Steaua Bucharest v Manchester United: Europa League – live | Europa League

45 min: “United are unbelievably poor,” emails Tim Stappard. “And slow. I’m a United fan and I’ve wasted an increasing amount of my life watching this shit”.

Three minutes added on.

43 min: Malacia sprints forward from left-wing back and if found neatly by Fernandes. The Dutchman crashes a low cross across the six-yard box but Hojlund is nowhere to be seen in the middle.

40 min: Dawa nutmegs Hojlund. There hasn’t been much more to say about the last couple of minutes.

38 min: Collyer is struggling with his shoulder. It would be a shame if the 21-year-old has to come off. These would be valuable minutes.

35 min: This is increasingly a pedestrian half for Manchester United. They are lacking creativity and attacking options. Martinez fancies himself as a bit of a quarterback when he steps into midfield, but doesn’t really have the sufficient vision.

32 min: Birligea, Steaua’s striker, has been poor. The 24-year-old has failed to hold the ball up to give his team a base to build from.

30 min: Just as he did for Fernandes’ winner against Rangers last week, Martinez lofts a nice lofted through ball/cross forward to Hojlund. The Danish striker heads at goal, but can’t muster enough power to trouble Tarnovanu.

27 min: Manchester United have had 69% possession. Mainoo is shining in a more advanced role tonight. He is operating as a No 10 behind Hojlund.

25 min: Right on cue, Mazraoui goes in hard on Miculescu, but Steaua are unable to make anything from the resulting free-kick.

24 min: Steaua have been fairly limited in possession, and are defending in a low block, but do carry a duel threat on the counter attack and from set pieces. Those are their two avenues of attack tonight.

22 min: Rangers have scored against Union Saint-Gilloise. You can follow that goal and all the other goals tonight in our clockwatch.

20 min: Back come United. This has been an excellent start for the visitors, you have to say. Ngezana slides in nastily on Hojlund, taking both man and ball. It is probably a foul, and that is what the referee gives, right on the edge of Steaua’s box. Fernandes and Martínez are over the ball, and it’s the centre back that takes the free-kick, clipping a harmless shot well over the upright. I suspect that will be the final free-kick the Argentinian will take tonight.

Mainoo misses a sitter!

16 min: Mainoo makes an excellent untracked run from midfield down the left channel. The England international latches onto a clever pass, flicks a ball over his marker and is just about to volley a shot towards goal, Gazza style, when Popescu gets a toe in to put Mainoo off. Vital intervention!

14 min: A fairly blatant foul on Eriksen on the edge of Steaua’s box, but the referee waves play on. Strange.

12 min: This is painfully slow build-up from United. Dalot gets a good touch to find Hojlund inside the box. Instead of anyone trying to get a shot off or beat a man, United recycle the ball back to the half-way line. Eeeeesh.

Golden chance for Popescu!

8 min: The loose ball breaks in United’s half and Tanase just beats Malacia to the ball, winning a dangerous free kick. A booking for Malacia! Perhaps a little harsh. It’s worth noting that Steaua won their last Europa League game (against Qarabag) by scoring three goals from corner. They are dangerous from set pieces.

6 min: This is a very defensive United XI that lacks pace. Malacia and Dalot are the only real outlets on the wings. Eriksen, Fernandes and Mainoo don’t offer a lot of dynamism, but obviously they have quality on the ball.

4 min: Collyer, the young United midfielder, has already done a good job of diffusing some of that early tension with a couple of nice chest traps and passes to help settle the visitors down.

2 min: Sut, Steaua’s captain, snarls into a couple of early challenges in midfield. Every time there is a home touch on the ball, the crowd go wild. The atmosphere is electric!

Peeeeeeep!

The teams are out. Steaua are in their famous blue and red. Manchester United are in their white away kit. It’s a sell-out in Bucharest, around 55,000 people packed into the National Arena. A huge tifo of Helmuth Duckadam is unveiled by the home fans: the goalkeeper who saved all four penalties in Steaua’s victorious 1986 European Cup final died in December.

“Good to see former Spurs player Vlad Chiriches among the home side’s subs,” emails Peter Oh. “When he was at Tottenham, United had Javier Chicharito Hernandez, which inspired me to call the Romanian defender Chichiriches”.

The Steaua Stadium, the Romanian’s normal stadium, was built in 2021 and cost €91m, less than one Antony. However, for European games, Steaua are permitted to play at the National Arena in Bucharest so that is tonight’s venue. Manchester United can expect a warm welcome from the Ultras situated behind the goal.

If you’re wondering why the official name of tonight’s hosts is FCSB, this is helpful guide (even if it is from 2014).

The importance of the Europa League to Manchester United, particularly with their league campaign already up in flames, cannot be overstated. This remains their only route back into the Champions League for next season. We’re a long way from the final but winning the Europa League would certainly save Amorim’s season with the prize of a major trophy and top-tier European qualification.

That’s very nearly a first choice XI for Manchester United. The build-up to this match obviously charted the storied history of this competition and the key outcomes for this potentially decisive clash the future of Marcus Rashford.

The teams!

Preamble