Manchester United vs Benfica - as it happened: Jose Mourinho's men march past Portuguese visitors
Re-live all the action from Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United host Benfica for their fourth Champions League group match on Tuesday night expecting to continue a 100 per cent winning record.
Having clinched a 1-0 victory against the Portuguese champions last time out, United will be seeking their fourth straight win in the competition this season. Another three points here, if CSKA Moscow also fail to beat FC Basel in the evening’s other Group A fixture, would be enough to secure qualification to the last-16 of the competition.
United have reasons to be confident of achieving this feat for the first time since 2013. Although boss Jose Mourinho continues to be hampered by several absences – including Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini - Saturday’s solid 1-0 victory against title rivals Tottenham will have reassured that even a weakened XI are still more than capable of grinding out an important result.
On this evidence, and given the importance of United’s trip to Chelsea in the league on Sunday, don’t be surprised if Mourinho rests some other big names for this, comparatively low-pressure, fixture.
Benfica, sitting bottom of Group A after three losses in a row, can only realistically target Europa League qualification from their remaining games. However, with two league wins in the past fortnight, they will be hoping to improve upon their dismal performance against United in Lisbon on 18 October.
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What time does it start?
Manchester United vs Benfica kicks off at 19:45.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 3 from 19:00. Highlights will be shown at 22:15 on BT Sport 2.
It’s a big game for…
Mile Svilar. The promising 18-year old keeper made a nightmarish error to gift United victory two weeks ago, carrying the ball over the line from a Marcus Rashford free kick. Although the visibly-distraught Belgian was comforted by United players after the game on that evening, he will nonetheless be hoping for a better performance at Old Trafford, and is understood to have been given the chance to atone for his errors by Benfica boss Rui Vitoria.
Remember when…
… and that was in December 2005, when United were knocked out away from home by the Portuguese team in the Champions League Round of 16. A certain Cristiano Ronaldo – ex-Sporting Lisbon winger – was retroactively banned for making an offensive gesture towards the home fans.
Player to watch…
Anthony Martial. The mercurial Frenchman has had a mixed start to the season. Although he has the best goals-per-minute ratio of any United player (100), he has only started six games in all competitions. He will be hoping to follow up on his calmly-taken goal against Spurs at the weekend to secure a starting place.
Past three meetings…
Benfica 0 Manchester United 1 (Rashford), October 2017
Manchester United 2 (Berbatov, Fletcher) Benfica 2 (Jones (OG), Aimar), November 2011
Benfica 1 (Cardozo) Manchester United 1 (Giggs), September 2011
Form guide…
Manchester United: WDWLWW
Benfica: WLDLWW
Odds…
Manchester United: 33/100
Benfica: 19/5
Draw: 17/2
6 mins: Anthony Martial drives forward from deep and draws a foul on the edge of the box as Ruben Dias mistimes his tackle.
Martial takes the freekick and sends it over by some way. You imagine Juan Mata will be having the next one.
Penalty to Manchester United!
Anthony Martial drives into the box and Douglas goes to ground and catches the ball with his arm. Stonewall.
Saved!
Anthony Martial rolls the ball to the goalkeepers right and Mile Svilar goes the right way to palm the ball away.
Mile Svilar, 18, became the youngest goalkeeper to start in the Champions League when Manchester United played Benfica in the previous game.
He let Marcus Rashford's effort slip through his palms earlier in the month but he's made up for that tonight with a great save from the spot.
18 mins: Daivd De Gea makes a great save of his own from Diogo Gonçalves' effort. The winger cuts inside and arrows a shot towards goal but De Gea springs up and pushes the ball away.
20 mins: To say Manchester United are on top is a lie. All the traffic is heading towards United's goal, there are a few nervy whispers in the Old Trafford crowd.
22 mins: Jesse Lingard looks in trouble. He takes a knee to the back and goes down in agony. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is ready on the sideline as Lingard receives treatment off the pitch.
23 mins: Eric Bailly enters the referee's book for stopping a counter attack on the halfway line. Previous to that United wanted another penalty but their appeal was denied by the referee as Juan Mata tumbles over Ljubomir Fejsa's tackle.
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