Manchester United players, according to manager Erik Ten Hag, have confidence in their ability to overcome their early-season setbacks and prevail against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
The Red Devils have won just two of their first five games of the 2023/24 season , a performance that has seen them concede ten goals and drop to 13th on the Premier League log.
On Wednesday, they face an in-form Bayern side who have won three of their opening four Bundesliga games of the season and are the group’s favourites to progress to the knockout stages.
At home in the UEFA Champions League, Bayern have been brilliant against United – winning three and drawing two of their five games.
The German side are also unbeaten in their last 19 opening Champions League ties at home. United will need to be at their best to secure a positive result.
“You cannot be unfocused for one second,” Erik Ten Hag told the media.
“At home, in the group stage, they are very strong but we are looking forward because we like a challenge and also because we trust ourselves.”
Team News:
United will be without several players for this game due to injuries. Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia (all muscle), Mason Mount (hamstring), Sofyan Amrabat (back), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (hamstring), Tom Heaton (calf), Amad Diallo (knee) and Kobbie Mainoo (ankle) are all on the sidelines.
Apart from those injuries, Ten Hag will also be without Antony and Jadon Sancho, who are absent due to personal reasons.
For Bayern, they will be without Manuel Nuer who is sidelined with a calf injury while Kingsley Coman, Joshua Kimmich and Raphael Guerrero are doubtful having just returned to training this week.
Match Stats
Kane has produced four goals and three assists across his last 10 competitive appearances against Man United.
Bayern are unbeaten in 34 Champions League group games, winning their last 13 in a row – both competition records.
Bayern have scored at least once in their last 40 home Champions League group fixtures, since a 2-0 loss to Bordeaux in November 2009), winning 38 of them (D1, L1).
Bayern have never lost at home to United (W3, D2).
Ten Hag coached the Bayern reserves between 2013 and 2015, leading them into the fourth tier of German football.
The last clash between these clubs saw Bayern beat Man United 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2014
Manchester United have gone out of the group stages of the UEFA Champions League in two of their last six campaigns since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Predicted lineups
Bayern: Ulreich; Laimer, Kim, Upamecano, Davies; Goretzka, Kimmich; Gnabry, Musiala, Sane; Kane
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Lindelof, Martinez, Reguilon; Casemiro, Eriksen; Pellistri, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
