VfL Wolfsburg vs Manchester United : Preview, Live Stream, TV Channel info, Team News, Prediction and Betting Odds

United face Wolfsburg in a do or die clash at the Volkswagen Arena on Tuesday night

An under-the-cosh Manchester United side travel to Lower Saxony for their final Champions League group game of the season to take on an equally beleaguered Wolfsburg, with only a win guaranteeing their participation in Europe’s premier competition beyond the turn of the year.

The Red Devils are currently just a point adrift of the Wolves in second place, and anything but three points will see them topple into Europa League, provided PSV Eindhoven, who are lurking just a point behind them, fail to beat CSKA Moscow at home.

Another agonizing goal-less draw at the weekend in the league saw United draw more ire from the Old Trafford faithful, mounting pressure on the under-fire manager Louis Van Gaal while only a favourable result in Wolfsburg will go some way to thaw the simmering tensions. However, it wouldn’t be all plain-sailing considering the hosts have a battle for survival themselves.

If United and PSV win, Wolfsburg will be eliminated. Nolens volens, Deiter Hecking’s side must snatch a point away from this game to ensure full safety, irrespective of what happens at Eindhoven.

With an all-important progression on the line, sparks set to fly in this intriguing encounter as both sides are all geared up to go full throttle at the Volkswagen Arena.

Kickoff and Live Telecast

Date: 9th December 2015

Time: 01:15 AM (IST)

Venue: Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg

Channel: Ten HD

Live Stream: www.ronaldo7.net

Team News

Wolfsburg

The hosts will be buoyed by the return of Dante in defense after serving a one-match suspension, but the condition of Luiz Gustavo and Ricardo Rodriguez remains on the anvil but are most likely to miss out as reports suggest.

Manchester United

The visitors come into the crucial tie short of the services of some key players. Skipper Wayne Rooney continues to be on the sidelines with an ankle injury, whereas Morgan Schneiderlin is set to miss the trip too, having sustained a knack against the Hammers last weekend.

The likes of Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera, Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw are the other names in a congested list of casualties and are set to stay back in the treatment room.

Expected line-ups:

Wolfsburg (4-2-3-1): Benaglio; Träsch, Naldo, Dante, Rodríguez; Arnold, Guilavogui; Vierinha, Draxler, Caligiuri; Dost.

Manchester United (3-5-2): De Gea; McNair, Smalling, Blind; Young, Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Darmian; Depay, Martial.

Form

Wolfsburg

The season has been more of a mixed bag for the Wolves from Lower Saxony. Perhaps maintaining consistency in their game has been their biggest issue this term, with victories being interspersed with timely defeats both in the domestic and European games.

Their latest set-back was a 2-1 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, meaning they have now picked up just 4 points from their 4 games, and trail leaders Bayern Munich by a massive 15 points.

Their form in Europe however, has been a tad better. Save the defeats to Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven on their travels, Wolfsburg have claimed maximum points from the other games which has left them at the summit of the group with 9 points after five games.

But a qualification still isn’t assured yet, and will have to at least take away a point off the visitors to stay alive in the competition beyond the group stages, if PSV win at home in their game against CSKA.

Last five games: LWWDL (Latest result: Wolfsburg 1-2 Borussia Dortmund)

Manchester United

The Red Devils are enduring contrasting fortunes at either ends of the field of late. While their defense has been robust, the attack, very blunt. In the last 10 games in all competitions, United have maintained 7 clean-sheets, but have found the net just as many times in the process.

The mediocre run of results have been more questions than answers for Dutch honcho Van Gaal, who appears to have been exhausted of ideas, and that hasn’t gone down well with the supporters as they have grown exasperated with the team’s banality.

They even find their European aspirations on the ropes, as a defeat to Wolfsburg allied with PSV’s win over CSKA would see them consigned to the Europa League, so have no choice but to rack-up a win in their final group game to ensure qualification to the next round.

Last five matches: WWWDD (Latest result: Manchester United 0-0 West Ham United)

Key match facts and stats:

Louis Van Gaal is unbeaten against Wolfsburg in five encounters with Bayern Munich and Manchester United, winning four of them.
The Red Devils have drawn 7 of their last 10 fixtures in all competitions.
Manchester United had won their last visit to Wolfsburg which came six years ago when Michael Owen’s hat-trick ensured a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg.
Wolfsburg’s last meeting with an English side at home was a 2-0 defeat to Everton, that came just a year ago in the Europa League group stages.
Die Wolfe have never progressed beyond the group stages of the Champions League.

Prediction:

With so many injury concerns coupled with a poor run of results from all fronts, Manchester United enter the game with their backs clearly to the wall. Although Wolfsburg aren’t in a much better shape either, having won only twice in their last six competitive games, United’s attacking woes might come back to bite them.

The Mancunians may have to wait a little more to see their team in the last 16 draws again.

VfL Wolfsburg 1-1 Manchester United