Date: Tuesday, December 10 Venue: Old Trafford Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Manchester United finally put to an end their dreadful home form by picking up the point they need against Shakhtar Donetsk to qualify as winners of Group A in the Champions League?
Team News
Manchester United could be without a trio of defenders when Shakhtar Donetsk visit in tonight's Champions League Group A encounter. Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Chris Smalling are all doubts and missed training on Monday, as did Marouane Fellaini, with the midfielder suffering from a back problem. Shinji Kagawa could be available however after missing the defeat to Newcastle on Saturday with illness and Wayne Rooney returns from suspension. (bbc)
Key Stats
Manchester United need just a point to qualify as winners of their Champions League group. United were held to a 1-1 draw in their corresponding fixture in Donetsk. Shakhtar are five points clear at the top of their league going into the winter break, and do not play a domestic game again until March 1. The Red Devils have lost back-to-back league games at Old Trafford for the first time since the end of the 2001-02 season. They haven't lost three home games in a row in any competition since 1962.
Manchester United will head into their home game against Shakhtar Donetsk hoping to avoid making yet another piece of unwanted history. The Red Devils lost at Old Trafford to Everton for the first time since 1992 last Wednesday, Newcastle for the first time since 1972 on Saturday, and a loss here would mean they've been defeated on home soil three times in a row for the first time since 1962. That's how poor United have been at home this season and while a win isn't necessarily vital tonight, having already qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, David Moyes will still be hoping for a victory that could take at least a little bit of pressure off his side. In the last outing with Shakhtar, in Donetsk, the game finished 1-1 and a repeat result would be enough to see United qualify as winners of Group A - but would it be enough to appease the home fans? Probably not. Prediction: 1-1
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.
