Manchester United vs Bayern Munich
UEFA Champions League, Quarter-Final, 1st Leg
Tuesday 1 April, 2014
19:45 KO (BST)
Old Trafford, Manchester
David Moyes: “It’s been a difficult season for us but we can go a long way to doing an awful lot better if we can get a result on Tuesday. The players are incredibly focused and I am really looking forward to the game.”
Darren Fletcher: “I can’t wait for it. What an occasion it’s going to be. It’s a Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford against Bayern Munich – it doesn’t come any bigger than that. We’ve got to get up for this game and really believe in ourselves. And we will.”
Phil Jones: “We are realistic and know how difficult the game is going to be. We know how well they are playing, they are in form and have won the league with seven games to go. But who knows? It is the Champions League, it is a home tie at Old Trafford and if we get the crowd behind us then you just never know.”
Starting XI from: David de Gea, Anders Lindegaard; Nemanja Vidic, Phil Jones, Rio Ferdinand, Alex Buttner; Adnan Januzaj, Ashley Young, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Shinji Kagawa; Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez
Doubts: Nani (hamstring), Chris Smalling (hamstring), Jonny Evans (calf), Antonio Valencia (knee), Rafael da Silva (hamstring)
Unavailable: Robin van Persie (knee), Juan Mata (ineligible), Patrice Evra (suspended)
Top scorers: Robin van Persie (4)
Most assists: Wayne Rooney (4)
UCL form: W D W W L W
Home record vs Bayern Munich: P4 W1 D2 L1 F4 A4
Pep Guardiola: “We’re up against Manchester United, one of the most important clubs in the world, regardless of their current situation. When I see Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Danny Welbeck, Chicharito, I know the quality of this team. And, for one or two games, they can have their performance of the season and beat us. It’s the truth.”
Arjen Robben: “We don’t let our opponents come up for air. That is the Bayern of Guardiola. Guardiola has turned us into the most dominant team in Europe. We have made another giant step as a team this season. Bayern have no fear of United at all.”
Starting XI from: Manuel Neuer, Tom Starke; Daniel van Buyten, Jan Kirchhoff, Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez, Diego Contento, David Alaba, Rafinha; Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mitchell Weiser, Julian Green, Toni Kroos, Mario Gotze, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller, Xherdan Shaqiri; Claudio Pizarro, Mario Mandzukic
Doubts: n/a
Unavailable: Thiago Alcantara (knee), Dante (suspended)
Top scorer: Thomas Muller (4)
Most assists: Arjen Robben, Philipp Lahm (3)
UCL form: W W W L W D
Previous meetings
United 3-2 Bayern (07-04-10)
Bayern 2-1 United (30-03-10)
United 0-0 Bayern (13-03-02)
Bayern 1-1 United (20-11-01)
Bayern 2-1 United (18-04-01)
Officials
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo.
The 43-year-old official has taken charge of 4 UEFA Champions League matches this season, brandishing 14 yellow cards and awarding 3 penalties. The Spaniard was last seen by United fans for the 1-0 UCL defeat to Galatasaray in November, 2012.
Assistants: Roberto Alonso Fernandez, Juan Carlos Yuste Jimenez.
Fourth Official: Roberto Diaz Perez Del Palomar.
Notes
United have kept 5 clean sheets in 8 UEFA Champions League fixtures this season – the best record in the competition.
Bayern’s record in England is average at best – 5 wins, 7 draws and 6 defeats.
United’s Rio Ferdinand and Bayern’s Javi Martinez are the only two players one yellow card away from missing the 2nd leg.
United have won their last 5 matches against German opposition.
United have scored at least one goal in the last 14 UEFA Champions League meetings with German clubs. The last to stop the Reds scoring? Bayern Munich in March 2002.
Bayern’s average possession figure of 69.3% per game is the best in this season’s competition.
United have won all 4 UEFA Champions League games at Old Trafford this season.
Bayern have won 7 UEFA Champions League away matches on the spin.
Bayern have won 4 penalties in this season’s UEFA Champions League – the most in the competition. Arjen Robben has won them all.
United 11/2 Draw 7/2 Bayern Munich 4/9
RedMancunian predictions
Jack (@jackkholt) – Sub-Editor: United 2-3 Bayern
Tricia (@Tr16ia) – Matchday Photo Editor: United 1-3 Bayern
Mark (@mdhzk3) – Podcaster: United 1-3 Bayern
Iwan (@IwanLehnert) – Writer: United 1-3 Bayern
One reply on “MATCH PREVIEW: Manchester United vs Bayern Munich”
Bayern can be beaten. Welbeck will make good on his next chance. Nice line up by Moyes. Very experienced. Bayern can tiki-taka all they want and have the most possession. All it takes is a minute or 2 to score on the counter attack. ManU just got to have patience and a calm mind. Let Bayern pass the ball around and be alert. It’s not really tiring defending against Bayern, ManU just has to keep their wits. Well done ManU in the 1st half.
Football is having more goals and not having more passes or possession.
Ferninand should retire. The mind is still there but the legs aren’t.
Job well done by Jones on both sides of the defense.
Whoever said Moyes has no tactics?
I think Moyes tactics got it right. Kagawa coming in the 2nd half was about right. ManU needed a dribbler and passer who could carry the ball during the counter attack. Giggs is inclined to pass than to carry the ball forward.
Chicharito brought in for quickness in the late stages. 2 Bayern players unavailable in the next leg.
We can do it! Same line up for next leg but I think Rio can’t do the full 90. Maybe 60 minutes only.