against Valencia

Sports Mole looks at how out-of-form Manchester United could line up for their Champions League Group H showdown with Valencia at Old Trafford.

Manchester United welcome Valencia to Old Trafford on Tuesday night looking to return to winning ways with their season quickly descending into chaos.

The well-documented problems off the field have manifested themselves on it, with United enduring a nightmare week which has seen them draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, crash out of the EFL Cup at home to Championship side Derby County and lose to West Ham United.

The future of manager Jose Mourinho is now making as many headlines as his reported fallout with Paul Pogba, and while a solution to the latter problem is perhaps more difficult to see, only victories will quieten the rest of the speculation with the shadow of Zinedine Zidane looming.

United's last victory was their 3-0 triumph over Young Boys on matchday one of Group H, and here Sports Mole looks at how they could line up as they bid to make it two wins from two in the Champions League this season.



Possible MNU XI vs. VAL

Out: Marcos Rojo (knock)
Doubtful: Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Ander Herrera

There will be plenty of scrutiny on both the personnel and the formation selected by Mourinho in this match after he used Scott McTominay in a 3-5-2 system against West Ham at the weekend.

Mourinho hailed McTominay as his best defender on that occasion, but for the second time this season it was a system which proved unsuccessful and it would be a surprise to see him stick with it on Tuesday night.

Instead, the Portuguese is likely to revert to a 4-3-3 formation, which could see returns for Fred in midfield and captain Antonio Valencia - who also missed the opening Champions League game - at right-back.

Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Ander Herrera all missed training on Monday and are doubts for this game, while it remains to be seen whether Pogba - man of the match against Young Boys but hooked with 20 minutes remaining at the weekend - retains his starting place.

Alexis Sanchez was a high-profile absentee from the matchday squad against West Ham but could return in place of Anthony Martial, who failed to make the most of his start at the weekend.

Juan Mata will be desperate to start against his former club but may be forced to play second fiddle to Marcus Rashford after the youngster's goalscoring cameo off the bench at the London Stadium.

Romelu Lukaku will lead the line, meanwhile, despite failing to score in his last four games.

> Click here to see how Valencia could line up for this fixture

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Who will win Tuesday's Champions League clash between Manchester United and Valencia?

Man Utd
Draw
Valencia
Man Utd
59.2%
Draw
18.4%
Valencia
22.4%
Alexis Sanchez in action for Manchester United on August 10, 2018
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