Man Utd vs Cardiff - Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

Date: Tuesday, January 28 Venue: Old Trafford Kick-Off: 19:45 Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returns to Old Trafford as an opposing manager for the first time tonight, while Juan Mata is expected to make his debut against Cardiff.

Team News

Manchester United's club-record signing Juan Mata is expected to make his debut in tonight's Premier League game against Cardiff City. Marouane Fellaini, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney could make their returns from injury, but captain Nemanja Vidic is still suspended after his red card at Chelsea. Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to restore a host of players to his starting line-up after resting key personnel for the FA Cup win over Bolton. New signing Jo Inge Berget, the striker who has signed from Molde, could be involved while Fabio, who joined from United earlier this week, could make his debut against his former side. (BBC)

Key Stats

Manchester United debutant Juan Mata scored on his debut in the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, Capital One Cup and Club World Cup for Chelsea. Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored 91 goals in 235 Premier League appearances for Manchester United between 1996-97 and 2006-07. In 28 previous meetings between the sides, United have won 13 times, Cardiff seven and there have been eight draws. Cardiff have won none and lost six of their last eight Premier League away games.

Likely Line-Ups

Man Utd De Gea, Evra, Evans, Smalling, Rafael, Fletcher, Fellaini, Januzaj, Rooney, Mata, Welbeck Cardiff Marshall, Fabio, Turner, Caulker, Theophile-Catherine, Medel, Whittingham, Mutch, Gunnarsson, Noone, Campbell

Match Preview

There are more sub-plots to Manchester United's Premier League encounter with Cardiff in the Premier League tonight than your average weekly soap opera. Where do you start? United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returning against his former side for the first time as an opposing manager? Juan Mata, the Red Devil's club-record signing from Chelsea making his debut? The possibility of Fabio playaing against his former side for the first time? Or do you instead focus on Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie's return from injury? Whatever the case, all these ingredients make for a cracking game at Old Trafford tonight. United will be looking to kick on here and get their stuttering season back on track following defeat to Chelsea in the league last time out, and avoid what would be a defeat at home to Cardiff for the first time since 1960. But the Bluebirds have won none and lost six of their last eight Premier League away games, and with the feel-good factor that is Mata's expected debut and the possible return of Rooney and van Persie, I can't see the visitors making history here. Prediction: 2-0
Contributor
Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.