Man United vs Bayern Munich – Champions League: Live score, team news and updates as Erik ten Hag’s side go in search of win that would keep qualification hopes alive plus updates from Copenhagen vs Galatasaray
United players head back to the dressing room
Warm-ups have been concluded and United’s stars are heading back down the tunnel, could their next walk out for kick off be the final time they hear the Champions League anthem this season?
Bayern are a special team and one of the favourites for the competition but United have their backs agains the wall and this is a season-defining clash.
Thomas Tuchel insists Bayern are here to win
Bayern could relax tonight if they wanted to because they have already qualified as group leaders for the next round of the Champions League, but boss Thomas Tuchel insisted there will be no such relaxed approach at Old Trafford.
Harry Kane leads the line for the visitors and the former Spurs captain loves scoring at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag addresses Man United's form
The Manchester United manager has overseen a difficult season so far in both Europe and domestically this season, but has been addressing their issues pre-match on TNT Sports.
Ten Hag described this season as ‘high highs and low lows’ but backed United to produce a performance tonight.
‘High highs and low lows. We have to have more consistency in our performances and work very hard for that,’ he said.
It’s not always sunshine, it’s like life but it’s about the final picture and in the end you have to get a result. I have to bring the belief to my team and when we have that we will finish strong.
We have the opportubity to win the game and the fans will be behind us when we energise them. We want to stay in Europe and have to win,’ added Ten Hag.
A good time to play Bayern Munich?
Manchester United have been in torrid form of their own recently, but Bayern were surprisingly hammered themselves at the weekend as Frankfurt put five past them.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are wounded from their Bundesliga thrashing and United can inflict further misery tonight. Bayern have already qualified for the next round as group winners but will want to make a statement at Old Trafford.
The visitors are wounded but could that make them more dangerous? Rio Ferdinand who has been speaking pitchside thinks so.
Marcus Rashford misses out
The Manchester United winger missed training yesterday citing an illness and hasn’t been included in tonight’s match squad to face Bayern Munich.
It’s interesting because if Rashford hadn’t signed a new mega-deal at the club in the summer then tonight’s squad is possibly how they would be lining up anyway.
The Englishman has struggled for form this season, having been dropped against both Chelsea and Bournemouth recently, but will be gutted to miss out tonight in Europe’s biggest cup competition.
What a chance this could be for Alejandro Garnacho and Antony to further cement their starting roles.
Bayern's last trip to Old Trafford
These two European giants have shared some epic battles over the years and tonight promises to be another brilliant clash.
But it’s been nine-years since the Germans played at Old Trafford, that time it was a 1-1 draw against David Moyes’ Manchester United that momentarily kept his tenure at the club alive.
Nemanja Vidic and Bastian Schweinsteiger were on the scoresheet that night, but United can’t afford a draw tonight, a win is the only option.
Scott McTominay's rallying call
The Scotsman is surprisingly United’s top scorer this season and has issued a rallying call to his teamates and the club’s fans ahead of kick-off.
McTominay admitted results haven’t been good enough this season, but insisted tonight is an opportunity to rectify that against one of the world’s best teams.
Varane returns for United
Raphael Varane starts for United tonight in his first match back since United’s win over Luton on November 11 when he played just over 10 minute.
The former Real Madrid defender is a serial Champions League winner, but it’s curious Erik ten Hag has opted to start him in such a big match tonight given his lack of game time recently.
Varane has drastically fallen down the pecking order this season, but if you’re going to make a statement to be top of the lot then tonight is when he has to do it.
BAYERN MUNICH TEAM NEWS – Kane leads the line
MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS – Varane and Hojlund start
Old Trafford tunnel walk
Kick off is at 8pm and the atmosphere is building at Old Trafford, but Bayern have already ha a glimpse at what lies ahead when they trained in Manchester yesterday.
The German visitors are used to the big occasion, but can United spring one of the great Champions League surprises tonight?
How can United qualify tonight?
Despite winning just one Champions League match this season – a home win over Copenhagen – Manchester United can still qualify for the knockout stages tonight. But they will need a miracle to do so.
United have to beat Bayern Munich to stand any chance of doing so, while Copenhagen and Galatasaray must draw. Both of those results would see Erik ten Hag’s side scrape through by a single point.
It’s a huge ask, but this is the Champions League and anything can happen.
United star's have arrived
There was none of the typical pre-match smiles from players as they arrived at Old Trafford, tonight they are in survival mode against one of Europe’s best teams.
Fans welcomed United’s players to Old Trafford, but will they still be celebrating at full-time?
Good evening and welcome to Old Trafford
Good evening, thanks for joining us and welcome to Old Trafford on a night where Manchester United’s Champions League journey could be ended.
The Germans from Munich are tonight’s visitors and United – still reeling from a weekend hammering against Bournemouth – need to produce their best performance of the season to stand any chance.
Kick-off is at 8pm and we have plenty to cover before then.
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