Shakhtar Donetsk V Manchester
United
02/10/2013 – KO: 7.45 – Venue:
Donbass Arena – LIVE: Sky Sports 4
Moyes’ men look to upend poor
start in Ukraine
It seems with every week we get
deeper into the new Premier League season the more pressure there is mounting
on champions Manchester United and manager David Moyes. It’s been a difficult
start to the season, with the clubs worst start in 24 years.
David Moyes will be hoping to
overturn the back to back defeats in the Premier League against Manchester City
and West Brom starting with tonight’s Champions League clash against Shakhtar
Donetsk.
"If we continue to do the
right things, the results will come, no doubt about that," said the new
boss before Shakhtar clash.
Although, United’s first
Champions League game this season ended in a notable 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkuson at Old Trafford. The team will be hoping to back
up this European performance but face a tricky test in Ukraine against a team
who seem to up their game in European competitions.
Shakhtar Donetsk find themselves
in a similar situation and similar run of form to Manchester United. They are
the current holders of the league title in Ukraine and have had a very poor
start to the season having won just one in their last five. They are currently
sitting in third and have dropped ten points from eleven games.
United sit well adrift of the
league leaders in 12th position and have lost three of their first
six league games including away loses at Anfield and The Etihad. However both teams
did come out on top in their opening Champions League fixture, United beating
Bayer Leverkusen at home and Mircea Lucescu’s men winning away in Spain to Real
Sociedad.
Team news
Shakhtar Donetsk:
Mircea Lucescu has a full squad
of players to choose from with no present injuries or suspensions limiting his
team choice.
Manchester United:
United fans will be very pleased
to hear the news of Darren fletcher’s return to light training as he makes his
comeback from a very long absence. He’s not yet ready to join the squad but is
slowly making a comeback to full fitness. Patrice Evra and Robin Van Persie are
set to make a return to the line-up after missing the defeat to West Brom at
Old Trafford at the weekend. Tom Cleverley should also be available again.
Shakhtar key player: Alex
Teixeira
Scored both goals in Shakhtar's
opening 2-0 victory away to Real Sociedad. He’s a naturally attacking
midfielder who can drop deep to help defend but is most comfortable pushing
forward and causing trouble in little patches of space in front of the defence.
Manchester United key player:
Wayne Rooney
Has been a shining star in
United’s bleak start to the season scoring three goals in his first five league
games. He also scored twice in the first group game against Leverkuson. The
speculation over Rooney’s future was ripe all summer with the news of several
transfer requests which were handed in by the England international. Many
expected the striker to stumble slightly this season but this hasn’t been the
case as he has churned out great performances with every game he plays.
Prediction
Both teams won their opening
games but have struggled since domestically, so a cagey encounter could be on
the cards in Ukraine. United are boosted by the return of last season’s top
scorer, Robin Van Persie, and will also have Patrice Evra starting ahead of
Alex Buttner in defence. I predict a close encounter and a few goals shared
between the two teams in poor form with a final result of 2-2.
By @leegormley
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