FC Rostov vs Manchester United – UEFA Europa League – Preview

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Sreya

FC Rostov vs Manchester United – Manchester United travel to Olimp-2 Stadium to face FC Rostov in the first leg of their Round of 16 UEFA Europa League tie on 9th March, Thursday.

Manchester United overcame Saint Etienne in the Round of 32 by a combined scoreline of 4-0 over both legs while FC Rostov eliminated Sparta Praha with a 3-0 win at home followed by a 1-1 draw away.

Manchester United are still battling for a top four spot in the English Premier League but winning the Europa League would be an easier method for Jose Mourinho’s side to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.

Manchester United drew 1-1 against AFC Bournemouth in the weekend while FC Rostov are coming into this match on the back of a 6-0 win.

Team News

Soslan Dzhanaev and Dmitriy Poloz will face late fitness tests but the visitors are without the injured Bastian Schweinsteiger and the suspended Eric Bailly. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is listed as a doubt as well.

FC Rostov Possible Starting Lineup: Nikita Medvedev, Miha Medvlja, Cesar Navas, Vladimir Granat, Timofei Kalachev, Aleksandr Erokhin, Aleksandru Gatcan, Christian Noboa, Fyodor Kudryashov, Aleksandr Bukharov, Sardar Azmoun.

Manchester United Possible Starting Lineup: David de Gea, Antonio Valencia, Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling Daley Blind, Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“It is a bad draw in every aspect. It is far, it is difficult and comes in a bad period for us. It is difficult because they are a very difficult team. They had a very good Champions League campaign.”

– Jose Mourinho, Manchester United.

According to FC Rostov vs Manchester United H2H Stats, these two clubs have never faced each other before. Manchester United have won six of their seven previous UEFA Europa League matches, keeping a clean sheet in four of those games.

The Russian club had a strong season in the UEFA Champions League group stages but Manchester United are likely to win 2-1 tonight.