Man Utd vs Villarreal: Champions League preview, workforce information, stats, kick-off time

Staff information and stats forward of Man Utd vs Villarreal within the Champions League group stage on Wednesday; kick-off 8pm.

Staff information

Manchester United can be with out Harry Maguire in opposition to Villarreal, with the defender dominated out for a “few weeks” with a calf harm.

The 28-year-old centre-back, who missed dealing with the Spanish aspect in United’s Europa League ultimate defeat in Might, limped off within the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 residence defeat to Aston Villa within the Premier League.

Maguire missed coaching on Tuesday morning, as did left-back Luke Shaw. Shaw may but function on Wednesday, however United skipper Maguire faces a spell out of motion.

“Luke has been in [on Tuesday], so I will give him an opportunity to be concerned,” United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stated.

“Harry is kind of undoubtedly out. It does not look good. So, other than that, from the bruised satisfaction from the outcome, we must be able to go.”

Pushed on Maguire’s scenario, Solskjaer stated: “It is his calf. That may take a number of weeks, so let’s have a look at how shortly he recovers.”

Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo educated away from the principle group on Tuesday as they proceed rehabilitation from harm, whereas Aaron Wan-Bissaka will miss out by way of suspension after being despatched off in his aspect’s shock 2-1 loss at Younger Boys.

Villarreal can be with out two key gamers for the conflict.

Midfielder Francis Coquelin is suspended, whereas striker Gerard Moreno – who scored within the Gdansk ultimate in addition to netting his penalty within the Spaniards’ dramatic 11-10 shootout win – is injured.

Solskjaer embracing stress: ‘I am right here to win’

Solskjaer once more underlined his willpower to deliver silverware again to Manchester United forward of the sport.

United completed as Premier League runners-up final season and reached the Europa League ultimate, just for their bid to win a primary trophy underneath Solskjaer to finish in a galling penalty-shootout loss to Villarreal.

4 months on, the golf equipment are going toe-to-toe within the Champions League group stage as United look to bounce again from three losses in 4 matches in all competitions.

The run of outcomes has led to renewed scrutiny and Solskjaer stated: “It is nonetheless not a must-win recreation however it’s an important recreation undoubtedly.

“As I stated after Younger Boys, residence video games when you get three wins and also you win one away recreation then try to be by way of, or you can be by way of.

“The main target is on three factors. We have been taking a look at Villarreal once more, trying on the ultimate, what we are able to do higher, what labored and what was good in that recreation and we’ll get a superb response from the weekend, after all.”

Opposition in focus: Will United have discovered?

4 months on from defeating Manchester United on penalties within the Europa League ultimate in Gdansk to offer boss Unai Emery a fourth triumph in that competitors, the Yellow Submarine meet the Pink Devils once more at Previous Trafford.

Villarreal kicked off their Group F fixtures with a 2-2 residence draw with Atalanta and are eleventh in La Liga with eight factors from six video games, having received one and drawn the opposite 5.

Solskjaer says he has studied Might’s assembly once more however will he have the ability to keep away from a repeat of a recreation by which key gamers had been annoyed?

The Norwegian had set his aspect as much as play on the entrance foot, sacrificing Fred in an effort to accommodate an additional attacker with Paul Pogba dropping again into the midfield, however the Frenchman supplied little from a central place in the way in which of creativity.

Bruno Fernandes was additionally stifled in Poland, failing to register a shot on course or create a single likelihood in 120 minutes, whereas Edinson Cavani had fewer touches than another outfield participant on the pitch within the first half of the competition.

In addition to a startling lack of attacking cohesion, defensive frailties had been evident too – and Maguire is after all lacking once more. A spate of early Dani Parejo corners triggered issues and a free-kick finally triggered injury, with Moreno making a darting run inside Victor Lindelof.

Moreno is absent this time however United will definitely should do higher defending harmful Parejo deliveries.

How you can comply with

Observe reside updates on the Sky Sports activities web site and app from 6.30pm on Wednesday; kick-off 8pm.

You may as well comply with updates and response on Gillette Soccer Particular reside on Sky Sports activities Information and Sky Sports activities Premier League from 7pm.

Opta stats

• The 5 conferences in European competitors between Manchester United and Villarreal have all led to attracts, with 4 of them goalless, apart from final season’s UEFA Europa League ultimate (1-1), which the Spaniards received 11-10 on penalties.
• The 4 UEFA Champions League clashes between Manchester United and Villarreal have all completed 0-0, making it essentially the most performed fixture within the historical past of the competitors to see no objectives scored.
• Manchester United are winless of their final seven video games in opposition to Spanish groups within the UEFA Champions League (D3 L4), with their final such victory coming in opposition to Actual Sociedad again in October 2013 (1-0).
• Villarreal are unbeaten of their final 16 main UEFA European video games (W12 D4) throughout the Europa League and Champions League, the longest present run of any aspect. The one Spanish workforce to have an extended run of unbeaten video games in UEFA European historical past is Espanyol between September 2006 and November 2019 (20 in a row).
• Manchester United misplaced on MD1 of this season’s UEFA Champions League in opposition to Younger Boys – they’ve by no means misplaced their opening two matches of a serious European marketing campaign of their historical past.
• If he performs on this recreation, it will likely be Cristiano Ronaldo’s first UEFA Champions League recreation at Previous Trafford for Manchester United since April 2009 (1-0 v Arsenal). The Portuguese was instantly concerned in 12 objectives in his ultimate 15 residence video games in his first spell for the Pink Devils within the competitors, netting seven objectives and offering 5 assists.
• Cristiano Ronaldo will break Iker Casillas’ file for UEFA Champions League appearances if he seems on this match, setting a brand new file of 178 video games. Nevertheless, Ronaldo has by no means scored in opposition to Villarreal in 4 earlier appearances in opposition to them within the competitors, solely dealing with Lille and Benfica as usually with out discovering the online (additionally 4 video games in opposition to them).