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Played
February 23, 2012 3:05 PM EST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: D. Skomina
Attendance: 67328
February 23, 2012 3:05 PM EST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: D. Skomina
Attendance: 67328
Europa League Preview: Manchester United - Ajax
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.
However, Ryan Giggs (ankle) and Dimitar Berbatov (knock) may be able to return after missing last week’s first leg.
The visiting side, as it did last week, has a number of injury issues itself. 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 was knocked out came in 2007 as the club 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 hasn’t lost any of its last 11 home European matches. The club's last home loss was against Besiktas in Nov. 2009.
- The club has lost just two home matches in Europe since losing to Deportivo La Coruna in Oct. 2001.
- Ajax has lost just five of its last 20 away Europa League matches.
- Of the club's 13 goals 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) | Feb 23, 2012 | Manchester United 1 - Ajax 2 |
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| Europa League (EL) | Feb 16, 2012 | Ajax 0 - Manchester United 2 |
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Manchester United
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| May 13, 2012 | Sunderland 0 - Manchester United 1 | EPL |
| May 6, 2012 | Manchester United 2 - Swansea City 0 | EPL |
| Apr 30, 2012 | Manchester City 1 - Manchester United 0 | EPL |
| Apr 22, 2012 | Manchester United 4 - Everton 4 | EPL |
| Apr 15, 2012 | Manchester United 4 - Aston Villa 0 | EPL |
Ajax
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| May 6, 2012 | Vitesse 1 - Ajax 3 | ERE |
| May 2, 2012 | Ajax 2 - VVV-Venlo 0 | ERE |
| Apr 29, 2012 | Twente 1 - Ajax 2 | ERE |
| Apr 22, 2012 | Ajax 2 - Groningen 0 | ERE |
| Apr 15, 2012 | Ajax 3 - De Graafschap 1 | ERE |
| 1 | David de Gea | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Phil Jones | Defender |
| 12 | Chris Smalling | Defender |
| 20 | Fabio Da Silva | Defender |
| 21 | Rafael Silva | Midfielder |
| 13 | Ji-Sung Park | 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 |
Results
Times In EST
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 de Madrid |
12 | 1 |
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Adrián
Striker Atlético de 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 |