On the day RB Leipzig was formed 11 years ago, Manchester United were still the reigning European champions.
Julian Nagelsmann watched the 2008 Champions League final as a 21-year-old whose playing career was effectively over, wrecked by injuries and with only a little scouting work on his CV.
The reputation as a brilliant, forward-thinking young coach which he now enjoys in Germany has often seen him linked with a different post – the one currently occupied by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Norwegian’s prospects in that job could be aided by a European run, with United having already overcome Paris Saint-Germain.
They meet Leipzig at Old Trafford on Tuesday night with the two managers under very different sets of expectations, Nagelsmann’s side sitting atop the Bundesliga and dropping just two points so far.
United, at least, are not facing one of the continent’s most underrated outfits on the back of any particularly catastrophic results.
The 0-0 draw with Chelsea was drab and will have left its broadcasters thanking the heavens the fixture hadn’t been selected for pay-per-view.
Yet, based on their set-up, the aim was a clean sheet upon which the defence could build and that’s what United achieved, courtesy of some apathetic tactics from Frank Lampard.
How to watch Man Utd vs RB Leipzig
- Wednesday October 28 (kick-off 8pm)
- TV: BT Sport 2 / BT Sport Ultimate from 7pm
- Online: Stream via the BT Sport app on mobile or tablet, or via the BT Sport website on laptop and desktop
That said, they have the chance to carry momentum over from their latest triumph at the Parc des Princes, a venue which has already provided some of the greatest memories of Solskjaer’s reign.
Team news
There are no new injury worries and Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Odion Ighalo and Edinson Cavani – who nearly scored with his first touch on debut – are all available in attack. Greenwood, brought on as a substitute against Chelsea, is back in contention after being dropped due to disciplinary issues.
Anthony Martial, who was suspended against Chelsea as he continues to serve his ban for his sending off in the 6-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, could return.
It might seem that United are spoilt for choice up front, but it’s worth remembering that Wilfried Zaha, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son are the only players to have scored more than one goal at Old Trafford this season.
In spite of that unkind statistic, Solskjaer’s main concerns are at the back, where he may stick with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof due to Eric Bailly’s ongoing injury.
Bailly and Jesse Lingard are the only players who will definitely miss the visit of Leipzig.
The centre-back has a muscle injury and will be out for at least another three weeks, taking his absence beyond the upcoming international break.
Lingard, likewise, has a problem with the tendon attached to his hip and it is still unclear whether the midfielder will require surgery.
The other major selection headaches are at left-back and in central midfield. Donny van de Beek is fresh having been an unused substitute on Saturday, while Paul Pogba has also started United’s last three games in all competitions on the bench.
Alex Telles could come in for Luke Shaw following an impressive debut against PSG.
Nagelsmann has a number of concerns too, with midfield duo Tyler Adams and Konrad Laimer both ruled out with knee problems.
Defender Lukas Klostermann also has a knee injury, while Amadou Haidara is in quarantine due to a positive coronavirus test.
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