Manchester United have an uphill task going into the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 meeting with Paris Saint-Germain.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side trail 2-0 and have an injury list longer than the club’s record of honours: Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian and Juan Mata are all unavailable.
Making things even more difficult for the Red Devils is Paul Pogba’s absence through suspension following his red card in the first leg.
Meanwhile, PSG are still without Neymar because of a broken metatarsal, and Edinson Cavani won’t be fit enough to start as he continues his own recovery from injury.
So, how will both sides line up in the French capital? Here are some PSG vs Man Utd predicted XIs from Britain’s media outlets.
1. Dani Alves vs Fred in Brazilian midfield battle
In our preview of the game, we predicted there will be a battle of the Brazilians in central midfield, with United’s Fred coming up against PSG’s Dani Alves.
Alves, renowned for his ability as a full-back, has played in just about every position since joining PSG from Juventus. In the first leg, he played on the right wing, often surprising his direct opponent Luke Shaw by cutting inside. Indeed, the veteran right-back is also able to play through the middle, where he could line up next to Marco Verratti and Leandro Paredes.
Meanwhile, United may be forced to line up with a relatively inexperienced midfield trio of Fred, Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira. Fred has played just 190 minutes of Champions League football so far this season, but the absence of Pogba, Matic and Herrera will give him the chance to show his ability and perhaps prove he is worthy of a starting spot.
Our preview also envisions Ashley Young playing in a more advanced role on the right with Diogo Dalot coming in at right-back.
2. Dalot and Rashford flanking Lukaku
The Mirror also believes United will stick with a 4-3-3 formation. However, they think Young will remain at right-back, with Diogo Dalot pushed into a more attacking position, possibly on the left.
Dalot will be expected to join Marcus Rashford, who could start on the right, in flanking centre-forward Romelu Lukaku. But the youngster’s inclusion will also mean Luke Shaw isn’t constantly exposed down United’s left. Of course, Dalot may start on the right instead, giving Rashford the opportunity to cut inside from the left, which in turn would permit Shaw to make overlapping runs.
If the full-backs are to get forward, McTominay must be constantly on hand to drop back and help centre-backs Victor Lindelof and Chris Smalling.
The Mirror‘s predicted Man Utd XI vs PSG: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Fred, Pereira; Rashford, Lukaku, Dalot.
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3. Tuchel to trust XI that won at Old Trafford
Despite the fact Thomas Meunier is available after missing the first leg with a concussion, the London Evening Standard predicts Thomas Tuchel will stick with the line-up that got the job done at Old Trafford.
That means PSG will line up in a hybrid of a 3-4-3 and a 4-2-3-1. Alves will essentially play as a winger with Thilo Kerer behind him at right-back. But when United attack, Alves can drop into a wing-back role, and Kehrer will become one of three centre-backs. Marquinhos, who was excellent in the first leg, will partner Verratti in midfield if Tuchel goes with this system.
As for United, the Standard thinks Solskjaer will go with a 4-4-2. Rashford and Lukaku will start up front with Dalot on the right wing and either Fred or Pereira drifting out to the left; Shaw will probably provide most of the width down that side.
The Evening Standard‘s predicted PSG XI vs Man Utd: Buffon; Kehrer, Kimpembe, Silva; Alves, Marquinhos, Verratti, Bernat; Di Maria, Draxler, Mbappe.
The Evening Standard‘s predicted Man Utd XI vs PSG: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; Dalot, McTominay, Pereira, Fred; Lukaku, Rashford.
4. Pereira the false No. 9
The Express picked up on Andreas Pereira’s positional change against Southampton on Saturday. After Alexis Sanchez was substituted due to injury, Pereira was shifted into the false No. 9 role, where within seconds he was on the scoresheet. It was the Brazil international’s first Premier League goal.
As a result, there is a chance Pereira will start in that position in Paris with Lukaku and Rashford drifting out wide, a scenario that would call for another central midfielder to come into the team. The Express have included Jones but on Tuesday morning, United revealed the 27-year-old hasn’t travelled to France.
With that in mind, Solskjaer may be forced to abandon his false No. 9 plan for Pereira, using him in the midfield three and introducing another wide player.
The Express‘ predicted Man Utd XI vs PSG: De Gea; Young, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Jones*, Fred; Pereira; Rashford, Lukaku.
*Phil Jones hasn’t travelled to France due to injury.
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