Manchester United vs AZ Alkmaar
Europa League
Date: Thursday, 12 December 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester).
Manchester United
Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Diogo Dalot remains sidelined long-term and is not expected back until the New Year, while Paul Pogba "is on the grass and training" by Solskjaer but touch and go to feature in this match.
Elsewhere, Nemanja Matic face a fitness test and could make the matchday squad for the first time since October, but Marcos Rojo has once again been ruled out.
Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Romero; Young, Jones, Tuanzebe, Williams; Matic, Garner; Andreas Pereira, Mata, Chong; Greenwood
Not available: Bailly (Injured), Fosu-Mensah (Hurt), Dalot (Hurt), Pogba (Hurt), Rojo (Injured)
Doubtful: Shaw (Injured), Lingard (Injured)
AZ Alkmaar
Great news for Cheeseheads is that the teen sensation Myron Boadu suspended for this match. 18-year-old forward already has 16 goals and 12 assists to his name in 26 appearances in all competitions, and one goal in the cap for the Netherlands, so he will be a big miss on Thursday night.
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Bizot; Svensson, Clasie, Wuytens, Wijndal; Midtsjo, Koopmeiners, De Wit; Stengs, Druijf, Idrissi
Not available: Boadu (Suspended), Hatzidiakos (Injured)
Doubtful: Gudmundsson (Injured), Vlaar (Injured)
Key Statistics
The only previous meeting between Manchester United and AZ Alkmaar finished 0-0 on Matchday 2 of the Europa League this season, with the Red Devils failed to record a shot on target in the game.
Manchester United have won six of eight previous home games against Dutch club in all competitions, drawing with PSV in November 2015 (the Champions League) and lost to Ajax in February 2012 (the Europa League).
AZ Alkmaar have lost all five of their away matches against English teams in all competitions, have recently lost 1-4 at the Emirates against Arsenal in November 2009.
Mason Greenwood has been directly involved in 75% of the goals Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Europa League this season (3/4), scored two himself and made one assist.
Ferdy Druijf scored compared to FK Partizan in the last Europa League match AZ Alkmaar - of six players aged 21 or under who has scored braces in the competition this season, three of them have been for AZ Alkmaar (also Myron Boadu and Teun Koopmeiners).
PREDICTION
Manchester United 1-1 AZ Alkmaar
Manchester United came on the back of two morale-boosting victory in their last two matches and will be eager to get to the midweek clash. AZ Alkmaar though, have won eight of their last nine games (D1) in all competitions and will come to Old Trafford with confidence take the three points, having ran the Red Devils so close in the reverse fixture.
Solskjaer will certainly ring the changes ahead of the busy periods which could have negative effects on the chances of Manchester United on Thursday night. However, they should have enough in the tank to secure the points and finish as table-toppers in Group L.
