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Topics: Football, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Europa League, Real Betis
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Europa League, Real Betis
Facundo Pellistri has been named in Manchester United's starting line-up against Real Betis, alongside Harry Maguire.
United travel to Betis this evening, to take on the La Liga side in the second leg of the Europa League last-16.
Erik ten Hag's men head into the match with a three goal cushion, having won the first leg 4-1 a week ago.
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And while they are heavy favourites to progress to the quarter-finals, Ten Hag indicated long before kick-off he was planning on fielding a strong side.
While the Old Trafford club's Premier League form has dipped in the past month, United remain on track to win a treble this term. In February they claimed the Carabao Cup, the club's first silverware of any kind since 2017, while they take on Fulham in the FA Cup quarter final on Sunday.
Despite the weekend's crucial cup clash, Ten Hag has proven he is taken the Europa League seriously this season, by naming a strong starting line-up for tonight's encounter.
While Ten Hag has fielded a strong starting XI, Pellistri is a surprise inclusion.
The Uruguay international hardly featured in the first half of the campaign but has made six substitute appearances since the New Year.
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Pellistri, who joined United for £9million from Penarol in 2020, will make his first start for the club in the Europa League contest, partnering Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst as part of a three-pronged attack.
Moreover, club captain Maguire starts in place of Raphaël Varane at centre-back.
Elsewhere, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro both start alongside Fred in midfield, while Marcel Sabitzer is named on the bench.
Anthony Martial and Antony will both miss out on the fixture and have not traveled to Spain for it.
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The full Man Utd lineup is as follows:
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Malacia; Casemiro, Fred; Fernandes, Pellistri, Weghorst, Rashford... Subs: Heaton, Butland, Lindelof, Sabitzer, Varane, Dalot, Shaw, Sancho, Elanga, McTominay.