A point for Manchester United at Basel this evening would guarantee qualification into the second round of this season’s Champions League as Group A winners.
Jose Mourinho will be keen to get the group wrapped up before we host CSKA Moscow in a fortnight’s time, five days before the Manchester derby.
FC Basel will be keen to get something from this match themselves as they are in second place, level on points with CSKA Moscow who are currently in action versus bottom of the group Benfica.
The two teams for this evening’s game are confirmed as:
Manchester United
Sergio Romero; Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind; Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini; Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial; Romelu Lukaku
Substitutes: Joel Pereira, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay, Marcus Rashford, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Jose Mourinho has given Paul Pogba his second start in five days after making his return versus Newcastle United over the weekend. The French star had been out with a hamstring injury since mid-September when he captained the side versus FC Basel in the reverse fixture. Pogba captains the side again tonight.
The boss has made a change in goal with Sergio Romero getting his first start in the competition this season whilst Marcos Rojo partners Chris Smalling in central defence. The Argentine defender made his return to the bench on Saturday after being out since the end of April.
Marouane Fellaini partners Ander Herrera in front of the back four. We have not conceded a single goal in any competition when the Belgian midfielder has been on the pitch this season.
Jesse Lingard starts down the right wing needing a yellow card to wipe his slate clean before the knockout rounds by being suspended for our final group game. Anthony Martial starts down the left, with Marcus Rashford the only winger named among the substitutes.
FC Basel
Tomas Vaclik; Serey Die, Manuel Akanji, Marek Suchy, Eder Balanta, Raoul Petretta; Renato Steffen, Luca Zuffi, Michael Lang, Mohamed Elyounoussi; Dimitri Oberlin
Substitutes: Mirko Salvi, Alexander Fransson, Albian Ajeti, Blas Riveros, Neftali Manzambi, Cedric Itten, Kevin Bua
20-year-old Dimitri Oberlin is the Swiss club’s top scorer in the Champions League this season with three goals in four group stage matches (2 starts).
Right-back Michael Lang and central midfielder Luca Zuffi are the only other players in the Basel starting XI with a goal in this season’s competition.
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