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Played
February 23, 2012 8:05 PM GMT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: D. Skomina
Attendance: 67328
February 23, 2012 8:05 PM GMT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: D. Skomina
Attendance: 67328
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| Manchester United | 1.38 | 4.00 | 2.40 | 4.40 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 50.00 | 1.43 | 1.40 |
| Draw | 4.50 | 1.35 | 3.00 | 1.40 | 4.50 | 4.50 | 10.00 | 4.65 | 4.50 |
| Ajax | 8.00 | 7.50 | 2.85 | 8.50 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 1.02 | 7.30 | 7.00 |
Manchester United - Ajax Preview: Sir Alex Ferguson's side have lost just two European home matches since 2001
Red Devils bidding to reach the last-16 of the Europa League after beating the Dutch side 2-0 in Amsterdam a week ago, but expect the Premier League side to rest key players
By Ryan Benson
Getty Images
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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MANCHESTER UNITED
 De Gea Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Fabio Park, Cleverley, Scholes, Young Berbatov, Hernandez |
AJAX
 Vermeer Van Rhijn, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Koppers De Jong, Eriksen, Anita Ozbiliz, Lodeiro, Sulejmani |
With Manchester United facing a potentially tricky trip to Norwich City just two days after facing Ajax, Sir Alex Ferguson looks likely to rest several key players with the Red Devils already 2-0 up.
Although Ferguson may rest players, he also has his fair share of injuries to think about. Antonio Valencia (hamstring), Anders Lindegaard (ankle), Anderson (knock), Nemanja Vidic (knee), Darren Fletcher (bowel condition) and Michael Owen (thigh) are all out while.
However, Ryan Giggs (ankle) and Dimitar Berbatov (knock) may be able to return after missing last week’s first leg.
The visitors, as they did last week, have a number of injury issues themselves. Derk Boerrigter (back), Gregory van der Wiel (groin), Eyong Enoh (hamstring), Andre Ooijer (calf) and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (tibia/leg injury) all look likely to miss out, while Nicolai Boilesen (hamstring) is touch-and-go after sitting out the weekend win over NEC Nijmegen.
Despite bagging two goals against NEC in the league last time out, Dmitry Bulykin may also be forced to miss the trip to Old Trafford after he had to be substituted with only 31 minutes gone in the 4-1 win.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
The last time Manchester United won the first-leg of a European tie and were knocked out came in 2007 as they defeated AC Milan 3-2 at Old Trafford, before an injury-ravaged side lost 3-0 in Italy.
- Paul Pogba (pictured right) will make his European debut if he features at any point.
- United haven’t lost any of their last 11 home European matches. Their last home loss was against Besiktas in November 2009.
- They have lost just two home matches in Europe since losing to Deportivo La Coruna in October 2001.
- Ajax have lost just five of their last 20 away Europa League matches, but have only won four of their last away matches in the Champions League.
- Of their 13 goals so far in Europe this season, five of United’s have been scored in the final 15 minutes of matches.
- Reported United target Christian Eriksen currently leads Ajax’s assist chart this season with 11.
- If he features, Ryan Giggs will make his 900th appearances for United.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Manchester United 3-0 Ajax
- 37.07 %
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Manchester United 2-0 Ajax
- 13.75 %
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Manchester United 3-1 Ajax
- 13.4 %
| Europa League (EL) | 23 Feb 2012 | Manchester United 1 - Ajax 2 |
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| Europa League (EL) | 16 Feb 2012 | Ajax 0 - Manchester United 2 |
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Manchester United
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| 13 May 2012 | Sunderland 0 - Manchester United 1 | EPL |
| 6 May 2012 | Manchester United 2 - Swansea City 0 | EPL |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Manchester City 1 - Manchester United 0 | EPL |
| 22 Apr 2012 | Manchester United 4 - Everton 4 | EPL |
| 15 Apr 2012 | Manchester United 4 - Aston Villa 0 | EPL |
Ajax
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| 6 May 2012 | Vitesse 1 - Ajax 3 | ERE |
| 2 May 2012 | Ajax 2 - VVV-Venlo 0 | ERE |
| 29 Apr 2012 | FC Twente 1 - Ajax 2 | ERE |
| 22 Apr 2012 | Ajax 2 - FC Groningen 0 | ERE |
| 15 Apr 2012 | Ajax 3 - De Graafschap 1 | ERE |
| Returns: | Manchester United £44.00 |
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| Returns: | Draw £46.50 |
|
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| Returns: | Ajax £85.00 |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
| 1 | David de Gea | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Phil Jones | Defender |
| 12 | Chris Smalling | Defender |
| 20 | Fabio Da Silva | Defender |
| 13 | Ji-Sung Park | Midfielder |
| 21 | Rafael Silva | Midfielder |
| 17 | Nani | Midfielder |
| 18 | Ashley Young | Midfielder |
| 23 | Tom Cleverley | Midfielder |
| 14 | Chicharito | Striker |
| 9 | Dimitar Berbatov | Striker |
| 40 | Ben Amos | Goalkeeper |
| 6 | Jonny Evans | Defender |
| 3 | Patrice Evra | Defender |
| 16 | Michael Carrick | Midfielder |
| 22 | Paul Scholes | Midfielder |
| 11 | Ryan Giggs | Midfielder |
| 19 | Danny Welbeck | Striker |
| 1 | Kenneth Vermeer | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Toby Alderweireld | Defender |
| 4 | Jan Vertonghen | Defender |
| 5 | Vurnon Anita | Defender |
| 34 | Ricardo van Rhijn | Striker |
| 35 | Dico Koppers | Defender |
| 8 | Christian Eriksen | Midfielder |
| 10 | Siem de Jong | Midfielder |
| 18 | Nicolás Lodeiro | Midfielder |
| 7 | Miralem Sulejmani | Striker |
| 23 | Aras Özbiliz | Striker |
| 22 | Jasper Cillessen | Goalkeeper |
| 17 | Daley Blind | Defender |
| 13 | André Ooijer | Defender |
| 22 | Ismail Aissati | Midfielder |
| 39 | Davy Klaassen | Midfielder |
| 25 | Thulani Serero | Striker |
| 11 | Lorenzo Ebecilio | Striker |
| Tom Cleverley | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 23 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The 22-year-old midfielder started in Amsterdam in the first leg and had a decent, if underwhelming match, and he could start once again as Ferguson looks to build up the England Under-21 international’s fitness following four months out with an ankle injury.
Although unspectacular in the first-leg, Cleverley’s creativity for United could be key on Thursday as they look to breakdown a potentially tight and compact Ajax defence and most of the hosts’ play will go through the former Wigan loanee.
| Toby Alderweireld | |
| Position: | Defender |
| Squad Number: | 3 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Last weeks’ ‘Player to Watch’ Christian Eriksen went on to impress at the Amsterdam Arena and, although Alderweireld is the lesser fancied of Ajax’s two centre-backs, he acts as an effective foil to Jan Vertonghen.
Vertonghen certainly garnered more attention last time out than Alderweireld with his eye-catching surges forward and impressive composure, but Alderweireld did his fair share of the workload, making several important blocks, something he will have to do once again if the Dutch side stand any hope of progressing.
Vertonghen certainly garnered more attention last time out than Alderweireld with his eye-catching surges forward and impressive composure, but Alderweireld did his fair share of the workload, making several important blocks, something he will have to do once again if the Dutch side stand any hope of progressing.
It was tempting to go with a bigger scoreline prediction given United’s form recently but, with many key players likely to be rested, maybe the end result won’t be quite as emphatic.
Nevertheless, it should be a comfortable night for Ferguson’s side and they will be hoping to avoid any complacency, with an early Ajax goal undoubtedly having the potential to create a nervous atmosphere at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
Nevertheless, it should be a comfortable night for Ferguson’s side and they will be hoping to avoid any complacency, with an early Ajax goal undoubtedly having the potential to create a nervous atmosphere at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
Results
Times In GMT
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Striker Schalke |
14 | 3 |
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Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético Madrid |
12 | 1 |
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Adrián
Striker Atlético Madrid |
10 | 0 |
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Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker Bilbao |
7 | 2 |
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Jonatan Ezequiel Cristaldo
Striker Metalist Kharki |
7 | 0 |
