Manchester United will look to keep their faint UEFA Champions League Round of 16 qualification hopes alive when they host Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
The curtains will fall on the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 this week with Matchday 6 of the group stage. The marquee fixture of the latest phase will greet us on Tuesday night, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich locking horns at Old Trafford.
Manchester United have endured a disastrous 2023/24 campaign thus far, even though they are sixth in the Premier League standings. The Red Devils have lost (11) as many games as they have won (11) thus far this season. The latest setback came in a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at home this past week. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag’s men are rooted to the bottom of their group in the UEFA Champions League after losing three of their five outings thus far.
On the other hand, Bayern Munich started the 2023/24 season poorly, losing to RB Leipzig in the DFL Supercup final. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel’s men lost their first Bundesliga game this past weekend, dropping four points behind the table-topping Bayer Leverkusen. But the Bavarian giants have already reached the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after winning four of the first five game games (D1).
The reverse fixture was a goal-fest that ended in a 4-3 win for Bayern Munich, with Matyhs Tel scoring the late winner. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Erik ten Hag has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, the Manchester United manager will be bereft of the services of at least six first-team players.
The good news is Casemiro has resumed training ahead of the Matchday 6 clash with Bayern Munich. But the Brazilian international might not be fit enough to start on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez (foot), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Christian Eriksen (knee), Mason Mount (calf), and Amad Diallo (knee) remain on the sidelines.
In addition, Jadon Sancho remains unavailable due to his ongoing tiff with Erik ten Hag. In his absence, Antony and Marcus Rashford should feature on the flanks, with Rasmus Hojlund spearheading the Manchester United attack against Bayern Munich.
Bruno Fernandes will reprise his usual role in the final third, with Scott McTominay joining him in advanced positions. Kobbie Mainoo will complete the midfield unit, looking to hold the fort in front of the defensive quartet.
Speaking of the backline, Raphael Varane should return for a rare start, with Victor Lindelof dropping out. The Frenchman will accompany Harry Maguire at the heart of the defence, with Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka being the two full-backs. Finally, Andre Onana should feature between the sticks for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Shaw; Mainoo; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, McTominay, Rashford; Hojlund
Bayern Munich
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Thomas Tuchel has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Bayern Munich boss will be without four first-team players on Tuesday.
Serge Gnabry is the latest absentee, with the German international suffering a hamstring strain against Eintracht Frankfurt this past weekend. The 28-year-old has joined Tarek Buchmann (thigh), Matthijs de Ligt (knee), and Bouna Sarr (knee) on the sidelines.
Manuel Neuer will take his spot between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. The defensive quartet should feature Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, and Raphael Guerreiro, with Tuchel making surgical changes on the flanks.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich. The duo will look to control the proceedings from their deep-lying positions on the pitch. That will allow the offensive quartet of Harry Kane, Leroy Sane, Thomas Muller, and Jamal Musiala to express themselves freely in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Goretzka, Kimmich; Musiala, Muller, Sane; Kane
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich have won five and drawn five of 12 UEFA Champions League games against Manchester United (L2).
- Thomas Tuchel is currently on a five-match unbeaten run against Manchester United (W2 D3).
- Bayern Munich are unbeaten in a record 39 UEFA Champions League group games (W34 D4).
- Only Royal Antwerp (14) have conceded more goals in the UEFA Champions League this season than Manchester United (15).
- Kane has four goals and two assists in this season’s UEFA Champions League. The English international has found the back of the net ten times while providing six assists in 20 games against Manchester United.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Harry Kane is always under the spotlight when he takes the field. But we have picked Bruno Fernandes for Tuesday’s mammoth fixture between Manchester United and Bayern Munich after he came under the scanner after the heavy defeat to Bournemouth.
Pundits and fans often accuse the Portuguese international of ‘whinging’ when the chips are down. So, Bruno Fernandes will be eager to prove his naysayers wrong by producing a match-winning performance. While that prospect looks unlikely, the 29-year-old needs to step up and lead by example amid calls for his head on the captaincy front.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-4 Bayern Munich
Both teams have vulnerable defensive units, with Manchester United, in particular, leaving a lot to be desired. The Red Devils have conceded an average of nearly three goals per game in the UEFA Champions League this season. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich let in a whopping five strikes this past weekend to Eintracht Frankfurt.
So, goals should be on the menu, as was the case in the reverse fixture. But Manchester United should not have the quality to spring a surprise and book a spot in the Round of 16. The Hard Tackle predicts a 4-2 win for Thomas Tuchel and his charges, with the home side finishing at the bottom of Group A.