Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United: United’s starting XI?

With Mata cup-tied, who should be included in United’s XI?

Manchester United face Bayern Munich tomorrow night in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final. The match in The Allianz Arena is undoubtedly the reds’ biggest game of season so far and they go into the contest as huge underdogs. The score is currently 1-1 on aggregate and David Moyes’s side must score in order to avoid being knocked out on the away goals rule.

The all important team news ahead of the mammoth game is that Wayne Rooney has trained and looks likely to play despite suffering with a toe injury. Robin Van Persie is of course out with the long term knee injury and Juan Mata is again cup tied sadly after Saturday’s man-of-the-match performance. Rafael Da Silva and Marouane Fellaini both missed Monday morning’s training session, so the pair are also very unlikely to feature against the European champions tomorrow. With all this taken into consideration, here is the side David Moyes may well pick for tomorrow’s highly anticipated game:

Goalkeeper

David De Gea is a certainty to return in between the sticks in Germany after being rested against Newcastle United on the weekend. His performance will be pivotal if United are to qualify tomorrow and the Spaniard is more than likely to have a very busy evening.

Defence

After keeping the Bayern Munich attack at bay in the first leg and after being rested at St James’s Park on Saturday, I fully expect David Moyes to go with the experience of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in the heart of United’s defence tomorrow. With Rafael Da Silva missing training on Monday morning the right back position is up for grabs and Moyes will more than likely opt for Chris Smalling after the Englishman returned successfully from injury on the weekend. As for the left back position, this one is a huge dilemma for Moyes. Alexander Buttner did an admirable job filling in for the suspended Patrice Evra in the first and has been on decent form as of late. Since the first leg I have been certain Buttner would get the nod but after Evra returned on the weekend I feel Moyes may surcumb to Evra’s big match experience and leadership qualities.

Midfield

Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck are almost certainties to start on the flanks in my eyes tomorrow as the pair seems to scare the champions in the first leg with their sheer pace on the break. Their workrate and defensive qualities will again also be key in The Allianz Arena tomorrow. In the centre of the park Michael Carrick is another guaranteed starter after being rested on the weekend and with Fellaini looking unlikely to take part I feel that Moyes will bring Phil Jones into the centre of the park. The versatile Englishman has proved he can do a job in midfield and his work rate and ability to break up play could be vital tomorrow in helping United break up Bayern’s play and attempting to hit them on the counter attack.

Attack

Despite several reports all week stating that Wayne Rooney is a doubt for tomorrow’s game, it would take two broken legs to keep him out of contention. The England International will be United’s talisman in Munich and a world class performance off him is necessary if the reds are to stand any hope of qualifying. I then expect the in-form Shinji kagawa to get a start in his favoured number ten role behind the striker tomorrow as a reward for his recent performances and his display when coming off the bench against the German’s in the first leg.

Predicted Starting XI

De Gea;

Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra;

Carrick, Jones;

Valencia, Kagawa, Welbeck;

Rooney.