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Chris Smalling with Wolfsburg's Bas Dost, Mike Egerton
LIVE BLOG

As it happened: Manchester United v Wolfsburg, Champions League

After suffering defeat on Matchday 1, Louis van Gaal’s men entertained German opposition this evening.
Sep 30th 2015, 9:36 PM Full-time: Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg
Sep 30th 2015, 8:47 PM And we’re back. One change for Man United, which see Valencia make way for Ashley Young.
Sep 30th 2015, 8:32 PM Half-time: Manchester United 1-1 Wolfsburg 

A couple of nervy moments late in the second half but Man United were deserved of the three points and, with CSKA Moscow beating PSV Eindhoven 3-2, all four clubs in Group B are level on three points.

Full-time: Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg

Three minutes of additional time to play.

Schneiderlin, who is already booked, brings down Draxler 30 yards out from goal and is lucky to avoid a second. Rodriguez attempts to bend the free-kick over the ball and past De Gea but it’s just off-target.

Martial begins an attack in his own half and Rooney and Mata are involved before the ball makes its way back to the Frenchman. He ghosts past his man and shoots from a narrow angle, but Benaglio makes the block.

All 11 Man United players in their own half as they look to hold onto to the one-goal lead. This is risky business.

It should be noted that Rooney isn’t enjoying his most productive night. The United captain has just given the ball away when they were badly in need of someone to hold the ball up and take some pressure off.

Schürrle very nearly makes an immediate impact, turning Blind inside and out before firing just wide of the far post.

United make their final change — Phil Jones coming on for Schweinsteiger so Blind has been pushed into midfield.

André Schürrle and Nicklas Bendtner are both on for Wolfsburg, with Arnold and Dost withdrawn.

Another Man United substitute — Memphis makes way and promising youngster Andreas Pereira is introduced.

GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Wolfsburg (Chris Smalling)

The home side lead! An attack is half-cleared and when the ball is sent back in, Mata pulls off an audacious flick to set up Smalling, who finishes from close range.
https://vine.co/v/eQvKweXDjtb

An important interception from Darmian with Dost loitering.

And we’re back. One change for Man United, which see Valencia make way for Ashley Young.

Half-time: Manchester United 1-1 Wolfsburg 

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Group B - Manchester United v VfL Wolfsburg - Old Trafford Christian Trasch and Memphis Depay. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Chance for Memphis, which is saved, and Schneiderlin has picked up a yellow card for a foul on Arnold.

GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Wolfsburg (Juan Mata) 

United are level. Mata tucks the ball away and clearly wants to get the game restarted as he has marched back to the halfway line with the ball in-hand!
https://vine.co/v/eQnVUj3THFw

PENALTY MAN UNITED! Mata crosses and the goalscorer Caligiuri blocks with a high arm. Mata to take…

United have really been on top in the last few minutes. Schweinsteiger wins the ball back with a strong tackle in midfield and Mata picks out Memphis.  The Dutchman’s header is saved, however.

SITTER KLAXON! Martial does Rodriguez and cuts a great ball back… but Wayne somehow puts his strike wide.

Over at Borussia Park, Joe Hart has just saved a penalty from Raffael after the same player had won the spot-kick with a dive.

Meanwhile, Mata has just shot directly at Benaglio.

That was close from Martial. The teenager collects the ball out wide, turns his man, steps inside another and shoots just wide.

Chance for United. Darmian whips the ball across from the left and it makes its way all the way to Mata. The Spaniard takes a touch before curling an effort goalbound. But Wolfsburg defender Dante, formerly of Bayern Munich, throws his head in the way to prevent the equaliser.

GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Wolfsburg (Daniel Caligiuri) 

A terrible start for United. Wolsfburg string together a good move and Caligiuri scores past De Gea. Valencia didn’t get out nearly quick enough.
https://vine.co/v/eQnT0DLvQaI

Schweinsteiger attempts to find Martial with a ball over the top but it’s slightly over-hit and runs through to Benaglio.

We’re underway. United in their traditional red, with white shorts and socks. The visitors playing in white jerseys and green shorts and socks.

The sides are out on the pitch, the Champions League anthem has been played, and we’re about to kick off.

Quick poll: How do  you see this one going?


Poll Results:

Man United win (176)
Wolfsburg win (80)
Draw (43)

Here’s all tonight’s matches. You can follow them here:

Champions League fixtures

Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking, who led his team to runners-up in the Bundesliga and the German Cup last season, speaking this week:

“It’s my first visit to Old Trafford and it could have an effect but that’s not my first priority. It’s about how we play and proving Wolfsburg are a very good team.

“They were the favourites from the start, but you see favourites can stumble. After the draw I’d have said United would be top and the rest would fight for second but the defeat in Eindhoven has made things more interesting and there is more to play for.”

Germany Soccer Champions League AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Teams are in. With Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera injured, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin are the midfield pairing, while Matteo Darmien continues at left full-back and Antonio Valencia occupies the opposite side.

19-year-old Anthony Martial, with four goals in five games, continues up front ahead of captain Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Memphis Depay.

Julian Draxler, who was signed to replace Man City-bound Kevin de Bruyne in the summer, starts for the home side but former Chelsea man Andre Schürrle is named on the bench alongside ex-Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.

Wolfsburg: Benaglio, Dante, Naldo, Rodriguez, Caligiuri, Draxler, Träsch, Guilavogui, Arnold, Kruse, Dost. Subs: Grün, Schäfer, Klose, Jung, Schürrle, Seguin, Bendtner.

 

Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Mata, Rooney, Memphis, Martial. Subs: Romero, Jones, McNair, Young, Fellaini, Pereira, Wilson.

Good evening. Last night saw both Premier League clubs in action, Chelsea and Arsenal, suffer defeat in their second Champions League group games. This evening, it’s the turn of Manchester’s bit two — United and City.

It was a disappointing return to Holland for Louis van Gaal a fortnight ago as his side lost 2-1 to Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven while full-back Luke Shaw suffered a horrific leg break.

They have bounced back with three consecutive wins, against Southampton, Ipswich and Sumnderland and host German club Wolfsburg here.

The Germans earned a victory over CSKA Moscow in their first Group B fixture but were hammered 5-1 by Bayern Munich last week.

City, meanwhile, are also facing Bundesliga opposition in Borussia Monchengladbach.

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