Manchester United will be looking to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League if they can avoid defeat against RB Leipzig in Germany on Tuesday night.
The Red Devils are level on nine points with Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain and head into the fixture buoyed by the fact they beat the German side 5-0 at Old Trafford.
RB Leipzig v Manchester United Preview
Both sides came through unscathed to some extent as Leipzig drew 3-all with Bundesliga champions  Bayern Munich in an explosive game whilst United had to come from behind again to beat West Ham 3-1.
A group that has been topsy-turvy from the get-go has come down to how many expected it would be, a tight tussle between three of Europe’s most elite.
United set the group alight with an opening win against PSG to set a bold statement and then emphatically beating Julien Nagelsmann’s side 5-0. But the waters of the Black Sea jolted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir. A side who featured former Newcastle and Chelsea striker Demba Ba and a right-back United fans are familiar with in Brazilian Rafael.
To turn the tide totally, PSG got their revenge in Manchester with a 3-1 victory to set up a lively contest at the Red Bull Arena.
Team News For Tuesday’s Champions League Game
RB Leipzig must get a result against the 20-time Premier League champions to have any chance of progressing but must do it without key defender Dayot Upamecano who is suspended. In a huge blow to Nagelsmann, his other worrying issues come in for Benjamin Henrichs who is ruled out with a knee injury while Hee-chan Hwang recently tested positive for Covid-19 so is absent for the game.
As for the Red Devils, Brazilian Fred is out of the important fixture after he was shown two yellow cards and sent off against PSG. With the Manchester Derby on the horizon against Manchester City, both strikers Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial doubt after picking up injuries against the Hammers. The Uruguayan forward limped off at half-time but is said to be a precaution and set to face Leipzig whilst it was expected that Martial suffered a groin injury but there have been no reports to confirm this.
David De Gea missed the game against West Ham with the knee injury he suffered against Southampton but Solskjaer may stick with Dean Henderson after his impressive performance on the weekend and rest the Spaniard for Sunday. Both Phil Jones and Luke Shaw remain sidelined.
Last Five Games
RB Leipzig
Bayern 3-3 Leipzig (5/12)
Istanbul Basaksehir 3-4 Leipzig (2/12)
Leipzig 2-1 Arminia Bielefeld (28/11)
PSG 1-0 Leipzig (24/11)
Frankfurt 1-1 Leipzig (21/11)
Manchester United
West Ham 1-3 Man United (5/12)
Man United 1-3 PSG (2/12)
Southampton 2-3 Man United (29/11)
Man United 4-1 Istanbul Basaksehir (24/11)
Man United 1-0 West Brom (21/11)
Predictions
RB Leipzig 2-2 Manchester United
Manchester United are up against it but the nature of the game will suit them. Counter-attacking football is the way Ole likes this side to play and with RB Leipzig’s defensive fragilities without Upamecano it will be an open game and it will be difficult for the German side to attack.
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