AZ Alkmaar vs Manchester United LIVE: Result and latest reaction from Europa League fixture
Follow live Europa League updates as Man Utd take on AZ
Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free
Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
Manchester United are expected to again line-up with a young team in the Europa League when they take on AZ Alkmaar this evening.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is missing a number of the first-team squad through injury, including Ashley Young, Luke Shaw, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.
The match will take place on a plastic pitch in The Hague, as Alkmaar continue to rebuild their stadium following the collapse of a roof. Follow it live:
Match preview
Predicted line-ups:
United: Romero; Dalot, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Rojo; Matic, Fred, Mata; Lingard, Greenwood, Rashford
AZ: Bizot; Rhijn, Vlaar, Wuytens, Wijndal; Clasie, Koopmeiners, Midtso; Stengs, Idrissi, Boadu
When is it?
Kick-off is at 5:55pm (BST) on Thursday October 3rd.
How can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast live on BT Sport 2, with coverage starting at 5:30pm. Users can also watch on the BT Sport App and on BTSport.com.
Odds
Alkmaar 21/10
United 7/5
Draw: 12/5
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
21 minutes
Wijndal makes an overlapping run on the left and lifts a cross into the middle. None of his teammates are there to meet it, but Rojo is forced to head the ball behind. United are then forced to defend a succession of corners as the hosts look for a breakthrough.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
25 minutes
United appear to be struggling to get to grips with the surface. It's very quick, almost deceptively so, and AZ are more accustomed to it having played on it before.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
26 minutes
United come forward with intent for the first time in a while. James plays the ball out to the right, where Dalot has made a forward run. His cross is too close to goalkeeper Bizot, who palms it away under no pressure.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
29 minutes
Fred hasn't started well in midfield. He looks to play a through ball in behind the AZ defence but gets it badly wrong and turns away in frustration as it races away for a goal kick.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
30 minutes
Chance! James does brilliantly to keep a Dalot pass in play, cutting back from the byline for Greenwood, who shoots first time in the box. Vlaar does well to block and AZ clear. Greenwood might feel he should have scored there.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
32 minutes
Now a chance at the other end! Stengs cuts onto his left foot and sends the ball into the box, where Boadu is waiting. He can't quite keep his balance, though, and doesn't get any power on his header.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
35 minutes
A let off for Rojo, who gives the ball away to Stengs in his own half, but the youngster's attempted through ball doesn't come off. He's been the main threat for AZ in this first half.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
37 minutes
Gomes, who's been quiet so far, is picked out at the back post by an excellent Dalot cross. But he can't quite get the ball out of his feet, and when he eventually shoots his effort is blocked.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
41 minutes
It's clear that these are two relatively inexperienced teams. There's been plenty of energy and intensity so far, but a lack of composure from both sides.
AZ 0-0 Manchester United
43 minutes
Idrissi breaks away on the left and tries to slip Boadu through on goal. But his pass is intercepted by Lindelof.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments