need to beat Sevilla tonight in order to progress to the semi-finals of the .
’s side squandered a two-goal lead in the first leg at Old Trafford, despite a dominating performance against the Spanairds.
scored twice in the opening 20 minutes and United had further chances to finish off the tie but they conceded two late own goals to level the tie going into the second leg.
That draw was costly for United, and not just because of the scoreline. Lisandro Martinez suffered a foot injury that has ruled him out of the rest of the season, while Raphael Varane is out for a few weeks after being subbed at half-time.
But United will also be without Bruno Fernandes in Spain, after the midfielder was given a quite ridiculous yellow card for supposed handball when he blocked a shot on the edge of United’s box.
There’s better news for United as Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Marcel Sabitzer have all travelled, despite missing Sunday’s win against Nottingham Forest.
Ten Hag must get his team selection right if United are to progress and Metro.co.uk’s taken a look at a likely line-up for the trip to Spain.
Solskjaer’s back five
With Varane and Martinez out, Ten Hag is likely to stick with the centre-back partnership that kept a clean sheet against Forest on Sunday.
Maguire and Lindelof performed well at the City ground, though the former was perhaps fortunate not to concede a first-half penalty.
Malacia was at fault for Sevilla’s opener at Old Trafford and he missed Sunday’s game with a knee complaint.
Shaw has returned to training and if fit enough he will start at left-back, meaning it’s Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the other side.
Wan-Bissaka has been in better form and United will need his defensive solidity in Spain.
With De Gea in goal and a back four of Shaw, Maguire, Lindelof and Wan-Bissaka, United fans could be forgiven for thinking they’re watching Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 2019 United side.
Sabitzer back in with Eriksen deeper
Until Christian Eriksen’s return earlier this month, Ten Hag had been deploying Fernandes in a deeper role to combat the loss of the Dane’s playmaking.
It had been working well, with Fernandes putting in fantastic displays against Everton and Brentford.
That space in attacking midfield had been filled by Marcel Sabitzer, whose pressing from the front has been a large part of United’s form since the international break.
The Austrian scored twice in the first leg and he’ll fancy himself again in Spain in attack, while his defensive diligence could prove just as vital.
Casemiro is a certainty to start at the base of midfield, meaning Fred is once again overlooked.
Sancho to drop out as Rashford returns
Despite declaring he would be out for a ‘few weeks’, United will welcome Rashford back to the fold just 12 days after his groin injury against Everton.
The forward’s hit 28 goals this term and United simply cannot afford to go without him if he’s available tonight, such is their tendency to squander chances in front of goal.
United should have scored five or six in a 2-0 win against Everton, while the same could be said for last weekend’s win against Nottingham Forest.
That’s despite the impressive return of Anthony Martial in recent weeks, and United are definitely better with the Frenchman up front than Wout Weghorst.
On the right, it’s between Antony and Jadon Sancho for a start but the Brazilian has been in better form in recent weeks and he was the matchwinner against Forest.
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