Champions League team news and prediction: RB Leipzig vs Man Utd
The group stage of the 2020/21 Champions League concludes this week and, while some teams already know their fate, others still have plenty to play for. The latter certainly applies for RB Leipzig, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in Group H, who are all locked on nine points with one game left to play.
Ahead of RB Leipzig's huge home match with United, we have all your need-to-know match information in one place, including kick-off information, group permutations, team news and predicted scoreline.
When is kick off?
Tuesday 8th December, 20:00 GMT
Where is the match?
Red Bull Arena
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 2
Group Stage Permutations
Manchester United only need to avoid defeat away to Leipzig to go through. A win would guarantee top spot, while a point would also be good enough as long as Paris Saint-Germain fail to beat Istanbul Basaksehir at home in the group's other match.
RB Leipzig will go through to the knockout stage if they beat United. A draw would also be good enough but would require Istanbul Basaksehir to win away to Paris Saint-Germain, which is unlikely. Leipzig would finish first if they win and PSG do not.
Team News
The big news as far as RB Leipzig are concerned is star defender Dayot Upamecano is suspended for an accumulation of bookings. Leipzig rested the likes of Dani Olmo and Yussuf Poulsen at the weekend and will recall on them here.
Manchester United's options in attack are limited with neither Anthony Martial nor Edinson Cavani available because of injury. Fred is also suspended for the away side after his red card last week. Paul Pogba is unlikely to start after his agent, Mino Raiola, sensationally revealed his clients wants to leave on the eve of this clash. Luke Shaw is back in the squad after a hamstring injury, while Axel Tuanzebe is back from a European ban.
Probable XIs
RB Leipzig (3421): Gulacsi; Orban, Konate, Halstenberg; Mukiele, Sabitzer, Haidara, Angelino; Forsberg, Olmo; Poulsen
Man Utd (3412): De Gea; Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Wan-Bissaka, Matic, McTominay, Telles; Fernandes; Greenwood, Rashford
Key Battle: Angelino vs Alex Telles
One left Manchester this summer, albeit to re-join RB Leipzig, and one arrived from FC Porto. Angelino has certainly found life better in Germany since the beginning of last season and will look to provide attacking width for Leipzig down their left flank. Angelino, on loan from Manchester City, has impressively played a direct hand in 10 goals in 15 appearances across league and European competition this season. Moreover, Angelino has scored or assisted in six of his last seven appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.
Aware United needed great thrust from their full-backs, they signed Alex Telles from FC Porto over the summer and he has got a decent run in the side of late with Luke Shaw out injured. Telles has already shown how dangerous his delivery can be from wide areas and registered his first assist for the club at the weekend in their 3-1 win away to West Ham.
Prediction: RB Leipzig 2-2 Man Utd
