Manchester United v Villarreal predictions: Red Devils set for more frustration

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Manchester United v Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 3, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Villarreal or draw double chance
3pts 8-5 Hills

Team news

Manchester United
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is suspended and Harry Maguire is out. Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo remain sidelined and Luke Shaw is a doubt after suffering an injury against Aston Villa.

Villarreal
Spain striker Gerard Moreno is a major doubt and Francis Coquelin is suspended. Samuel Chukwueze has yet to feature this season and Dani Raba is doubtful.

Match preview

After three defeats in four matches for his Manchester United side, including a shock Champions League loss away to Young Boys, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could do with a straightforward victory over Villarreal at Old Trafford.

As United know only too well, however, the Yellow Submarine are obdurate opponents and the visitors are worth backing to increase the pressure on Solskjaer by avoiding defeat in Manchester.

The Red Devils were hot favourites to claim their first piece of silverware under Solskjaer when they faced Villarreal in last season's Europa League final but after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes they lost 11-10 in an epic penalty shootout.

Villarreal also took Chelsea to penalties in this term's European Super Cup, losing the shootout in Belfast on that occasion, and spot-kick drama has dominated United's recent matches.

David de Gea, whose miss gave Villarreal victory in the Europa League final, pulled off an injury-time penalty save to seal a 2-1 Premier League win at West Ham before the usually reliable Bruno Fernandes skied his effort at the end of Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa.

United supporters may wonder why these matches are coming down to such fine margins after a summer during which Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane arrived at Old Trafford and Paul Pogba remained at the club.

Things started well with a 5-1 opening win over Leeds and Ronaldo scored four goals in the first three games of his second spell at United, including an early opener against Young Boys after a delightful ball from Fernandes.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka's first-half red card helped the Swiss underdogs come from behind to claim a memorable 2-1 win on matchday one and, for all United's star names, they are worth opposing in their second group game.

Villarreal are likely to be missing key striker Gerard Moreno, who scored their goal in the Europa League final, as well as former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, sent off in their 2-2 draw with Atalanta.

However, they stifled free-scoring La Liga leaders Real Madrid at the weekend, drawing 0-0 at the Bernabeu, and Unai Emery will be confident of unsettling a home defence set to be without Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw as well as the suspended Wan-Bissaka.

Villarreal, with the classy Pau Torres at the heart of their defence, have drawn seven of their eight matches this term, also beating Elche 4-1 in La Liga last week, and they look like awkward opponents for out-of-sorts United.

Key stat

Seven of Villarreal's eight matches this season have been draws in 90 minutes.

Inside info

Manchester United

Penalty taker Bruno Fernandes/Cristiano Ronaldo
Free-kick wizard Bruno Fernandes
Set-piece aerial threat Cristiano Ronaldo
Card magnet Fred

Villarreal

Penalty taker Paco Alcacer
Free-kick wizardDani Parejo
Set-piece aerial threatPau Torres
Card magnetEtienne Capoue

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