Match Report- Manchester United 2 CSKA Moscow 1
Manchester United qualify for the round of 16 in the Champions League with 2-1 win
Mitch Freeley
Full time- That's it! Man United have qualified for the last sixteen of the Champions League, with a comfortable 2-1 victory against their Russian opponents. CSKA took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Vitinho, but United fought back in the second half with two well-taken goals in two minutes through Lukaku and Rashford. As for CSKA, they put up a good fight, and troubled United at times but they will have to settle for a Europa League place after Basel beating Benfica.
83- Chance CSKA! Romero denies Dzagoev with his feet from close range!
73 Lukaku makes way for Antony Martial.
65- Goal United! Two goals in two minutes for Man United! This time Mata lofts a ball over the defence and Rashford composes himself to hit the ball into the bottom corner! 2-1 Manchester United!
63- Goal! Just like that United are level! A perfect clipped ball from Pogba into the path of Romelu Lukaku, for his first goal in twelve games! 1-1 game on!
62 United are pushing for a leveller here. It's only a matter of time...
57 Yellow card! CSKA veteran Vasili Berezutski gets the yellow for blocking Pogba, freekick United.
55 United are putting the pressure on! This time Lukaku bundles the ball out for a goal kick
54 Chance United- Mata scoops in a cross, but Smalling heads the ball just wide.
Second Half! We are back underway in Manchester.
Half-Time! It's 1-0 to CSKA at the break thanks to Brazilian striker Vitinho.
44- Goal CSKA! Vitinho pokes in to give the Russians an unexpected lead! After a generous rebound off Dzagoev, and more than a hint offside, CSKA won't care the goal stands! Jose Mourinho won't be happy with that!
43-Penalty United? This time Valencia takes a tumble in the CSKA box! Referee waves play on!
37- Penalty CSKA? Sloppy defensive play from United ends up with Dzagoev in a pile in the penalty box. Referee waves play on, Vitinho smashes over.
Former CSKA boss Leonid Slutsky is looking miserable in the stands... no wonder, he's just been sacked by Hull. Poor guy.
30- Just over! Well worked CSKA corner falls to Vasili Berezutski, the veteran defender promptly smashes his shot just over.
25 Shot CSKA- Vitinho has a pot-shot from distance, the ball flies well over.
21 Close again for United! Inch perfect ball from Pogba played in Shaw, his cross across the box was just too long for Rashford. United are putting the pressure on!
19 Chance United! Deep cross from Valencia fell to Luke Shaw, his volley was saved well by Akinfeev and Lukaku was unable to finish the rebound! Close for the Red Devils!
13 Rashford! The young striker is at the centre of everything good from United at the minute. His shot is calmly saved by Akinfeev
11 Chance CSKA! The aforementioned Dzagoev has a long distance shot, easily saved by Romero.
6- CSKA is having plenty of possession here, no cutting edge at the minute. Russian playmaker Alan Dzagoev is looking lively.
3- POST! Tidy pass from Lukaku to play through Rashford, the young striker is denied by the woodwork.
Kick Off- We are underway at a far from full Old Trafford.
Prematch
Hands up if you need a massive result in Manchester? Alan Dzagoev and Konstantin Kuchaev during the warm-up before the match. Just under 15 minutes to go!
So Luke Shaw has been brought in from the cold (excuse the winter pun) and has been given his first start of the season. Plenty of changes with the Manchester derby in mind, but still a strong side out for United. Quick reminder you can Watch Manchester United Vs CSKA Moscow via beIN CONNECT if following a live blog is not really your thing.
Team sheets are in!
CSKA MOSCOW
35 Igor Akinfeev (GK)(C)
2 Mario Fernandes
4 Sergei Ignashevich
5 Viktor Vasin
10 Alan Dzagoev
11 Vitinho
14 Kirill Nababkin
17 Aleksandr Golovin
24 Vasili Berezutski
63 Fedor Chalov
89 Konstantin Kuchaev
Manchester United.
20 Sergio Romero (GK)
2 Victor Lindelöf
6 Paul Pogba
8 Juan Mata
9 Romelu Lukaku
12 Chris Smalling
17 Daley Blind
19 Marcus Rashford
21 Ander Herrera
23 Luke Shaw
25 Antonio Valencia (C)
It's all looking festive at Old Trafford. Just over an hour to go, teamsheets should be in soon....
United have an impressive record at Old Trafford. This is going to be a tough ask for CSKA if they are going to beat the Red Devils on home soil this evening.
Just over two hours to Kick-off in Manchester. beIN SPORTS pundit Michael Gray has given his verdict on the the Man United squad ahead of the match!
Preview
Manchester United need just one point to qualify for the knockout phase in the Champions League for the first time since the 2013–14 season. United are currently unbeaten in 20 European home matches (W16 D4), going back to a 2-1 home loss to Real Madrid CF in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League round of 16-second leg. Last time the two sides met in the group, United ran out comfortable 4-1 winners thanks to a brace from Romelu Lukaku and goals from Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
CSKA are battling to qualify for the second place in the group, and need to better Basel’s results if they have any hope of qualifying for the round of sixteen for the first time since the 2011–12 season. If both CSKA and Basel win tonight, the Russians would have to score three clear goals to progress via goal difference. Key duo Pontus Wernbloom and Bibras Natcho will be absent tonight through suspension.
How to watch
You can Watch Manchester United Vs CSKA Moscow via beIN CONNECT
Where to watch
Manchester United Vs CSKA Moscow is live on beIN 11 HD from 22:45pm Mecca
Expected Teams
Manchester United – Romero; Darmian, Lindelof, Rojo, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; Mkhitaryan, Mata, Rashford; Lukaku
CSKA- Akinfeev; Berezutski, Vasin, Ignashevich; Fernandes, Kuchaev, Golovin, Nababkin; Dzagoev, Gordyushenko; Vitinho
Key Man
Manchester United- Romelu Lukaku has not scored a goal in the last twelve games for United. Tonight could be a perfect opportunity for the Belgium international to get some confidence ahead of the derby against Manchester City on Sunday.
Liverpool- Vitinho scored a brace in CSKA’s impressive 6-0 league win over Tosno last weekend and the Brazilian striker is expected to lead the line for the Russians in Manchester on Tuesday evening. The striker has yet to score in the Champions League this season and will be hoping he can fire his side into the next round.