Manchester United have taken an injury-hit squad to Germany to face Bayern Munich for the Champions League opener.
Manchester United will get the hardest group stage fixture out the way early with a trip to the Allianz Arena to take on Bayern Munich. Games against FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray will follow.
It is reminiscent of three years ago when United were drawn to kick off the campaign away at Paris Saint-Germain. This was a match United won 2-1, with current Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel in charge of PSG.
He will be well aware of the threat United pose. Tuchel was also manager when an injury-hit United knocked PSG out of the last 16, just a year earlier.
Predicted Manchester United XI
An extended injury list makes Manchester United’s task particularly tricky. Jadon Sancho and Antony are also not considered, while Donny van de Beek was left out of the Champions League squad.
It is in defence where the team is most stretched. United have named four goalkeepers in the squad and just five defenders.
With this in mind, it is easy to forecast who will line up in front of Andre Onana in the Manchester United goals.
Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof and Sergio Reguilon will start, with Jonny Evans the only other available defender.
The big question for manager Erik ten Hag is whether he will stick with the 4-3-1-2 formation which was easily torn apart by Bayern, or revert to the 4-3-3. We project he will turn back to the latter.
This would see Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes form a three-man midfield, with a dilemma over who will start on the right wing.
We are predicting that Ten Hag will spring a surprise and select teenager Alejandro Garnacho for his Champions League debut on the right.
Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund will complete the attack, with the latter looking for his first goal in a Manchester United shirt, on just his second start for the club.
Manchester United travelling squad
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Andre Onana, Radek Vitek.
Defenders: Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Sergio Reguilon, Diogo Dalot, Jonny Evans.
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Facundo Pellistri, Scott McTominay, Dan Gore, Hannibal.
Forwards: Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, Omari Forson.
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