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      Man Utd make bold kit change not seen since 1957 as Erik ten Hag’s side create history against Galatasaray

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are wearing red shorts with a white shirt for the first time in their history against Galatasaray.It is the first time the Red Devils have worn red shorts since 1957.
      Manchester United wore red shorts with their white shirtsCredit: Rex
      It is the first time they have ever worn the combinationCredit: Reuters
      United have not worn red shorts since 1957Credit: AFP
      United typically pair their white away strip with white shorts but wanted to avoid a potential clash with Galatasaray.
      The Turkish giants traditionally wear white shorts alongside their red and orange mixed shirts.
      Erik ten Hag’s side were forced to change their usual strip when Galatasaray visited Old Trafford in September.
      United swapped their white shorts for black on that occasion as the Turks wore an all-white kit.
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      Earlier in the day, the match looked at risk of being postponed as torrential rain threatened to waterlog the pitch.
      However the playing surface passed a pre-match check and the players did not have any problems once play got underway.
      Earlier in the day, Man Utd’s U19s were beaten by Galatasaray in a deluge.
      United are looking for a victory which would almost certainly leave their fate in their own hands when they host Bayern Munich at Old Trafford in two weeks.
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      Erik ten Hag’s men went into this clash on three points – a point behind both Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen.
      Should they lose, they will be out and should they draw, they will need to rely on other results in the final round of games. More

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      Fans demand Galatasaray vs Man Utd is called off as ‘ridiculous’ clip of U19s trying to play on soaked pitch goes viral

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans slammed the condition of the pitch as Galatasary Under-19s took on the Red Devils youth side.The two teams met in the Uefa Youth League prior to the two senior sides clashing in the Champions League.
      Torrential rain made the pitch almost unplayableCredit: Getty
      The ball became stuck in the rain-soaked grassCredit: Getty
      Passing and dribbling was almost impossibleCredit: Getty
      Fans slammed the unsafe playing surface and called for Galatasaray vs Manchester United to be abandonedCredit: Getty
      But the match descended into chaos as the ball became stuck in the waterlogged pitch.
      Players found passing difficult and dribbling was impossible as the rain-soaked surface threatened to bring play to a halt.
      Fans found the situation “ridiculous” and, even though the U-19s match not taking place on the same pitch, were critical the Champions League tie had not been abandoned.
      One fan said: “They playing water polo out there.”
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      Another added: “First and foremost it’s dangerous and risks the players safety.
      “Kick-off needs to at the very least be delayed so they can drain as much water as possible and if that’s not possible the match needs to be cancelled.”
      A third wrote: “This is ridiculous this isn’t even football.😭”
      And another commented: “They supposed to abandoned that game, so ridiculous 💔”
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      A pitch inspection was called at Galatasaray’s RAMS Park after heavy rain flooded the streets of Istanbul.
      Uefa insisted the match was okay to go ahead as scheduled despite the large patches of standing water in front of the benches.
      The Red Devils must win this evening in order to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
      They will not progress to the knockout stages if they lose.
      Erik ten Hag’s side go into the vital game in good form, having won their last three Premier League games without conceding a goal. More

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      Man Utd fans moan ‘it seems Ten Hag doesn’t want Champions League anymore’ after seeing lineup to face Galatasaray

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans fumed after wonderkid Kobbie Mainoo was dropped against Galatasaray. The 18-year-old was given his senior debut in United’s 3-0 win at Everton and was named man of the match.
      Kobbie Mainoo was dropped against GalatasarayCredit: Getty
      And despite travelling with the squad to Turkey, the midfielder was replaced by Sofyan Amrabat which caused anger amongst fans.
      One said: “No Kobbie mainoo in the starting lineup???”
      Another added: “We definitely not winning seems Erik Ten Hag doesn’t wanna play champions league no more.”
      One raged: “Very surprised not to see Kobbie Mainoo on the starting lineup after his performance the other day.”
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      Another slammed: “Kobie Mainoo on the f***ing bench.”
      There was no certainty the match would go ahead due to torrential rain in Turkey.
      Uefa checked the pitch before kick off but deemed that it was playable despite the horror weather.
      And with such difficult playing conditions, some concluded that was the reason Mainoo was benched.
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      One said: “I would like to think Kobbie Mainoo drops to the bench to prevent the risk of his injury flaring back up after just one start.
      “That pitch is a minefield for injuries. I’d expect him to be back in for the trip to Newcastle.”
      Another argued: “This is not a pitch for Mainoo to play on. Sensible decision.”
      One claimed: “Reckon if the pitch wasn’t butchered then maybe Mainoo would’ve started.
      “This line-up seems like a reaction to the conditions and so is well equipped for direct football.” More

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      What happens if Man Utd’s Champions League match cannot be finished?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED face a must-win Champions League encounter against Galatasaray – but there is a chance that the match will need to be replayed.The Red Devils are currently bottom of the group and nothing less than three points would be enough to keep their last-16 hopes alive.
      Manchester United are bottom of their Champions League groupCredit: Getty
      The sides are scheduled to play at Rams Park in IstanbulCredit: Getty
      But Istanbul has been hit with torrential rain and wind which has caused fears the match could get called off mid-way.
      And SunSport can clear up what would happen if this uncommon situation occurs.
      What happens if Man Utd’s match cannot be finished?
      UEFA regulations state that in the event of a match abandonment, “the full or remaining match time” should be played “on the next day”.
      That means United staying in Istanbul overnight and returning to the Ali Sami Yen Stadium to play either the whole game or the remaining minutes tomorrow.
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      That last happened in the Champions League was in December 2020, when PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir players BOTH walked off the pitch after an alleged racist remark by the fourth official.
      The remaining 67 minutes of the game were then played out the next day – although both “matches” were played behind closed doors because of pandemic restrictions.
      Only if the pitch was deemed unplayable again tomorrow would United be given the green light to return home, with Uefa then fixing a new date for the match.
      But one complication is that the group stage must be completed by December 13.
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      It means that if the game cannot be played, or completed, United would probably have to return to Turkey next week to get it completed before the scheduled final group match against Bayern Munich.
      That, though, would mean Wednesday’s scheduled Prem home game against Chelsea having to be postponed, presumably until next year.
      If the game IS played tomorrow, though, United would be likely to ask the Prem to postpone Saturday evening’s game at Newcastle, citing a lack of adequate preparation time.
      Has this happened before?
      Galatasaray have been in this predicament before as they had to play a restarted match against Juventus in 2013.
      And the Turkish outfit prevailed as Wesley Sneijder’s late winner in snowy Istanbul sent Galatasaray into the last-16.
      The fixture between the two European giants had to initially be abandoned after a snow storm caused the pitch to become unplayable.
      It was a goalless draw in the first match.
      Galatasaray won a snowy contest against JuventusCredit: AFP More

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      Laura Woods filmed behind the scenes at TNT Sports as presenter proves it’s ‘not as easy as it looks’

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      LAURA WOODS was filmed working behind the scenes on TNT Sports during Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain.Woods, 36, presented live coverage from the French capital on Tuesday evening as Eddie Howe’s men were denied a famous win by a controversial stoppage-time penalty.
      Laura Woods presented Newcastle’s draw with Paris Saint-Germain on TuesdayCredit: PA
      Pitchside reporter Becky Ives shared a video of Woods working backstageCredit: Instagram @laurawoodsy
      Woods had a camera in front of her showing Newcastle’s Champions League groupCredit: TNT Sports
      And pitchside reporter Becky Ives shared a video of Woods working away off camera as she prepared for a segment of the show.
      Woods could be seen crouched down while talking into her microphone as she analysed the notes on her screen.
      There was also a camera showing her Newcastle’s Champions League group.
      And Ives added the caption: “Not as easy as it looks.”
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      There was a touching moment earlier in the day when former talkSPORT colleagues Woods and Ally McCoist reunited backstage.
      McCoist was one of three pundits who joined Woods for TNT Sports’ broadcast.
      The others were Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand and ex-Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
      But Ferdinand, 45, was not present for the post-match analysis after he was taken ill.
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      During the live coverage, Woods said: “Rio would be here to chat about Manchester United now but we had to let him go [due to] unforeseen circumstances.
      “He is OK, don’t worry.”
      McCoist stepped in for the ex-England defender after commentating on the game.
      Ferdinand is now understood to be feeling better and will return on Wednesday night to cover Man Utd’s match against Galatasaray. More

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      Galatasaray vs Man Utd LIVE SCORE: Pitch inspection taking place with crunch Champions League game in doubt – updates

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      MANCHESTR UNITED are facing Galatasaray tonight in a make-or-break Champions League clash.Erik ten Hag’s side must NOT lose to stand any chance of advancing to the Last 16 of the tournament.
      But there is currently a pitch inspection taking place RIGHT NOW after torrential rain in the Turkish city, we’ll be bringing you all of the latest right here if the game is going ahead.

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      Group A table
      Manchester United can only hope for a second-place finish in Group A as Bayern Munich have won all four of their Champions League matches.
      United are bottom of the group with one point separating them from Copenhagen and Galatasaray, who are second and third respectively.
      A win would seriously boost the Red Devils’ hopes of qualifying to the Last 16 as they could find themselves in second place with six points if the Danish champions also lose to Bayern.
      A draw would keep Erik ten Hag’s men alive heading into the final game against the German champions but would need Copenhagen to drop points.
      If the Danes beat Bayern then United will have to beat the Bavarians in the final match and register a better goal difference than Jacob Neestrup’s men, provided that they lose to Galata.
      And a loss would see them out of Europe with the Turkish champions reaching seven points, which means they will be desperate for Copenhagen to drop points so that they can at least hope to finish third.

      Galatasaray team news
      Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk is also dealing with injuries ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash with Manchester United at Istanbul.
      Davinson Sanchez limped off on Saturday’s 4-0 league win over Alanyaspor with a hamstring injury.
      Buruk is also hoping Abdulkerim Bardakci will also be fit after dealing with a knock.
      If Bardakci does not pass his late fitness test, Victor Nelsson would be in line to start at centre-back.
      Credit: Getty
      Man Utd team news
      Manchester United take on Galatasaray in a must-win Champions League match tonight at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium.
      However, United will be without the suspended Marcus Rashford, while Jonny Evans faces a late fitness assessment and Jadon Sancho is still out of the senior squad due to a disciplinary issue.
      Manager Erik Ten Hag is still facing a lengthy injury list with Christian Eriksen, Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia, Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro sidelined.
      Kobbie Mainoo could also get an opportunity after his first ever Premier League start against Everton on Sunday.
      Credit: AFP More

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      Alexander Isak’s Dream Team viability sky-high having averaged a goal every 79 minutes since mid-September

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      NEWCASTLE came ever so close to an epic Champions League rearguard on Tuesday night.Eddie Howe’s side were a minute away from a win over PSG in the French capital when the hosts were given a generous penalty, one that (probably) wouldn’t have been awarded in the Premier League.
      Kylian Mbappe’s converted the spot-kick to break the hearts of many Dream Team managers who would have been delighted if the likes of Nick Pope (£4.2m) and Kieran Trippier (£5.2m) had held out for an improbable clean sheet.

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      A harsh blowCredit: Getty
      Partially lost among the chaos was Alexander Isak’s (£4.2m) goal but Dream Team bosses would do well to take note of the Sweden international’s efforts.
      The former Real Sociedad forward was on hand to fulfil the role of poacher when Miguel Almiron’s (£3.4m) shot was parried into a dangerous area by Gigi Donnarumma.
      Isolated for much of the game, Isak nonetheless pouched eight points at the Parc des Princes, doubling his tally for the Gameweek – he opened the scoring against Chelsea at St James’ Park on Saturday.
      16 points has to be considered a particularly impressive return for Gameweek 13 considering Isak was an availability question mark right up until he was named in the starting line-up at the weekend.
      Deadly in front of goalCredit: Dream Team
      The 24-year-old missed five games while injured and it’s because of his spell on the sidelines that many Dream Team gaffers will not be aware of his clinical conversion rate when available.
      Isak has now scored seven goals in his last nine appearances at an average of one every 79 minutes – a run that began in mid-September.
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      This fruitful spell that has yielded 67 points at an average of 7.44 per outing since the start of Gameweek 6.
      The stats paint a portrait of a striker in fine form who will provide healthy returns so long as he can avoid further injury setbacks.
      Plus, Isak’s minutes are assured as along as Callum Wilson (£4.4m) is sidelined and, regardless, the pair have flourished even when forced to share game time in the last year.
      The Magpies are in the midst of a chronic injury crisis but their convincing victory over Chelsea, who went toe-to-toe with Manchester City before the international break, proved they remain capable of impressive performances and results.
      Their fixtures across the next two Gameweeks are far from easy – Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham, AC Milan – but Isak is certainly capable of extending his points-laden streak against such opponents.
      Newcastle face a tough run but they should continue to produce pointsCredit: Reuters
      Newcastle’s No14 has scored nine goals in all competitions this season – only Erling Haaland (£7.9m) and Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) are ahead of him among all Dream Team assets.
      Isak’s total of 91 Dream Team points is hindered by his injury lay-off but he actually averages more points-per-game than Ollie Watkins (£4.8m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.5m).
      Don’t underestimate him!

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      Real Madrid vs Napoli LIVE SCORE: Latest Champions League updates as European kings look to extend winning run

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      CHAMPIONS LEAGUE kings Real Madrid will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of Group C when they take on Napoli tonight.The Spanish giants have picked up maximum points from their four games in Europe, while the Italians sit second.

      Kick off time: 8pm GMT
      TV/ live stream: TNT Sports 3/discovery+

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