Jakarta –
Manchester United are looking for a third successive win in the Champions League group stage. United’s mission was tested at the headquarters of Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir.
Istanbul and MU will fight on the third matchday of Group H at the Fatih Terim Stadium, Thursday (5/11/2020). This will be the first meeting between the two teams in European competition.
The Red Devils had the upper hand after defeating last season’s finalists, Paris St. Germain, with a score of 2-1 before rolling off last season’s semifinalists, RB Leipzig, 5-0. MU is eyeing three points not only to pave the way for the knockout phase, but also to boost morale after the 0-1 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend.
Istanbul itself has failed to win in the Champions League in its last six matches. Istanbul’s last win came when he beat Club Brugge in 2017.
The following are some data and facts about the Istanbul Basaksehir vs MU match BBC Sport:
1. This will be the first meeting between Istabul Basaksehir and Manchester United in any European competition.
2. Istanbul Basaksehir’s only experience against an English team was in the 2018/19 Europa League qualifiers when he fell 0-1 against Burnley, coached by Sean Dyche.
3. Manchester United have lost two away defeats against Turkish clubs in European competition. United lost 0-1 to Galatasaray in November 2012 and 1-2 against Fenerbahce in November 2016.
4. Manchester United are looking for their first three wins in the group stage of the Champions League for the ninth time. No team has failed to qualify after winning their first three group matches.
5. Istanbul Basaksehir is one of three teams that have not scored in the Champions League, along with Midtjylland and Marseille. However, the Turkish club have had more trials than the other two (23) and have shot just five fewer shots than Manchester United (28), who have scored seven goals.
6. Against RB Leipzig, Man United striker Marcus Rashford became only the fifth player in Champions League history to score a hat-trick as a substitute. All nine goals scored by Rashford in this competition came in the second half.
7. Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood has scored six goals in major European competitions as a teenager (five in the Europa League, one in the Champions League), equaling his teammate Rashford’s highest number of goals among teenagers. He is in pursuit of status as the third English player to score in his first two Champions League starters after Rashford in 2017 and Daniel Sturridge in 2010.
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