Manchester United vs CSKA Moscow. UEFA Champions League Group B.
Old TraffordAttendance75,165.
Tuesday 3 November 2015 20:21, UK
Manchester United will be looking to end a run of three games without a goal when they welcome CSKA Moscow to Old Trafford on Tuesday.
United have failed to hit the back of the net in more than five hours of football, with Anthony Martial's equaliser in Moscow in the reverse fixture their last goal in all competitions.
Louis van Gaal will look to avoid going a fourth game without goal, a feat last achieved by United during a barren spell between October and November 1992.
On top of that, Tuesday's game has taken on added incentive for the Reds in terms of their Champions League campaign. Defeat to CSKA would see the Russians leapfrog them in Group B and, with just two games remaining, which could seriously hinder their chances of reaching the knock-out phase.
United have never beaten a team from Russia at Old Trafford, with their last encounter against CSKA at the Theatre of Dreams finishing 3-3 back in November 2009.
Team news
Morgan Schneiderlin has emerged as a doubt for United ahead of Tuesday's clash.
The Frenchman all of United's goalless draw at Crystal Palace on the Saturday but missed the open part of the squad's final training session before the game.
Antonio Valencia and James Wilson, who were left out at Selhurst Park due to injury, also missed the session at Carrington on Monday, while Phil Jones and Memphis Depay trained separately from the rest of the squad.
It means 17-year-old centre-back Axel Tuanzebe could be named in Van Gaal's matchday squad, following his inclusion at Palace on Saturday.
Opta stats
This will be the fourth meeting between these two sides in Europe with CSKA still looking for their first win against the Red Devils (D2 L1).
United's only defeat to a Russian team came in the 2008 European Super Cup against Zenit St Petersburg; however they have also only picked up one win against sides from Russia (D6).
CSKA won on their last trip to Manchester, beating Man City 2-1 last November.
CSKA have scored all four of their efforts this season in the first half; only one of three teams to manage this (alongside BATE and Malmö).
The last four goals recorded by CSKA in Manchester have all come from Seydou Doumbia (across two games against Manchester City).
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last six home Champions League matches (W5 D1).
Charlie's prediction
United are well odds-on but I ask why? It was probably they're best performance of the season in the reverse of this fixture and that's not saying much. What does Van Gaal do with Rooney? Does he keep playing him up front, switch him on to the left for Antony Martial or does drop Rooney into where Ander Herrera plays? He's got to change something in the system because it's not working for a lot of players. This a tough game for them and, while I think Manchester United will win this, it won't be one of those glamorous nights.
Charlie predicts: 1-0 with Rooney to score first (17/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Man Utd are Sky Bet's 4/7 favourites for the victory on Tuesday night with CSKA up against odds of 5/1 to win, while the draw is priced at 3/1. Van Gaal's men also head the betting on winning Group B at 6/5 with their visitors third in the market at 7/1. Sky Bet are taking on Rooney, enhancing his odds on scoring first from 7/2 to 5/1 in their Price Boosts, while rating Seydou Doumbia as CSKA's main threat at 9/1 to break the deadlock.
