Preview
Manchester United will welcome AC Milan to Old Trafford as they aim to make the best of their last 16 first leg tie of this season's Europa League. Following a disappointing end to their Champions League hopes, the Red Devils successfully booked their spot into the second stage of the knockout phase by beating Real Sociedad 4-0 on aggregate in the Round of 32.
At the moment, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side is soaring in confidence as they rank among the most in-form teams in their domestic league despite their recent shortcomings. They come into the clash on the back of ending Manchester City's incredible 21-game winning run and will be poised to carry on the form to potentially get close to the Europa League title pipping their rivals to the Premier League trophy proves to be difficult with each passing game week. This is largely due to the fact that they have fallen short by accumulating numerous draws across their last 14 domestic outings. Bar the surprise 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United, six of such games ended in draws for the Old Trafford outfit.
Against a Serie A title contender in AC Milan, United will look to avoid another upsetting result with the Italian outfit presenting a stern challenge. A 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona helped the Rossoneri to keep up the pressure on rivals Inter Milan in the Scudetto race, and the San Siro outfit will be keen to build on this with successive wins. At the moment, six points separate them and the Nerrazzurri ahead of the weekend's encounter with Napoli.
In the grand scheme of things Milan, just like Manchester United, have also registered a number of poor results that have put their title charge in serious jeopardy. Of their previous 10 outings in the league, three have ended in defeats while one has been a draw.
It is without doubt that both clubs approach their first meeting in 11 years with rich histories and the outcome of the clash could set the tone for how far the pair could reach in the competition. Needless to say, history is on the side of Manchester United who have won as many as four of their previous five games against Milan on home soil. And with Stefano Pioli's men picking up just two wins from their last seven, the omen is quite good for the men from Old Trafford.
Team news
Manchester United have a long injury list and will have to make do without a number of their star men. For starters, Marcus Rashford picked up a knock to his ankle in the Manchester derby and is set to miss out on playing in the first leg encounter with AC Milan.
The likes of Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Phil Jones are long-term absentees while Edinson Cavani remains a doubt. David de Gea could be set for a bench role after missing United's last two games as a result of the birth of his son.
For Milan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be the most notable omission against his former club. Ismael Bennacer, Mario Mandzukic, Brahmin Diaz and Hakan Calhanoglu are all on the treatment table while Ante Revic and Theo Hernandes remain doubts.
Predicted starting Xi
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Manchester United: Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, McTominay; Greenwood, Fernandes, James; Cavani
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AC Milan: Donnarumma; Calabria, Kjaer, Romagnoli, Dalot; Tonali, Kessie; Saelemaekers, Diaz, Castillejo; Leao.
Broadcast information
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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