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That’s very nearly a first choice XI for Manchester United. The build-up to this match obviously charted the storied history of this competition and the key outcomes for this potentially decisive clash the future of Marcus Rashford.
The teams!
Steaua: Tarnovanu, Mihai Popescu, Ngezana, Dawa, Cretu, Edjouma, Sut, Radunovic, Tanase, Birligea, Miculescu.
Subs: Udrea, Stefanescu, Daniel Popa, Chiriches, Toma, Baluta, Pantea, Musi, Alhassan.
Manchester United: Bayindir, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot, Collyer, Mainoo, Malacia, Eriksen, Fernandes, Hojlund.
Subs: Heaton, Onana, Lindelof, Maguire, Zirkzee, Yoro, Diallo, Garnacho, Casemiro, Ugarte.
Preamble
Two former European Cup winners meet tonight, hoping in vain to restore some sense of former glory in in Europe’s second-tier competition, but both with aspirations of making the top eight and automatic qualification to the last 16.
Manchester United, currently fourth in the table, need a win to be sure of that tonight but a draw at Steaua probably be enough, so long as a string of unlikely results elsewhere don’t happen. The home side are hanging onto eighth and will also want a victory to make sure of their progress but anything else and they could be usurped by Galatasaray, Bodo/Glimt, Olympiakos, Plzen or even Rangers and AZ, way back on 11 points.
This is the current table, as things stand before the 8pm kick-offs (all times GMT).
Of course, just like the mad conclusion of Wednesday night’s Champions League league phase, all the games are also kicking off at the same time for fairness. Here are the other 17 fixtures.
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Ajax v Galatasaray
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Anderlecht v Hoffenheim
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Athletic Bilbao v Viktoria Plzen
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Braga v Lazio
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Dynamo Kyiv v FK RFS
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FC Twente v Besiktas
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Ferencvaros v AZ Alkmaar
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Lyon v Ludogorets
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Maccabi Tel Aviv v Porto
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Midtjylland v Fenerbahce
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Nice vs Bodo/Glimt
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Olympiacos v Qarabag
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Rangers v Union Saint-Gilloise
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Roma v Eintracht Frankfurt
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Real Sociedad v PAOK
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Slavia Prague v Malmo
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Tottenham v Elfsborg
As you can imagine, there are too many permutations to list here. The easier thing to say is that only leaders Lazio are assured of a top eight/automatic qualification to the last 16 and only the bottom-placed seven clubs (Rigas FS, Slavia Prague, Malmo, Ludogorets, Qarabag, Nice and Dynamo Kyiv) are certain of not making the play-off round (those that finish ninth-24th).
You can follow our clockwatch to keep pace with the rest of the games, including Tottenham v Elfsborg and Rangers v Union Saint-Gilloise.
As for Steaua Bucharest v Manchester United, we’ll have the team news shortly and kick-off at 8pm.
