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Manchester United vs PSV Eindhoven. UEFA Champions League Group B.

Old TraffordAttendance75,321.

Manchester Utd v PSV preview: Van Gaal's side eye place in last 16

Louis van Gaal insists he is an innovator in football
Image: Louis van Gaal is confident his side will progress

Manchester United can book their place in the last 16 of this season's Champions League with a win over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday night.

Louis van Gaal's side currently sit top of Group B with seven points from their first four, and victory at home to the Eredivisie high-flyers will see them secure a berth in the knockout stages on their return to Europe's premier club competition.

United, who are unbeaten in Europe since their defeat by PSV in September, could be without a number of key players for the crucial match at Old Trafford.

Seven first-team regulars sat out United's last-gasp win at Watford on Saturday, while three further stars picked up knocks during the match.

Despite his injury concerns, Van Gaal is confident United can book their place in the next round with one match to spare.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, he said: 'I still think [we are on schedule]. If we beat PSV, then we will have qualified. You always have to win your home matches.'

Man Utd's Memphis Depay celebrates scoring the opening goal against Watford.
Image: Memphis Depay is set to line up against his former side on Wednesday

Wednesday night's tie could see Memphis Depay face his former club once again. The Dutch winger lined up for United against PSV in the reverse fixture, and marked the occasion by scoring the opening goal.

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The English side did go on to lose 2-1, but have since picked up seven points from a possible nine in the Champions League.

PSV can go top of Group B with victory at Old Trafford, and will certainly provide a tough test for United. Phillip Cocu's side are in impressive form, and have not lost in their last 10 domestic matches.

Team news

Van Gaal could be without a host of first-team players for the visit of PSV on Wednesday, after Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw, Marouane Fellaini, James Wilson, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Michael Carrick all missed the trip to Watford last weekend.

Additionally, Ander Herrera, Phil Jones and Juan Mata all had to be substituted during the game after picking up knocks and while Martial and Rooney returned to training on Tuesday, van Gaal would not be drawn on their involvement.

Six players missed training at Carrington on Tuesday morning - Bastian Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Valencia, Jones, Carrick and Shaw - and Van Gaal may well have to field a second-string side for the match.

Luke Shaw of Manchester United leaves the field on a stretcher
Image: Luke Shaw suffered a double leg fracture in the return fixture against PSV Eindhoven

Shaw's injury - a double leg fracture which is likely to rule him out for at least another four months - was suffered in the return fixture against PSV in September.

PSV will be without Menno Koch and Jetro Willems, who are both struggling with knee problems, while Maxime Lestienne is also a doubt for Cocu's men.

Opta stats

PSV have lost their two away games against Man Utd: a 1-0 defeat in the 1984/85 UEFA Cup and 3-1 in the 2000/01 Champions League.

There has never been an away win in the five previous encounters between the teams.

PSV beat Man Utd in the reverse fixture this season, thanks notably to two assists by Maxime Lestienne after the Red Devils had opened the scoring.

Man Utd have won six of their last seven home games in the Champions League (D1).

Hector Moreno of PSV Eindhoven (3) scores
Image: Hector Moreno of PSV Eindhoven heads in against United

Man Utd have failed to score only once in their last 19 Champions League outings at Old Trafford, that was against Cluj in December 2012 (0-1).

PSV have lost nine of their last 11 Champions League away games (W1 D1).

All six of PSV's goals in the Champions League this season have been scored from the 45th minute onwards.

PSV have not scored more than two goals in their last 34 Champions League games. The last time they did was in the 2005 semi-final second leg against AC Milan (3-1).

Wayne Rooney has scored 30 goals in the Champions League, more than any other English player in the competition.

Charlie Nicholas' prediction

PSV are an unpredictable creature, they've got talent and caused United problems with the amount of crosses they managed to get into the box in the first game, something they'll look to test them with again.

 David De Gea of Manchester United celebrates
Image: Charlie Nicholas believes David De Gea is the reason for United's recent success

There's absolutely no doubt that David De Gea is the main reason why United are winning matches at the moment. Chris Smalling has been also been excellent at the heart of a strong structure put together by Louis van Gaal.

I'm going for United just to nick it, probably in the last five minutes as they seem to be developing a habit of doing, with Memphis Depay, who looks better in Europe, to haunt his former club.

Charlie predicts 2-1 and Memphis Depay to score first (25/1 with Sky Bet)

Betting

United are just 4/9 with Sky Bet to book their place in the Champions League knockout stages by winning on Wednesday night, with PSV up against odds of 13/2, while the draw is priced at 18/5.

Van Gaal's men are also odds-on at 8/15 to top Group B, but are still up against odds of 22/1 to win the competition.

First goalscorer favourite Rooney is enhanced from 7/2 to 5/1 to break the deadlock in Sky Bet's Price Boosts, while Luuk de Jong is considered the visitors' biggest threat at 8/1.

The Soccer Saturday pundits and Jamie Redknapp have provided Sky Bet with their usual tips, including Redknapp's 20/1 fancy for Rooney to score first in a 2-1 United victory.

Follow live updates from Wednesday's Champions League matches on Soccer Special from 7pm on Sky Sports 5 HD and Sky Sports News HQ, or on the Sky Sports website.

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