When Manchester United visit Juventus for a UEFA Champions League Group H clash on Wednesday night, the injury list is quite long for both teams. So let’s dive right in and break it down for both teams, starting with the visitors. Defender Marcos Rojo has yet to make an appearance for either club or country this season, so don’t expect to see him here.
Staying with the back line, Diogo Dalot has a knock, but is reportedly close to a return. His specific return date is still unknown at this point. Striker Romelu Lukaku is the major injury concern here as he missed the win at AFC Bournemouth due to an unspecified muscular injury that he picked up in training.
Here’s a link to much more on that situation, as the Belgian has been deemed a doubt for this clash.
Meanwhile captain Antonio Valencia has been out in recent weeks due to a mouth injury. Don’t expect to see him here. Finally, midfielder Marouane Fellaini is out with a groin injury, with a return date that is unknown, but not expected to keep him on the shelf very long. Midfielder Ander Herrera has already given his take on what the keys are to a victory here, as well as this upcoming weekend versus Manchester City.
Flipping over to Juventus, Giorgio Chiellini and Mario Mandzukic have returned to training, while Blaise Matuidi had a personalized training session, with the aim of convalescing from a hip bruise.
Meanwhile, fullback Joao Cancelo trained separately due to a muscle strain in his thigh flexors. He is expected to miss this clash.
Like we said before, the injury list here is very long, and now you can add Cancelo to it. The list also included the German acquired from Liverpool in the summer Emre Can, as well as Douglas Costa and Federico Bernardeschi.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo is playing! And at the end of the day, he is the one individual player that you’re probably tuning in for.
United vs Juve FYIs
Press Conference videos, quotes: go to this link
United Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Kickoff/TV: Wednesday November 7, 8pm BST, 3PM EST, BT Sport/TNT
Odds via Odds Checker: United 11/2, Draw 16/5, Juventus 8/13
Prediction: Juventus 2, United 0
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.