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Celta Vigo v Manchester United talking points


Manchester United face Celta Vigo in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday evening.
Ahead of the match, Press Association Sport picks out five talking points ahead of the clash in Spain.

Debilitated defence?

Chris Smalling (second left) and Phil Jones (second right)
Chris Smalling, second left, and Phil Jones, second right, are both available for selection (Martin Rickett/PA)
Phil Jones and Chris Smalling’s return to the squad is timely – both have been out since March with injuries sustained on international duty. Eric Bailly has also been given the green light to play despite going off injured against Swansea on Sunday, but left-back Luke Shaw, like impressive defender Marcos Rojo, has seen his season ended through injury. Tim Fosu-Mensah is also currently struggling, so Jose Mourinho has to decide how to best line up at the back in Spain.

Mkhi’s road trip

Henrikh Mkhitaryan
(Martin Rickett/PA)
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s first season at United has not been plain sailing – but his role in the Europa League has been crucial. The Armenian scored at Zorya Luhansk to secure progress from the group stage, then netted in the knockout ties at St Etienne, Rostov and Anderlecht. Mkhitaryan would be the first United player to score in five different games on the road within a single European campaign should he net in Vigo.

Zlatan-free zone

Zlatan Ibrahimovic
(Martin Rickett/PA)
Top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s season – and potentially United career – was brought to an abrupt end by the serious knee injury sustained in the quarter-final second leg against Anderlecht. The 35-year-old’s presence as much as his ability is a big miss for United, meaning Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial or, perhaps more likely, Marcus Rashford will spearhead the team in this crunch semi-final.

Freshness crucial?

Celta Vigo Manager Eduardo Berizzo, left, and Captain Hugo Mallo at the press conference
Celta Vigo Manager Eduardo Berizzo, left, and Captain Hugo Mallo at the press conference (Nick Potts/EMPICS)
Vigo has been painted sky blue ahead of the first major European semi-final in Celta’s history. So important has the United tie been that they have fielded a weakened side in LaLiga, meaning they approach the match far fresher than their opponents. Injury problems are easing for United, but fatigue has undoubtedly taken its toll.

Pain in the Aspas?

Iago Aspas made precious little impact during his brief time at Liverpool. A flop at Anfield, he is a hero in Galicia. Aspas came through the ranks at Celta and, after an ill-fated stint in the Premier League and loan with Sevilla, returned to his boyhood club in 2015. Aspas has since become a Spain international and netted five goals in this Europa League campaign.

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