ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC starts against FC Rostov, as does Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in a strong line-up.
The Manchester United striker has been charged with violent conduct for elbowing Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings, and has been banned for three games.
Jose Mourinho will want to utilise his Swede striker where he can, and so United fans will see him start in Russia.
Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester United news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Here is everything you need to know about the Europa League last-16 clash . . .
When is FC Rostov vs Manchester United?
The first leg between the pair is on Thursday, March 9 at the Olimp-2 Stadium, with the game kicking off at 6pm UK time.
Then in the return fixture, they travel to Old Trafford just a week later on March 16, with the contest starting at 8.05pm UK time.
What TV channel is Manchester United vs FC Rostov on?
BT Sport 2 will be showing the first leg in Russia live, where you can watch all the build-up from 5.30pm.
You can watch the second leg at Old Trafford on BT Sport Extra with coverage starting from just before kick-off.
Alternatively, you can keep up to date with both matches on our SunSport blog and match reports.
Form guide
FC Rostov: DWWDW
Manchester United: WWWWD
SunSport prediction
FC Rostov 0 Manchester United 2. With Ibrahimovic in line to play, FC Rostov are going to struggle to deal with the United attack.
Match facts
- Manchester United haven’t lost any of their last four away games against Russian opposition in European competition (W1 D3 L0) and also won the 2008 Champions League final on penalties against Chelsea in Moscow.
- Since the start of 2015-16, Russian clubs have faced English teams six times in European competition and have not won any of those matches (W0 D2 L4).
- Rostov are playing in the knockout stages of a major European competition for the first time in their history.
- Rostov have lost only three of their last 13 games in European competition (inc. qualifiers W4 D6).
- Rostov are unbeaten in four games in Europe, their best ever such run (exc. qualifiers).
- Dmitri Poloz has been involved in seven of Rostov's last 11 goals in European competitions (5 goals, 2 assists).
- In the last round Rostov recorded their biggest ever European win, beating Sparta Prague 4-0 in the 1st leg of their tie.
- Jose Mourinho's side are unbeaten in their last 15 European matches played at home (inc qualifiers, W12 D3).
- Of teams to have played from the Group Stage onwards in the 2016-17 Europa League, Manchester United have the highest average possession figure (62.4%).
- The Red Devils' striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored five goals from just nine shots on target in the UEFA Europa League this season.
- No side has managed to keep more clean sheets in the UEFA Europa League this season than Manchester United (5).
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