Manchester United will be welcoming little known Ukrainian side Zorya Luhansk to the Old Trafford tonight. They will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Europa League after suffering a 0-1 reverse against Feyenoord in their opening match. Manchester United have never lost their first two fixtures in a European competition and are heavily backed to see off the Ukrainian minnows.
Little is known about the team who finished 4th in their domestic league last season. Zorya drew their first Europa League game 1-1 at home to Fenerbahce and come into this game with a little bit of form behind them having scored a stoppage-time winner in their previous away game at Dynamo Kiev as well as beating Vorskla Poltava last time out.
They will be playing fearless football but Manchester United are expected to comfortably see them off, with the chasm in quality which divides the two teams being too deep.
TEAM NEWS AND PREDICTED LINE-UP
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)
Wayne Rooney has suffered a minor back injury which might see him miss the clash. Luke Shaw is also rated as a doubt after being sent home from training because of illness. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back to full fitness but is unlikely to be risked.
Romero; Fosu-Mensah, Bailly, Blind, Rojo; Carrick, Schneiderlin; Depay, Herrera, Mata; Ibrahimović
ZORYA LUHANSK (4-2-3-1)
The Ukrainian side are expected to have a full strength team at their disposal with no injuries plaguing the side.
Shevchenko; Opanasenko, Slvakov, Forster, Kamenyuka; Gordlenko, Grechyshkln; Ljubenovic, Karavaev, Pertyak; Kulach
KEY MEN
MANCHESTER UNITED
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
The big Swede is in line to start, with manager Jose Mourinho confirming the same. He got off to a flier at the start of the season scoring almost for fun every time he was on the pitch. But he seems to have gone off the boil slightly and will look to use the opportunity to get back to his goal scoring ways. With the team expected to be largely formed of 2nd squad players, Ibra has to shoulder the attacking responsibilities for the Red Devils.
ZORYA LUHANSK
OLEKSANDER KARAVAEV
The attacking midfielder plays on the right-wing and is instrumental to their offensive endeavours. His footwork and propensity to find the back of the net is invaluable to the side who have overseen the departure of many a star in recent seasons. Karavaev has already scored 4 times and has assisted a further goal in 9 appearances so far.
ODDS
MANCHESTER UNITED-1/7
DRAW-8/1
ZORYA LUHANSK-25/1
