RB Leipzig vs Manchester United : 5 players to watch out for | UEFA Champions League 2020-21

Edinson Cavani (left), Bruno Fernandes (centre) and Anthony Martial (right)
Edinson Cavani (left), Bruno Fernandes (centre) and Anthony Martial (right)

It's do-or-die for both RB Leipzig and Manchester United as they collide in their final fixture of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Both teams are tied at nine points and have a chance of making it through to the Round of 16.

Manchester United will qualify even if they get only a point from the game. They looked set to cruise through to the Round of 16 until they conceded a 3-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at home last week.

Both RB Leipzig and Manchester United are riding on the back of encouraging results. RB Leipzig held Bayern Munich to a 3-3 draw while Manchester United registered yet another comeback win away from home, this time against West Ham United.

There are several in-form players on both sides who can change the game all by themselves on their day. On that note, let's take a look at five players to watch out for in the UEFA Champions League.


#5 Harry Maguire (Manchester United)

Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire

It looks like the only way Harry Maguire can make the papers is through messing up. That is because the Manchester United captain has been solid for them after having their behinds handed to them by Tottenham Hotspur but doesn't get the credit for it.

He has turned in top performances against the likes of Everton, Istanbul Basaksehir, West Bromwich Albion and most recently against West Ham United. Maguire has been solid in the air and has been more assured in his tackling.

He had received a lot of stick during a difficult period but has received little to no praise for the improvement he has showed over the recent weeks.

His form will be crucial to Manchester United's chances and if they can keep the RB Leipzig attackers in check, the Red Devils, who are in the habit of outdoing their opponents on the road, will definitely create chances and score.

#4 Angelino (RB Leipzig)

RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group H - UEFA Champions League
RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group H - UEFA Champions League

The versatile RB Leipzig full back who is on loan from Manchester City has easily been one of their best players this season. The diminutive 23-year-old might not look it but he is an absolute dynamite and has been key to Julian Nagelsmann's side sitting just two points off league leaders Bayern Munich.

Angelino has scored six goals and provided four assists from 16 appearances this season. He has played at left back in addition to being fielded as a holding midfielder and also a winger on occasion.

His runs, crosses and goals have come in quite handy for RB Leipzig and he will be up against Aaron Wan-Bissaka on Tuesday night. Wan-Bissaka loves a tackle and if Angelino can put him under pressure, then they will find a lot of joy down the left side of the pitch.

#3 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Manchester United v İstanbul Basaksehir: Group H - UEFA Champions League
Manchester United v İstanbul Basaksehir: Group H - UEFA Champions League

The talismanic Portuguese is simply one of the best midfielders in the world right now and his involvement will be crucial against RB Leipzig. It only took Fernandes a little more than 30 minutes after being introduced in the second half of the game against West Ham to completely shift the game Manchester United's way.

Bruno Fernandes set up Pogba for the opening goal and made the pre-assist pass for both their subsequent goals. He created eight chances in total in all of 45 minutes in the game against the Hammers. Bruno Fernandes is undoubtedly the difference-maker for Manchester United and he will be their main man once again.

It will be interesting to see what midfield combination Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goes for as they travel to take on RB Leipzig as he has a wealth of midfielders at his disposal but is yet to perhaps find the best combination.

#2 Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig)

RB Leipzig v İstanbul Basaksehir: Group H - UEFA Champions League
RB Leipzig v İstanbul Basaksehir: Group H - UEFA Champions League

Yussuf Poulsen has been the man that flies under the radar RB Leipzig as the stars around him bask in the limelight. Poulsen has consistently delivered the goods whenever called upon and he has been in solid form of late.

Poulsen was the best player on the pitch as RB Leipzig won an exciting seven-goal thriller against Istanbul Basaksehir last week. Poulsen turned in a top performance and scored a goal and assisted another to set up Leipzig for the win.

Poulsen has improved his game as a centre-forward and can slot in anywhere across the frontline. The Danish international not only scores goals but he is a creative outlet for the team as well.

Standing at 6 ft 4 in, Poulsen can work as a target man as well and against a Manchester United side that has struggled at defending set-pieces of late, Poulsen is definitely a player to keep an eye out for.

#1 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)

Marcus Rashford dinks the ball over Fabianski to score Manchester United's third goal against West Ham
Marcus Rashford dinks the ball over Fabianski to score Manchester United's third goal against West Ham

Marcus Rashford played all of 27 minutes against RB Leipzig in the reverse fixture but he absolutely tore them into smithereens by scoring his first hat-trick for Manchester United. Rashford has been one of Manchester United's standout performers so far this season as well.

He was the one who scored Manchester United's only goal against Paris Saint-Germain last week. Rashford was excellent against West Ham United over the weekend, making up for a missed one-on-one opportunity with a sublime dinked finish to put the game to bed after United had started the second half a goal down.

Rashford has three goals and an assist from the last four games and his movement in general has improved greatly. He won't be up against tired RB Leipzig legs like he was last time but he will give their defence plenty to think about.

With Rashford in Manchester United's lineup, it's not advisable for the Leipzig defenders to push up relentlessly as once the 23-year-old gets in behind, there's hardly any stopping him.

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