Manchester United defenders Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof get a chance to impress against Basle... so how will Jose Mourinho's side line up in their Champions League opener?

  • Manchester United are back in the Champions League and open against Basle
  • Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof are set to start in the centre of defence
  • The duo have not played a minute of football since the Super Cup in August
  • Eric Bailly and Phil Jones are both suspended but David De Gea will start 

Manchester United will field new-look defence when they face Basle in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof set to be paired at the heart of the back four.

With Eric Bailly and Phil Jones serving European bans, the duo of Smalling and Lindelof will get their chance to impress, with neither having pulled on a red shirt since the 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Super Cup in Macedonia in August.

Bailly is serving the final game of a three-match ban picked up for his red card in the closing stages of United's Europa League semi-final second leg clash with Celta Vigo last season, while Jones is still banned after being found to have verbally abused a doping officer following their final victory over Ajax in Stockholm.

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United are set to return to Champions League action on Tuesday 

Victor Lindelof (pictured) and Chris Smalling are set to start in defence against Basle

Victor Lindelof (pictured) and Chris Smalling are set to start in defence against Basle

Daley Blind (left), Smalling (centre)  Luke Shaw take part in the warm up at Carrington

Daley Blind (left), Smalling (centre) Luke Shaw take part in the warm up at Carrington

Lindelof, a £30million summer signing from Benfica, struggled during pre-season and was often caught out of position while struggling to track aerial balls, but gets a chance in a back four likely to be flanked by full-backs Antonio Valencia and Daley Blind.


United boss Jose Mourinho has warned Bailly and Jones not to get too comfortable in their roles as starters and backed the two incoming players to make a statement.

The likely United side to face Basle

The likely United side to face Basle

'I don't think Bailly and Jones are better than them (Lindelof and Smalling),' Mourinho said at his pre-match press conference on Monday. 'I think they are the same level, they are just different players.

'Even if Jones and Bailly were not suspended, probably I would still play Lindelof and Smalling tomorrow because for me they are the same level. It is just a question of option.

'We were playing one match per week, I never felt reasons to make changes, but I play them tomorrow and, for me, it is exactly the same as Bailly and Jones.' 

Sergio Romero started in goal for the majority of United's Europa League games this season, even keeping his place for the final against Ajax, but David De Gea is likely to start between the sticks for Tuesday night's opener in Old Trafford.

David de Gea (left), will start the game ahead of Joel Pereira (centre) and  Sergio Romero

David de Gea (left), will start the game ahead of Joel Pereira (centre) and Sergio Romero

Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera is also set to start the contest against the Swiss champions

Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera is also set to start the contest against the Swiss champions

Mourinho insisted he will not be using a designated Champions League goalkeeper this season and will instead be going game by game.

'I go match by match,' the United boss said. 'I don't like that clear separation of you play this competition, I play this competition. David is really well and really confident and I go with David.'

In midfield, Nemanja Matic is set to make his first European appearance in a United shirt, following his summer move from Chelsea, anchoring a midfield pair of Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba.

Herrara was a mainstay of last season's side but has had limited involvement at the start of the new campaign and is keen to take his chance. 

'I am always ready to play,' Herrera said. 'I always say the same. I am a team player and when the manager needs me I will be there and that's it. In football there are no surprises.'

United stars Romelu Lukaku (left) and Paul Pogba are the star attractions at Old Trafford

United stars Romelu Lukaku (left) and Paul Pogba are the star attractions at Old Trafford

The United players are put through theor paces ahead of the game with the Swiss champions

The United players are put through theor paces ahead of the game with the Swiss champions

Mourinho has options when it comes to his front three, but the first name on the teamsheet in that position is undoubtedly Romelu Lukaku, who will make the first Champions League group stage appearance of his career.

He played in four qualifying round matches during his days as a teenage star at Anderlecht, scoring three goals, but did not appear at Europe's top table during his time at Cheslea.

He is likely to be flanked by Juan Mata and Anthony Martial, with the latter getting the chance to impress two years to the day since coming off the bench to score a stunning goal against Liverpool on what was his United debut.

Marcus Rashford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are other options alongside Lukaku, while Marouane Fellaini is back in training after a calf injury kept him out of United's draw at Stoke at the weekend.

Ashley Young is set to return to the squad four months after he suffered a groin injury against Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-final second leg, which has so far kept him out of the squad this season.

Anthony Martial could start while Ashley Young is set to return to the squad following injury

Anthony Martial could start while Ashley Young is set to return to the squad following injury

United and Basle meet for the fifth time on Tuesday night, with the series split with both sides winning a game each and sharing two draws.

They first met during the experimental second group stage during the 2002-03 campaign, where United won 3-1 in Switzerland before the second game at Old Trafford was drawn 1-1 in a game which included a rare Gary Neville goal.

They met again in the 2011-12 campaign, drawing 3-3 at OId Trafford before Marco Streller and Alexander Frei scored to condemn the Reds to a 2-1 loss at St Jakob-Park. 

The Basle match is two years to the day since Martial scored on his Manchester United debut

The Basle match is two years to the day since Martial scored on his Manchester United debut

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