PSV Eindhoven vs Manchester United. UEFA Champions League Group B.
Philips StadionAttendance35,292.
Tuesday 15 September 2015 19:21, UK
Manchester United make their long-awaited return to the Champions League proper when they travel to Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night.
United's last appearance in Europe's elite-club competition came back in April 2014, after failing to secure European football of any kind last season following a seventh-placed finish in 2013/14.
They enter the group-stage clash on the back of a morale-boosting 3-1 victory over rivals Liverpool on Saturday, and will be hoping for a repeat of that display in Holland.
Memphis Depay, who joined United from PSV this summer, will be looking to make an impression on his return to the Philips Stadion as he embarks on his maiden Champions League campaign against his former club.
Meanwhile, Phillip Cocu's side enter Tuesday's game having steadied their inconsistent start to the defence of their Eredivisie crown by thrashing Cambuur 6-0.
Team news
Captain Wayne Rooney has will miss the trip to Eindhoven with the same that injury that ruled him out of Saturday's 3-1 win over Liverpool.
Van Gaal has chosen not to rush the England striker back, although he hopes to have Rooney available for United's Super Sunday trip to Southampton at the weekend.
Forwards James Wilson and Andreas Pereira, who signed from PSV, have both been added to the 18-man squad used against Liverpool.
Opta stats
PSV have mustered only one win in their four previous matches against Manchester United in European competition (D1 L2).
United have only lost one of their last four visits to the Netherlands in European competition (W2 D1).
PSV have lost three of their last four at home in the Champions League proper (W1).
PSV Eindhoven are taking part in their 14th Champions League campaign - their first since 2008/09 - more than any other Dutch club.
Manchester United are back in the Champions League after a one year hiatus; they've progressed from the Group Stage in seven of their last eight attempts.
PSV have never scored more than two goals in their last 30 Champions League games. The last time they did was in the 2005 semi-final second leg against AC Milan (3-1).
Manchester United have taken at least a point in five of their last six Group Stage matches on the road (W3 D2).
The Red Devils have kept clean sheets in five of their last eight Champions League matches.
Betting
Manchester United are Sky Bet's 11/10 favourites to secure the points on Tuesday night, with PSV 23/10 outsiders despite their home advantage. Van Gaal's men are marginally odds-on at 10/11 to win Group B, with Wolfsburg (9/4) considered their main competition for top spot, followed by CSKA Moscow (6/1) and then their Dutch hosts at 7/1. Depay heads the first goalscorer betting in Rooney's absence with Anthony Martial following at 11/2 to add to his debut heroics by breaking the deadlock, while Luuk de Jong is considered the hosts' main threat at 11/2 despite his disappointing spell in the Premier League.
