RB Leipzig vs Manchester United: 5 key battles | UEFA Champions League 2020-21

Kumar
Manchester United manager needs Pogba to step up against Leipzig
Manchester United manager needs Pogba to step up against Leipzig

#3 Paul Pogba vs Marcel Sabitzer

RB Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer
RB Leipzig midfielder Marcel Sabitzer

Paul Pogba hasn’t been a regular starter for Manchester United in the Champions League this season, but he is a big player so expect him to step up in the crunch game.

The Frenchman had a big impact in the previous outing when Manchester United came from behind to beat West Ham United away from home, and nearly did the same against PSG a few days ago before that as well.

Leipzig have a similar player in Marcel Sabitzer, albeit a more hard-working one. Sabitzer hasn’t been at his best this season and will have to deal with the threat of Pogba. Manchester United will play on the counter-attack, and the Austrian international will have to take some of the responsibility to track back and keep the Frenchman in check.

He is known for his defensive contribution off the ball, so Nagelsmann will not be worried about that. But can Sabitzer have an impact a bit further up the pitch as well and help his side’s attackers?


#4 Amadou Haidara vs Bruno Fernandes

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United - Premier League

Manchester United look like a different team with Bruno Fernandes in their attack, and there will be high expectations on his shoulders once again. The Portuguese has provided the spark to the Manchester United attack, and his link-up play with the rest of the attackers is just a joy to watch. The former Sporting CP man is also hard to defend when you are on the back foot.

That is exactly the kind of thing Leipzig will have to watch out for on Tuesday. Amadou Haidara has done an excellent job in central midfield and he never stops running. Bayern found it hard to deal with his pressing and work-rate, and he did a good job in his own half as well to cut the supply to Robert Lewandowski on Saturday.

Still only 22, there's a lot of pressure on Haidara’s young shoulders on Tuesday when he comes up against the in-form Fernandes. If he manages to win that battle, Leipzig could come out on top against Manchester United.


#5 Ibrahima Konate vs Marcus Rashford

FC Bayern Muenchen v RB Leipzig - Bundesliga
FC Bayern Muenchen v RB Leipzig - Bundesliga

Leipzig’s four at the back system hasn’t worked out well, as they have conceded a total of six goals in the two games they have deployed that setup. Manchester United exposed the high press in Leipzig’s three at the back system, and Marcus Rashford in particular had a field day.

Rashford got in behind pretty easily to finish with a second-half hat-trick and condemn Leipzig to a 5-0 defeat in the reverse fixture. Leipzig have agile defenders at the back, but despite that, they had no answer to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The changed formation could make it harder, especially off the ball as Leipzig have shown signs of using the two banks of four. Konate, in particular, will have to put in a big game in Dayot Upamecano’s absence due to a suspension.

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Edited by Vishal Subramanian