Whenever the morale has been down around Old Trafford this Season, it seems that a team from Merseyside has come to help the Red Devils. From dismantling Liverpool 3-1 at home in September – to dismissing Everton a month later away from home, it seems that Manchester United have enjoyed playing sides from up North this Season.
While they would be buzzing with the result, Manchester United should be wary to a trip to CSKA Moscow on Wednesday. In addition to the extreme weather conditions that tests the mettle of every team that visits Russia, the form of CSKA Moscow makes them a formidable opponent for Manchester United.
The Russian side have lost just one game this Season, and when you consider their form at home, CSKA Moscow are yet to lose a game at their home this Season. Thus, in addition to defying the weather conditions, Manchester United have to upset the odds when they play against Moscow on Wednesday.
Team News
Here are team News for both sides.
Manchester United
Apart from the three guaranteed absentees that have been ruled out of this fixture already, Manchester United have no doubtful players coming into this fixture. With Luke Shaw already sidelined for the whole of Season and Ashley Young still struggling with his calf injury, Paddy Mcnair is another player who won’t be available for selection.
The buck, however, stops at whether Louis Van Gaal would play Ander Herrera or not. The Spaniard has been in top form – as he has been for the most of his Manchester United career, however, thanks to some debatable decision making by Louis Van Gaal, Herrera hasn’t been able to retain his starting spot in the team.
But with such a powerful performance from the weekend on his back, Herrera is expected to outbid his team-mate Memphis Depay again in the pursuit of a first team spot. Juan Mata hadn’t enjoyed a brilliant evening against Everton, but he is also expected to lead the line.
CSKA Moscow
Sitting atop of the Russian Premier League after 12 matches – with 32 points under their belt, CSKA Moscow got a hard earned victory at the weekend. However, despite putting extra effort in winning a 5-goal thriller, the Russian side will be at full strength when it comes to players available.
Form Guide
Here is the form guide of both sides.
CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow 3-2 FC Ural
Dynamo Moscow 0-2 CSKA Moscow
CSKA Moscow 3-2 PSV Eindhoven
CSKA Moscow 1-1 Lokomotiv Moscow
FC Mordovia 4-6 CSKA Moscow
Manchester United
Everton 0-3 Manchester United
Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United
Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg
Manchester United 3-0 Sunderland
Manchester United 3-0 Ipswich Town
Probable Lineups
Here are the Probable lineups for both sides.
CSKA Moscow
Akinfeev – Berezutski – Fernandes – Ignashevich – Schennikov – Dzogoev – Natkho – Tosic – Wernbloom – Doumbia – Musa
Manchester United
De Gea – Darmian – Rojo – Smalling – Jones – Schweinsteiger – Schneiderlin – Herrera – Rooney – Mata – Martial
Van Gaal should continue to stick to this formation for positive results please. This is the best formation so far at the moment.