Old Trafford gives Leipzig wings
Manchester United and RB Leipzig meet on Wednesday evening at Old Trafford, having both won their opening Champions League games last week. Naturally, the Red Devils' unexpected triumph at French giants Paris Saint-Germain was the more impressive of the two, but the hosts will still have their work cut out to repeat that kind of performance and result. The visitors under highly sought-after head coach Julian Nagelsmann currently top the German Bundesliga ahead of Bayern Munich, and they ought to be quietly confident of another fine result. Read our preview here:
Irrepressible Rashford
It's fair to say that 22 year-old Marcus Rashford has had quite the week for all the right reasons, especially off the pitch. He was also desperately unlucky not to get on the scoresheet during his side's stalemate with Chelsea at the weekend, coming up against a dogged and determined goalkeeper in the form of Edouard Mendy. Anthony Martial will be back alongside him after sitting out the last two domestic games through suspension. It's highly likely that Ole Gunnar Solskjær will stick with the same shape that served him so well against PSG, with Bruno Fernandes starring as the link-man between midfield and the forward line. Leipzig's five-strong midfield have more attack-minded individuals in the collective than United's, so the outcome will weigh heavily on the likes of Fernandes and Rashford dropping off and keeping in close proximity to their teammates.
Olmo the full package
One of the standout performers in the colours of Die Roten Bullen this campaign has undoubtedly been versatile Spanish playmaker Dani Olmo, who has already both featured in five different outfield positions and contributed three assists thus far. Unlike most of his contemporaries however, he also brings to the table a very strong work ethic in defensive situations, helping in no small part to Leipzig being supremely effective on the counter and in hogging possession in the middle third of the field. Elsewhere, there will be some concern at the paucity of available options at right-back - Tyler Adams is far more suited to being a conventional winger, so the amount of assistance he receives from the exciting Christopher Nkunku will also be crucial.
Full tilt
A loss for either side would be far from disastrous. If United fail, then they are probably still on par points-wise that they would've realistically hoped for or expected to be. Similarly, a defeat away at their direct rivals for second spot in the pool wouldn't knock the wind out of RB's sails too much. With that in mind, both teams ought to be able to throw more men forward than they otherwise would. PSG are unlikely to come up short against Istanbul Başakşehir, so a three-point buffer over the group favourites is the potential prize on offer. The visitors' midfield setup is far more balanced and eye-catching on paper, and this is often where games are won in modern football. bet365 are offering odds of 3.20 for Leipzig to bag another priceless victory.
