Champions League: Manchester United simply must defeat Valencia

Jose Mourinho and Manchester United are in a rut and can’t afford to slip up anymore. A win against Valencia is absolutely necessary.

The Champions League will continue for Manchester United today as they host Valencia in their second group match in Group H. The Red Devils took care of business in the first match with a comfortable 3-0 win against BSC Young Boys while Valencia lost to Juventus 2-0, despite Cristiano Ronaldo getting sent off in the first half.

Since those matches, Man United has fallen apart and the results are not coming through. They haven’t won their last three games with a draw against Wolves, a penalty shootout loss to Derby in the Carabao Cup, and a recent 3-1 loss at West Ham in the Premier League. The form is shambolic and the fans have had enough of the drama and cluttered mess United has been this season.

Valencia hasn’t been that much better after their loss to Juventus but hasn’t lost. They drew Villarreal and Celta Vigo before getting a much needed 1-0 win at Real Sociedad this past Saturday to move up to 14th in La Liga. Despite the squad having talented players such as Michy Batshuayi, Denis Cheryshev, and Rodrigo, the Bats have drawn five of their seven games in Spain and have only scored five goals.

Team News: Alexis in the XI

Jose Mourinho will play with a standard starting XI with Alexis Sanchez in the front three alongside Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford. Sanchez did not play against BSC Young Boys and will make his fifth start this season in today’s match. Sanchez has only played a full 90 minutes once, in the opener against Leicester.

Valencia manager Ruben Uria has made a few changes in the XI he played against Juventus in the first match in the Champions League. Argentine centerback Ezequiel Garay enters the backline while French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia starts for a second straight game in all competitions. Rodrigo and Michy Batshuayi lead the frontline with former Arsenal players Gabriel Paulista and Francis Coquelin included.

Fun Storyline: The Belgian strikers reunite

Instead of Romelu Lukaku and Michy Batshuayi meeting twice a year when United play Chelsea, they meet twice a year through the Champions League after Batshuayi was let out on loan again by Chelsea. Lukaku had a good run of form at the beginning of September but has not scored in four straight matches.

Batshuayi has scored just once this season and it was a historic goal. He is the only man to score in England, Spain, France, and Germany in the 21st century. He is hoping for more against his strike partner for Belgium on his 25th birthday.

Prediction: Man United 1-0 Valencia

The Red Devils have been in this position before just a few weeks ago. They couldn’t buy a win and then they bounced back with one. Valencia has struggled to score all season while Man United has had difficulty defending. I don’t expect this match to be a goal fest but a snooze where United score once and then park the bus for a second consecutive Champions League victory. If United does not win this game, it would be baffling if Mourinho is still the manager by tomorrow.