Manchester United vs Copenhagen Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News
Manchester United's final hope of silverware for the season continues in the Europa League quarter finals against Danish outfit FC Copenhagen on Monday evening.
After Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deployed a weakened side to see out the second leg against LASK in the previous round at Old Trafford, United take on Copenhagen in neutral surroundings as the competition enters its one-legged knock-out phase.
- Two from two for Lingard ?
— Football on BT Sport #Club2020 (@btsportfootball) August 6, 2020
- Martial makes it 2️⃣3️⃣ for the season ?
- A stunning strike from LASK ?
? Highlights: Manchester United 2-1 LASK#Club2020 pic.twitter.com/bupVsUMnQJ
While their English opponents won this tournament as recently as 2017, Copenhagen are in uncharted territory, having never before gone past the round of 16 in European competition. With a place in the club's history already assured, Stale Solbakken's side can enhance their legacy even further with a famous win on Monday night.
Where to Watch
When Is Kick Off? Monday 10 August
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (BST)
Where Is it Being Played? Stadion Köln
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport (UK)
Referee? Clément Turpin
Team News
United will be without a trio of defenders for the quarter final. Alongside Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe, left back Luke Shaw has been sidelined until next season with an ankle injury. Solskjaer described his absence as 'a blow for us' but Brandon Williams - fresh from penning a new contract - is an able and regular deputy.
Copenhagen are without the suspended striker Michael Santos. Fellow forwards Viktor Fischer and Nicolaj Thomas along with defender Ragnar Sigurdsson will also miss out.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United: Romero; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams; Pogba, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial.
Copenhagen: Johnsson; Varela, Nelsson, Bjelland, Boilesen; Mudrazija, Zeca; Biel, Wind, Falk; Kaufmann.
Recent Form
United go into Monday's fixture with an imperious record of just one loss in their last 23 matches across all competitions. However, the Premier League side limped through their last outing, edging past LASK with a 2-1 win.
That game saw Solskjaer make several changes and grant some much needed rest to the first-choice XI that had started to tire in the final few weeks of a condensed season.
Copenhagen endured a painfully stuttering return to football after lockdown, winning just three of their final ten games of the domestic campaign as FC Midtjylland swooped in to claim the top flight title.
Here's how each side has fared in their last five outings.
Manchester United
Manchester United 2-1 LASK (5/8)
Leicester 0-2 Manchester United (26/7)
Manchester United 1-1 West Ham (22/7)
Manchester United 1-3 Chelsea (19/7)
Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester United (16/7)
FC Copenhagen
FC Copenhagen 3-0 Basaksehir (5/8)
FC Copenhagen 2-1 Nordsjaelland (26/7)
Aalborg BK 0-1 FC Copenhagen (23/7)
FC Copenhagen 2-4 Aarhus GF (19/7)
FC Copenhagen 0-0 Brondby IF (12/7)
Prediction
Copenhagen's manager Solbakken - a former teammate of Solskjaer's in the Norwegian national team - summed up the general consensus of the outcome when he said: "United are big, big favourites."
After two weeks without a start for most of United's strongest side, there is little reason to strongly disagree with Solbakken's frank and honest assessment. Solskjaer has dished out all the usual caveats himself but there will be plenty of questions to answer if this contest proves to be - as he put it - 'a difficult one'.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 FC Copenhagen