An away win at PSG last week made a mockery of forecasts that Manchester United could struggle in this tough Champions League group.
But without a follow up victory this week against RB Leipzig, the advantage gained from the win will not be so big.
Leipzig won their game against Istanbul Basaksehir and the Turkish side risk becoming the whipping boys of the group.
United can move to six points from two games with a home win over Leipzig on Wednesday night.
A win puts United in control
United will have played the two toughest teams in the group and come out on top, heading into back-to-back games against Istanbul.
These will be games United should be counting on getting six points from, if we have already knocked off PSG and Leipzig.
A win this week will enable United to get to 12 points from four games if we also win both matches against Istanbul, and clinch qualification with two games to spare.
This would be valuable from a squad rotation perspective, allowing Solskjaer to play a more experimental XI in the final two group games away at Leipzig and home to PSG, for instance selecting Dean Henderson in goal, giving Mason Greenwood starts up front, and picking Donny van de Beek.
This can also help United out in the Premier League when late November and December hits.
While United take on Istanbul, PSG and Leipzig will be taking points off each other in their games.
What about a draw or a loss?
A defeat will put Leipzig in control of the group heading into their two matches with PSG.
United will need to win both games against Istanbul. If we do, then we will be on nine points with two matches remaining even with a defeat here – but the last two games will still have something to play for.
A draw will ensure the group is wide open, with PSG expected to win in Turkey. Again, United will be relying on the Istanbul games.
Will this change United’s approach?
Victory against RB Leipzig this week will effectively make the task of qualification half-done, and you would say that the tougher half has be done too.
The chance to tie up the Champions League group early is a unique opportunity afforded to United after the away win in Paris.
Win the next three and we are into the knockout phases with 12 points, however the other results break.
This should come into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s thinking this week as he selects his squad.
There is a lot of case for rotation, with players like Paul Pogba, Nemanja and Mason Greenwood in need of games.
But Solskjaer could choose to throw everything he has at beating Leipzig this week and getting a crucial three points.
This could be done by picking a similar side to the one he has done in the last three matches, and then making changes at the weekend against Arsenal.
A win could do a lot for Solskjaer’s job security too. In the space of a week he would have beaten two sides who reached the last four of last season’s Champions League.
- Thomas Tuchel led England masterclass vs Mexico, but I still don’t want him managing Man United
- Elliot Anderson shows vs Mexico that Man Utd have done the hard part right, next step is crucial
- Manchester United plotting new bid to sign Felix Nmecha from Borussia Dortmund
- Ederson’s cameo vs Norway in Brazil’s loss proves Andrey Santos point about Man Utd’s rebuild
- Three reasons to get behind Manchester United move to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea
- Casemiro was dominated by Man United target who produced 117-pass masterclass at World Cup
- Marcus Rashford has a new challenge to overcome after England’s win against Mexico
- What Brazil elimination now means for Ederson transfer to Manchester United
- Brazilian press slam ‘unremarkable’ Matheus Cunha and Casemiro after World Cup defeat
- Man Utd learned three things from Mexico vs England, club’s biggest regret is clear
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
