Champions League

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Champions League | Group Stage

Nov 4, 2020 at 5.55pm UK

Başakşehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu

Istanbul
2 - 1
Man Utd

Ba (13'), Visca (40')
Skrtel (89')

FT(HT: 2-1)

Martial (43')
Tuanzebe (20')

Preview: Istanbul Basaksehir vs. Manchester United - prediction, team news, lineups

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 02 November 2020

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League clash between Istanbul Basaksehir and Manchester United, including team news and predicted lineups.

Manchester United switch focus back to the Champions League on Wednesday evening with a trip to Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir.

The Red Devils have won both Group H matches so far and are six points better off than their opponents, who have lost their first two outings.

Match preview

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks forlorn after watching his side thrashed 6-1 by Tottenham on October 4, 2020 © Reuters

United have made a superb start to their European campaign, having followed up a memorable 2-1 win away at Paris Saint-Germain with a thumping 5-0 home win against RB Leipzig.

They are now looking to win their first three Champions League group games for a ninth time, with no team previously failing to qualify after accruing nine points from nine.

However, while United have looked impressive on the continent, they have struggled in the Premier League and enter this match on the back of a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted after Sunday's loss that his side simply failed to turn up, with the Gunners deservedly winning through a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty.

Seven points from their opening six games is United's worst return at this stage of a campaign since David Moyes's short spell in charge in 2013-14.

There is no doubt that a response is now required in midweek, putting some unneeded pressure on this trip to the Fatih Terim Stadium.

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores against Manchester United in the Premier League on November 1, 2020 © Reuters

Basaksehir are hardly the most formidable of opponents - the Turkish club being one of three teams yet to score a goal in the competition along with FC Midtjylland and Marseille.

Okan Buruk's men have lost by the same 2-0 scoreline to RB Leipzig and PSG in their first two matches, meaning that points are needed in their double-header with United.

They did at least respond to the latest of those European setbacks with a 2-1 win at Konyaspor on Sunday, leaving them seventh in the Turkish Super Lig with seven games played.

This will be Basaksehir's second meeting with an English club, having previously lost 1-0 on aggregate to Burnley in a 2018-19 Europa League qualifier.

United have lost each of their last two away games against Turkish opponents in European competition, meanwhile - 1-0 to Galatasaray in 2012 and 2-1 to Fenerbahce in 2016.

Istanbul Basaksehir Champions League form: LL
Istanbul Basaksehir form (all competitions): WWLWLW

Manchester United Champions League form: WW
Manchester United form (all competitions): LWWDWL

Team News

Edinson Cavani heads the ball during Manchester United's Premier League clash with Chelsea on October 24, 2020 © Reuters

This trip to Istanbul is sandwiched by Premier League meetings with Arsenal and Everton, so Solskjaer is likely to make the most of the opportunity to rotate his side.

That could mean Dean Henderson coming in for his first Champions League appearance in place of David de Gea, while Edinson Cavani - still not quite fully fit - is an option up top.

Axel Tuanzebe was brilliant in the win over PSG but has played just nine minutes as a substitute since then, though he may get the nod at centre-back in midweek.

There has been plenty of talk surrounding United's midfield options in recent weeks, and it may be a case of Nemanja Matic and Donny van de Beek coming in to fresh things up.

As for Basaksehir, they have named the second oldest average starting XI in the Champions League this term (29 years and 310 days), behind only Olympiacos.

Experience is certainly not lacking, then, and they boast some talented former Premier League players in their ranks such as Nacer Chadli, Demba Ba and Martin Skrtel.

Chadli is carrying an injury and is not expected to play any part against United, however, and Nigerian midfielder Azubuike Okechukwu is also doubtful.

Istanbul Basaksehir possible starting lineup:
Gunok; Rafael, Skrtel, Epureanu, Bolingoli-Mbombo; Topal; Visca, Ozcan, Kahveci, Turuc; Crivelli

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Lindelof, Shaw; Pogba, Van de Beek, Matic; Greenwood, Cavani, Martial

SM words green background

We say: Istanbul Basaksehir 0-2 Manchester United

Basaksehir have yet to collect a point from their two Champions League matches and, while they will certainly be up for this huge game, they lack the quality of their opponents.

United will be looking to respond to their disappointing defeat to Arsenal and this seems like the ideal kind of fixture to regain some momentum ahead of a tough trip to Everton.

Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Manchester United win with a probability of 45.73%. A win for Istanbul Basaksehir had a probability of 32.04% and a draw had a probability of 22.2%.

The most likely scoreline for a Manchester United win was 1-2 with a probability of 8.87%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 0-1 (6.08%) and 0-2 (5.72%). The likeliest Istanbul Basaksehir win was 2-1 (7.31%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (9.43%). The actual scoreline of 2-1 was predicted with a 7.3% likelihood.