Welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVEEuropa Leaguecoverage ofAZ AlkmaarvsManchester Unitedtonight.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sit top of Group L after beating Astana 1-0 at Old Trafford, and another win tonight would set them well on the way to qualifying for the knockout stages.
The match is being played at the Cars Jeans Stadion in The Hague after a section of roof at Alkmaar’s stadium collapsed in August, and Solskjaer has named a young Man Utd starting lineup.
With kick-off at 5: 55 pm BST, follow the action with James Robson!
Live Updates
42 mins:Idrissi leads the counter-attack and Stengs is free through the middle. He tries to slide in Boadu instead, but Lindelof makes an important intervention.
(mins:) This is better from United after being the backfoot for the past quarter of an hour.
It’s another fizzed cross from Dalot that creates the chance for Gomes, but the young midfielder can’t sort out his feet in time.
ES COVERAGE
James Robson at the Cars Jeans Stadion
“It’s taken half an hour for United to have their first real chance on goal and it was James and Greenwood Only the block from Vlaar denied Greewood from close range.
“That might provide something of a lift to a very flat United. But the problem is that these chances come so few and far between that they simply have to take every one that falls their way. “
32 mins:Stengs has looked lively on the right and he clips a lofted ball into the box. Boadu is unmarked but off balance, can’t make a clean contact with the header.
Another fortunate escape for United, who are looking vulnerable at the back.
30 mins: Greenwood with a great chance!
James does well to squeeze past Sugawara down the right-hand side and finds Greenwood with the cutback. The 17 – year-old tries to place it in the corner but Vlaar, with all his experience, makes a crucial block.
It seems Solskjaer has already abandoned his experiment of using Daniel James as a central striker.
25 mins:Dalot whips in a teasing cross from the right but with only Greenwood in the box, goalkeeper Bizot tips it away to safety.
That just about sums up United’s attack so far: toothless.
ES COVERAGE
James Robson at the Cars Jeans Stadion
“AZ have had seven corners so far, which is representative of the way the game has gone so far. United are short on quality and confidence.
“Not for the first time United are struggling to find any cohesion to their play. A moment ago James picked up the ball midway in his own half and looked up to see nothing ahead of him. “
19 mins:Idrissi, who has already scored 12 goals this season, is looking very handy indeed down the left.
Everything AZ have done so far has gone through him and the Dutch side are threatening to break the deadlock here.
ES COVERAGE
James Robson at the Cars Jeans Stadion
“AZ are having the best of it so far. It would be interesting to see how a goal for the home side would hit United’s confidence, which is obviously fragile at the moment. “
15 mins: De Gea denies Idrissi!
The Moroccan skips past Dalot a bit too easily and fires a low effort towards the corner, but De Gea gets down well to make a decent stop.
11 mins: GOAL … NO! The flag is up!
Boadu heads past De Gea from Idrissi’s cross but the 18 – year-old striker was never onside, in truth.
A warning for United there, though …
TACTICS
James Robson at the Cars Jeans Stadion
“Interest tactical switch from Solskjaer, with James playing at the point of attack with Greenwood and Gomes either side. We’ll see how long that lasts – there’s obviously the opportunity to switch it around and play Greenwood through the middle. “
7 mins:The visitors are dominating possession so far and AZ look a little nervy on the ball so far.
That might give United the belief to press for a goal early on.
3 mins:Manchester United have begun by pressing AZ high up the pitch, while young Brandon Williams bombing forward down the left flank before a heavy touch lets him down.
A big opportunity for the 19 – year-old to impress.
The players are about to walk out onto the pitch in front of a nearly-full crowd at the Cars Jeans Stadion.
Former United boss Louis van Gaal has been spotted in the directors’ box. Always nice to see the Dutch legend.
One to watch: Myron Boadu
Age: 18
Position: Forward
Nation: Ghana
Apps / Goals: 9 (5)
The 18 – year-old has caught the eye of several clubs after starring for AZ up front this season. Boadu has already scored four goals in the Eredivisie and scored in the 2-2 draw against Partizan a fortnight ago.
Alongside Calvin Stengs, 20, and Oussama Idrissi, 23, the Dutch side have an exciting front three blessed with pace and bags of ability. They will be hoping to add to their combined total of 23 goals already this season with a few more tonight.
MATCH ACTION
In the even earlier kick-off today, Partizan have beaten Astana 2-1 in Kazakhstan to go top of Group L.
Umar Sadiq scored twice for the Serbian outfit before a late consolation from Runar Mar Sigurjonsson for Astana.
Harry Maguire warms up on the pitch ahead of kick-off in around 20 minutes.
You can safely assume his manager will want him to take it easy on the plastic pitch!
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Man Utd lineup, team news and full traveling squad
Mason Greenwood leads the line for United, although Paul Pogba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are out.
Solskjaer did not want to risk Pogba worsening a foot injury on the plastic pitch, with the midfielder joining Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young and Phil Jones on the injury list.
Angel Gomes and Diogo Dalot have made the trip and start, as does young full-back Brandon Williams.
Man Utd XI:De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Marcos Rojo, Williams; Fred, Matic; Mata, Gomes, James; Greenwood
Subs:Romero, Maguire , Tuanzebe, McTominay, Lingard, Chong, Rashford
AZ Alkmaar XI:Bizot ; Sugawara, Vlaar, Wuytens, Wijndal; Midtsjo, De Wit, Koopmeiners; Stengs, Boadu, Idrissi
Subs:De Boer, Hatzidiakos, Ouwejan, Druijf, Aboukhlal, Clasie, Reijnders
Squad:De Gea, Romero, Grant, Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Tuanzebe, Rojo, Williams, McTominay, Matic, Fred, Garner, Pereira, Mata, Lingard, Gomes, James, Chong, Rashford, Greenwood.
Prediction: AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Man Utd
This arguably United’s toughest match in the group campaign and with Solskjaer’s options going forward still depleted, it could be another tough evening on the road.
TV channel and live stream information
The match will be televised live on BT Sport 2 and can be streamed live online via the BT app and website.
Head to head (h2h) results and history
United and Alkmaar are meeting for the first time in an official Uefa competition.
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