please log in to view this image EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 16 SECOND LEG Venue: San Mames Stadium Date: Thursday 15 March Kick-off: 1800 GMT The game tonight kicks off at 6pm UK time and can be viewed on Channel 5. Coverage of the buildup starts at 5.15 pm. Also live on BBC Five live. Difficult match this one for United. Must overcome a tough Bilbao side who are at home and currently in a fine vein of form at the San Mames. In fact they are unbeaten in their last 12 games at home having won 10 of them after scoring 30 goals in the process and conceding only 8. United nevertheless must improve dramatically upon their Old Trafford performance if they are to progress. Injury news As per usual this season, United have a number of players out injured. United will be without Phil Jones, Nani and Anderson for the tie while SAF has said Chris Smalling is considered fit enough only for a place on the bench. Rio Ferdinand will partner Jonny Evans in the centre of defence. Good news is Antonio Valencia is back following a hamstring injury. Lets hope Valencia can rediscover the form he was in before injuring himself against Ajax in Amsterdam four weeks ago. Quotes Ashley Young: "Our form in general makes us believe we can score wherever we play. Our attacking play has been fantastic of late and we believe we can score the two goals we need....Bilbao were an impressive team last week. They were a very attacking team, had a good team shape and at times we found them hard to break down. But I am sure if we are on our game 100% we can go there and get the win we need." SAF: "It's a challenge but it's not one beyond us. I think our record away from home in Europe helps us we've done really well the last few years. We are banking on our performance being better than it was at Old Trafford and I am sure it will be." United men in form please log in to view this image Wayne Rooney has a total of 27 goals in all competitions from 32 appearances. please log in to view this image Ashley Young while hampered this season with injuries, has returned to full fitness of late and scored vital goals for United against Spurs and put in an excellent performance against WBA at Old Trafford on Sunday. please log in to view this image United's young Spanish keeper has started to show his quality after a difficult start to his English career pulling off a series of excellent saves against a number of teams. His saves against an excellent Bilbao side at Old Trafford was the one highlight in an otherwise dire performance by United. Athletic Bilbao (4-1-4-1, probable): Iraizoz; Iraola, MartÃnez, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe; Iturraspe; Susaeta, de Marcos, Herrera, Muniain; Llorente Manchester United (4-2-3-1, probable): De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Scholes; Valencia, Rooney, Park; Welbeck
Yeah. Don't buy the talk we should not try and don't care as it is not the Champions league. Yes we went out. But now we have a chance of winning another European trophy. However not if we continue to play like that!
Completely agree, we should be competitive on all fronts. If this competition was so as poor as people are saying surely we should be walking it anyway.
Well said, sad to see on the below thread that apart from me, the rest have said we should not take the match or competition seriously. http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/130743-Go-for-it!
Personally I not wish to play Rafael after his pathetic attempt at defending but needs must. I would like Pogba to have a run out but tbh SAF I think we go for a strong line up.
We would lose comfortably with that team, no experience in defence. Want to see cleverly start need him match fit.
Anyone United player who thinks we are defeated before we walk onto the pitch doesn't deserve to wear the jersey. Yes it will be very difficult and yes if we play badly we will lose. But we must treat the match with respect and do our very best.
I sort of agree with what your saying about it being a distraction and may cause injury ect, but we are not Liverpool or Spurs. We have always battled on all fronts succesfully. If i'm desperate its that i'm desperate to see us win everything we can i believe Sir Alex has always had that attitude its part of the reason we are so succesful.
I agree it is a very hard place to go and we will find it very difficult. Have to play so much better than last time and hopefully get a goal early on.
