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Manchester United return to European action tonight as they face AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.
The Reds have struggled for large parts of the season but did win the Group L opener against Astana at Old Trafford last time out.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side won the competition in The 2016 / 17 and winning the competition again looks to be the best route back into the Champions League due to the sides inconsistent league form.
United remain without Anthony Martial for the trip to the Netherlands, while midfielder Paul Pogba won ‘t risked due to a foot injury, despite playing the full game against both Arsenal and Rochdale in the last week.
Diego Dalot and Angel Gomez are both available for the
United’s form in recent weeks has been a cause for concern, winning just two of their last eight in all competitions in 90 minutes.
AZ XI:Bizot, Sugawara, Vlaar, Wuytens, Wijndal, Midtsjo, De Wit, Koopmeiners, Stengs, Idrissi, Boadu
Man Utd XIDe Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Rojo, Williams, Fred, Matic, Mata, Gomes, James, Greenwood
TV and live stream:The game is being shown live on BT Sport 2. It can be live stream on the BT Sport website and app if you are a customer of their services.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
80: Huge penalty shout for United! Rashford breaks down the right and cuts inside, Wuytens dived in and appeared to clean him out.
That should have been given. Ole smiles in disbelief.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
77: Another shot from AZ, this time from Sugawara, another punched save from de Gea.
They might feel they could nick this, AZ. They’ve stepped it up again in the last five minutes or so.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
76: Oh good effort! A ball drops to Idrissi and he attempts a sliced shot but it flies just wide of the post. Closest we’ve come to a goal in the second half.
Meanwhile Lingard is on to replace Greenwood.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
75: Williams is back up and looks to be ok. 15 minutes to go.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
74: Williams is down in a lot of pain defending a corner after being caught by a stray leg.
Shortly before Fred had hands all over an AZ player, who takes a dramatic tumble, but the Brazilian survives the appeals.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
72: Wijndal isnt closed down, he tries his luck from just outside the box but de Gea punches away.
That’s AZ’s third shot on target. United are yet to record one …
AZ 0-0 UNITED
67: Gomes blasts a shot high and wide from outside the box.
AZ 0 -0 UNITED
66: AZ are just starting to drop a little deeper, and appear to be growing tired. Could there still be a chance for United to snatch victory?
AZ 0-0 UNITED
64: Rashford’s first contribution is to concede a foul on the half-way line. He looks energetic, though.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
63: United substitution- Can Marcus Rashford ignite a bit of life into the contest? He is on to replace James, who has had a quiet night.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
61: AZ’s eighth corner of the game is headed away easily by United.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
57: A lot of probing and short balls near the AZ box from United but no killer pass or final bit of quality.
Surely there’ll be a *** sooner rather than later.
AZ 0 -0 UNITED
52: Another penalty appeal for AZ, and it’s another handball they’re claiming after a bit of pinball in the United box.
Again there doesn’t look to be anything in it.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
51: The surface really isn’t helping here. The ball is bouncing up all over the place and neither team seem able to string a few passes together at the moment. Messy stuff.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
49: That rather sums up United’s performance so far. Fred plays a loose ball between two unmarked players on the half-way line and it goes out for an AZ throw.
So, so poor.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
47: Half- hearted penalty appeal from AZ as the ball appears to brush Rojo’s arm as he heads a ball away but there’s no chance the referee is giving that.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
Back underway, and there are no changes for either side.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
The players are heading back out. Come on lads, let’s have a goal or two please.
At least the fans are still performing …
HALF TIME: AZ 0-0 UNITED
United fans, I wish I could be more positive, honestly I do.
But other than a few runs down the right from Dalot it has been slow, ponderous and, if anything, AZ have looked the more likely to make something happen.
The positives? They still have 45 minutes to sort it out.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
43: Good passing football from AZ ends with Idrissi trying to play in Boadu, but it is well blocked by Rojo.
They are capable of knocking it about well, AZ, even on this dodgy surface.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
42: Not long to go until the blessed relief of half-time.
There’s not much going on at the moment. Could we see some changes at the break?
AZ 0-0 UNITED
37: Great play from Dalot. He gets in behind down the right and fizzes a ball into the back post, but Gomes can’t quite get the contact he wants and the danger is snuffed out.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
(Image: Getty Images)
AZ 0-0 UNITED
30: There’s
James finds Greenwood from the right, who strikes from close range but it is blocked by Vlaar.
Better play from United, but Greenwood should probably have buried it.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
29: Fred attempts an ambitious through ball to find Greenwood, but it is too powerful and
Nearly half-an-hour gone and I can’t recall even a half-chance for United.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
26 first bit of attacking intent from United for a while sees Dalot race onto a ball and put a cross in, but it is comfortably punched away by Bizot in goal for AZ.
This is not very inspiring stuff so far to be honest.
AZ 0-0 UNITED
24: The wonderfully named AZ manager Arne Slot looks a cool customer on the sidelines, dressed in a blazer and jeans and barking instructions to his players.
He will be delighted with his side’s performance thus far.
(Image: SIPA USA / PA Images)
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