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Benfica
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 18, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Team News: Marcus Rashford, Juan Mata start for Manchester United

Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata start for Manchester United in their trip to Benfica.

Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata have both returned to the fold to start for Manchester United tonight in their Champions League clash at Benfica.

In all, United boss Jose Mourinho makes four changes to the side that were held to a goalless draw at Liverpool over the weekend, with Rashford and Mata coming in for Anthony Martial and Ashley Young respectively.

The duo join Henrikh Mkhitaryan in providing attacking for Romelu Lukaku up front, while Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic keep their places in front of the back four.

The other two changes come in defence, with Daley Blind replacing Matteo Darmian at left-back and Victor Lindelof replacing Phil Jones as partner for Chris Smalling in the middle. Antonio Valencia is on the right and David de Gea continues between the posts.

All four deposed players are options on the bench tonight alongside Jesse Lingard, Scott McTominay and backup stopper Sergio Romero.

As for the hosts, Rui Vitoria makes five changes from the side that managed a 1-1 draw with Maritimo in the Primeira Liga at the start of the month.

Jonas has been struggling with a back problem and is made to start on the bench, with Diogo Goncalves preferred to Haris Seferovic as starting partner for Raul Jimenez up front.

Filipe Augusto comes in for Franco Cervi in the midfield, where he links up with Ljubomir Fejsa, Pizzi and Eduardo Salvio.

In the back four, Andre Almeida is suspended after his red in the 5-0 humiliation at Basel last month, while Jardel misses out with a back problem, meaning recalls for Douglas and Ruben Dias alongside Luisao and Alex Grimaldo.

There is also a change between the posts as Mile Svilar replaces Julio Cesar.

Benfica: Svilar; Douglas, Dias, Luisao, Grimaldo; Fejsa, Augusto, Pizzi, Salvio; Goncalves, Jimenez
Subs: Julio Cesar, Lisandro Lopez, Samaris, Zivkovic, Cervi, Jonas, Seferovic

Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Lindelof, Smalling, Blind; Herrera, Matic; Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford; Lukaku
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Jones, McTominay, Lingard, Young, Martial

Follow every twist and turn from Portugal tonight with Sports Mole's live text commentary here.

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Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring during the Premier League game between Manchester United and Everton on September 17, 2017
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