91Èȱ¬

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live

It was a bit of strength from Elia, he pushed the ball forward, he attacked.

He went straight through the heart of Manchester United, but he dragged his shot just wide.

Young Boys have a chance within two minutes.

Meschak Elia spins Fred too easily in midfield, charges towards goal and shoots through Victor Lindelof's legs but it's wide of the far post. A bit of a dragged shot.

Bruno Fernandes blocks a Young Boys clearance and it's a goal-kick to the hosts.

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 Live

Manchester United have to be overwhelming favourites to win their group but for Young Boys this is their chance.

Young Boys are very direct, they press and they put the ball in key areas.

Here we go at the, well you know where this game is being played.

The Wankdorf is rocking.

Image source, Getty Images

The players are out. And here's the Champions League anthem - the best music in football by far.

This is Cristiano Ronaldo's first Champions League appearance for Manchester United since the 2008-09 final against Barcelona - 12 years and 110 days ago.

That is the fourth longest gap between consecutive appearances for the same club, behind Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax, 2006-18, 12y 189d), Timmy Simons (Club Brugge, 2003-16, 12y 280d) and Steed Malbranque (Lyon, 2001-15, 14y 194d).

Image source, Getty Images

There is one other early game as Sevilla face Salzburg.

Spanish sides have won all eight Champions League matches against Austrian teams, by an aggregate of 30-4.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, speaking to BT Sport: "We had a good day against Newcastle and a special day, but now the Champions League opens and it's a new game. Young Boys are a high energy team and direct. We will have to look to their strengths."

On Young Boys' artificial pitch: That's fine. Coming from Norway I'm used to the astroturf. We practised yesterday. The pitch is quick, there are no complaints."

On Donny van de Beek: "We know what he is capable of doing. He has been working very, very hard over the summer and he is stronger and fitter, and I'm looking forward to seeing him."

Young Boys have only been in the Champions League group stages once before.

They finished bottom on four points in 2018-19 behind Juventus, Manchester United and Valencia.

Young Boys lost in the Champions League qualifiers in the two seasons in between.

The first ever Europa Conference League games are over...

Maccabi Tel-Aviv 4-1 Alashkert

Maccabi Haifa 0-0 Feyenoord

Young Boys midfielder Miralem Sulejmani is the only one of their players to have ever scored in the Champions League.

The Serb played in both games against Manchester United in 2018-19 for Young Boys.

However his goal came for Ajax against Dinamo Zagreb in November 2011.

He's on the bench today.

Sid Dodia: re Francesca Gunn (17:16): Lindlelof had a great Euros and don't forget his long ball from behind is underrated. Selling him will leave a void as Bailly and Jones can't be trusted as a back up for Varane and Maguire, too many fitness issues with them.

Image source, Getty Images

United have beaten Young Boys in their two previous meetings, in the 2018-19 Champions League group stages (3-0 away, 1-0 at home).

United have won 50% of their Champions League games against Swiss opponents (W4 D2 L2), with the others against Basel (W2 D2 L2).

Young Boys have only won one of their eight matches against English opponents (D1 L6) in Europe. That was when they beat Tottenham in the 2010-11 Champions League play-off first leg - but Spurs went through on aggregate.

Image source, Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo treating that football like it's a bottle of cola at a press conference or Lee Grant's dessert.

Manchester United have lost six of their 10 Champions League matches under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

That is as many as they lost in 20 games in the competition under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho combined (W10 D4 L6).

Jordan Siebatcheu scored three goals in qualifying. He starts this game on the bench.

Former Huddersfield boss David Wagner - appointed Young Boys boss in June - is taking charge of his first Champions League group match.

The Swiss champions came through qualifying to reach this stage.

Image source, 91Èȱ¬ Sport

Francesca Gunn: I can kind of understand why he is playing Fred!! But why play cannot defend Lindelof over Varane! Lindelof needs to stay on the bench and then be sold in the transfer window.

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

Manchester United's chance of reaching the knockout phase barely changed after the draw was made, reducing from 79% to 78%. United are ranked ninth by the and have been drawn in a group with the numbers 16, 18 and 42.

They were fortunate to avoid one of the highly ranked top seeds but this was offset by drawing Atalanta, one of the strongest third seeds. Manchester United are given 4% chance of winning the competition at this stage.

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