Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the Europa League match between Manchester United and Sheriff.
2nd half underway
We’re off for the next period of play. Sheriff immediately hands the ball to United. Not the start it would have wanted.
Changes for Manchester United
Rashford and Maguire are brought on for Antony and Martinez.
Half Time Stats
Half Time stats
| Photo Credit: UEFA
HALF TIME Manchester United 1-0 Sheriff
Sheriff held its own for nearly the entire 1st half. It had been compact in defence and not made any lapses. A towering header from Dalot on the cusp of half time was what it took to break the deadlock. Before that, Koval denied Ronaldo from close range and saved multiple long range efforts. If not for his saves, Sheriff could have been 2-0 or even 3-0 down. Challenge is on for Mihailov’s men to find an answer. This is the same side that beat Real Madrid 2-1 at Bernabeu last year.
44’ Manchester United 1-0 Sheriff – Diogo Dalot
United wins a corner! Eriksen is the usual delivery guy from the set piece. He puts in an in-swinging ball into the box. Dalot is able to beat his marker at the near post and slots the ball into the far post. Koval, after denying United for nearly 44 minutes, can only see the ball go past him into the net.
44’ Manchester United 1-0 Sheriff
United takes the lead! Dalot scores!
40’
Chance for Sheriff! Missed! Kpozo charges from the defence as he gets the ball in the final third from the centre of the field. He fires in a cross hoping for Rasheed to meet the ball. The cross whizzes away inches from the header. That will serve as a warning for United to not switch off at the back.
37’
Koval is made to work again. This time Malacia gets the ball on the left and he charges into the penalty area. He wriggles his way past defenders with a couple of skills. His shot is low and drilled and Koval has no trouble saving it.
35’
Another long range effort goes wide. This time is was Bruno. Sheriff has to be complemented for maintaining its backline shape so far. It has been tough for United to make entry into its opponent’s penalty area.
33’
Garnacho beats three Sheriff defenders on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot is blocked. The Argentine has been impressive so far.
30’
Koval with another save. Eriksen unleashes a long range effort and Koval dives low to his right to save. Bruno scurries to the rebound but the keeper gets up and charges forward, preventing Bruno from playing a pas towards the six-yard box. Heroic from the Sheriff custodian.
28’
Koval saves! Ronaldo misses a simple tap in! Lindelof plays a long ball over the compact Sheriff back line. Bruno receives it just within the touchline and he heads it across to Ronaldo. The forward is ahead of the defender and has to tap the ball in home from four or five yards. His shot. coming from the soul of the boot, manages to find the leg of Koval.
26’
Bruno’s shot is inched wide! That was close. Antony squares the ball to Bruno, who is on the edge of the penalty area. He tries to curl it in the near post and shoots. The ball is probably not more than two inches away from the post as it goes out for a goal kick. United growing in confidence.
24’
United is building a counter attack. Casemiro finds space and plays it to Bruno. Antony is breaking in behind the Sheriff defence further up the field. Bruno spots that and tries to feed him. But his contact with the ball is weak and the ball is intercepted.
21’
Sheriff’s Rasheed is booked for a landing a high elbow to Casemiro’s face. The Nigerian argues that he didn’t intend to hurt Casemiro but he goes into the book nonetheless.
17’
Eriksen threads a ball into the Sheriff penalty area. It lands straight to the feet of Bruno. The Portuguese is not able to control it and the ball rolls out for a goal kick. That was brilliant from the Dane.
13’
Ronaldo misses! That was a chance. Some brilliant work by Garnacho on the left flank wins a corner for Manchester United. The set piece is taken short and Malacia crosses. Ronaldo meets the ball in the air but his header is just over the cross bar.
12’
Cries for handball! United wins a corner after Malacia’s ball in for Ronaldo is deflected wide. From the set piece, the header by United is saved at the goal line Radeljic. United players appeal for a handball but they’re denied.
11’
Antony’s shot is saved. Garnacho cuts in from the right and plays a pass to Cristiano. the No. 7 goes to the ground after a tackle but the ball goes to Antony. The winger turns and shoots with his right but the shot is saved by Koval.
8’
United starting to cook. The debutant Garnacho plays a neat one-two with Malacia on the left. Malacia crosses but the ball is slightly out of Antony’s reach. The attack ultimately ends but some positive display by ten Hag’s team.
5’
Antony retreats to win the ball back but ends up giving away a throw in. Casemiro has the ball in the heart of the Sheriff half. He tries to play the ball to Antony on the right, who is breaking away into a run. The pass is intercepted and the Brazilian winger tracks back to recover the ball.
3’
A simmered start to the match. Man United enjoys the better part of the ball but Sheriff has been extremely compact at the back. No room for any United player to create something.
Kick Off at Old Trafford
And the game is underway! Ronaldo passes to Bruno to start the game. United is playing with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
We’re set to go
The players complete the handshakes, the teams have their pictures clicked. The referee for the match, Tasos Sidiropoulos, has completed the coin toss.
Players wait in the tunnel
The two teams have made their way to the tunnel, and awaiting the referee’s instructions to go ahead on to the pitch.
Midfielder Eriksen on manager Erik ten Hag
“I think we’re starting to believe it. Obviously, there’s a lot of things that we need to do better, things we can change, but I think overall, we’re on the right path.”
Kick Off at 12:30 AM IST
We’re under 15 minutes away from the start of the game at the Old Trafford.
Man United’s form in Europa League
United has won three matches on the trot after the opening week loss to Real Sociedad. It’s last match in the Europa League was against Omonia which it won by a goal to nil.
Casemiro’s weekend heroics
The Brazilian midfielder scored a stoppage time goal to rescue a point against Chelsea. The goal meant that United stays just one point behind Chelsea and in the hunt for a top four place.
Sheriff dominating its league
Sheriff Tiraspol is in first place in the Moldovan National Division. It has 27 points from 12 games played so far.
Arsenal slipping against PSV
Arsenal is currently losing 0-2 on its trip to PSV Eindhoven. Luckily for the Gunners faithful, the London team has secured its place in the knockout round.
The previous encounter
The last match in the Europa League group stage between United and Sheriff was won by the Red Devils. Cristiano Ronaldo and Jaden Sancho scored the goals for ten Hag’s side.
United’s young talent showing its calibre
United looking to seal top spot
Manchester United is nearly through to the knockout round of Europa League. However, it needs to win both its matches to top the group. If it wins today, it needs to beat Real Sociedad in the next round to advance as the best team from the group. A loss, however, might make the situation a bit tricky. With Sheriff playing Omonia on the last match week, the United vs Sociedad tie will become must win for Erik ten Hag and his team.
Europa League Group E
Real Sociedad: Played 4 – Points 12
Manchester United: Played 4 – Points 9
Sheriff: Played 4 – Points 3
Omonia: Played 4 – Points 0
Sheriff playing XI
Koval – Borges, Kiki, Radeljic, Kpozo, Badolo, Diop, Kyabou, Mudasiru, Akanbi, Atiemwen
Manchester United lineup out
De Gea – Lindelof, Martinez, Bruno, Ronaldo, Malacia, Eriksen, Casemiro, Dalot, Antony, Garnacho
PREVIEW
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to training with the team on Tuesday after being left out for the Premier League match on the weekend. United will secure qualification from Group E if it avoids defeat at home to Moldovan club Sheriff Tiraspol.
A win for United sets up a Nov. 3 decider with Real Sociedad for first place in the group. Group winners advance directly to the last 16, while teams qualifying second go through an extra playoff round.
WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH
The UEFA Europa League matches will be telecast live on Sony Sports network and can be live streamed on SonyLIV and Jio TV apps.
The Manchester United vs Sheriff match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST or 8:00 PM BST.
