Copenhagen vs Man Utd LIVE: Latest Champions League updates

In the previous encounters Manchester United beat Copenhagen in the one-off Europa League quarter-final in Cologne, although it took extra time to finally divide the sides with Bruno Fernandes scoring the only goal in the 95th minute.

The clubs’ only other meetings before this season came in the 2006/07 Champions League.

United won 3-0 at Old Trafford, ended up topping the group and went on to reach the semi-finals, while Copenhagen finished fourth with seven points.

Copenhagen are fourth in Group A having collected just one point from their three games – from a 2-2 Matchday 1 draw at Galatasaray in which they conceded two late goals.

The Danish champions were beaten 2-1 at home by Bayern in their first home game on Matchday 2.

FC Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup has warned Manchester United the atmosphere at Parken will be 100 times more intense than Old Trafford ahead of Wednesday’s key Champions League clash.

Harry Maguire’s header and Andre Onana’s stoppage-time spot-kick save secured Erik ten Hag’s stumbling Red Devils a much-needed 1-0 victory against the Danish champions a fortnight ago.

It was a crucial win having lost their first two Group A games to Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, but United must now build on that triumph in Copenhagen.

Copenhagen’s boss Jacob Neestrup insists tonight’s match won’t be easy for Manchester United and says that the atmosphere will be hostile inside the Parken Stadium.

“For me, it’s not about hope. For me, it’s about strong belief that we can get a result,” said Neestrup. “I think the game over 95 minutes [at Old Trafford] was totally equal and I expect the same tomorrow.

“What can they expect? When I stepped into Old Trafford then I felt the historical atmosphere, but you can’t compare Old Trafford with Parken because the intensity is times 100 in terms of what we played in two weeks ago.

“Then this is a standard (that), for me, is way above Premier League, to be honest.”

Manchester United claimed their first victory of the 2023/24 Champions League with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on 24 October,

Harry Maguire scored the only goal in the 72nd minute though Andre Onana was fored to make an injury-time penalty save from to deny Jordan Larsson an equaliser.

Those three points were United’s first in this season’s competition after defeats at Bayern München (3-4) and at home to Galatasaray (2-3).

They are now only one point behind the Turkish team.

Erik ten Hag is looking for a big effort from his star players at Parken tonight and says that only by giving it everything on the pitch can the team be successful.

He told TNT Sports: “The work ethic has to always be good. That is the foundation to get good results. That was the case against Fulham – you look to reward it, and you make your luck then by scoring a goal in added time.

“It can be a good atmosphere here [in Copenhagen]. So we have to be ready for that. But also stay calm, composed, and on the ball, so that we can dictate the game.”

Marcus Rashford has attacked an unofficial Manchester United fan channel for ‘spreading malicious rumours’ surrounding the relationship between the player and the club.

The Manchester United forward chose to go out to the nightclub Chinawhite to celebrate his birthday after his team’s 0-3 home defeat to Manchester City on Sunday 29 October.

His celebrations were branded “unacceptable” by manager Erik ten Hag. The manager said: “I spoke with him about it. It’s unacceptable. He apologised and that is it. For us it is an internal matter.” Ten Hag added that Rashford was “very motivated to put things right” and “totally with us”.

Copenhagen XI: Grabara; Ankersen, Vavro, Diks, Jelert; Lerager, Falk, Goncalves; Elyounoussi, Claesson, Achouri

Subs: Sander, Dithmer, Sorensen, Tanlongo, Larsson, Babacar, Oskarsson, Boilesen, Lund, O. Hojlund, Bardghi, Froholdt

Marcus Rashford was Manchester United’s top scorer in 2022/23 with 30 goals across all competitions, but has only netted once this season as part of a 3-1 loss to Arsenal in September.

Erik ten Hag makes just on change to the team that defeated Fulham 1-0 in the Premier League at the weekend. Marcus Rashford returns to the starting XI with Antony dropping to the bench.

Rafael Varane and Victor Lindelof are both named as substitutes.