Copenhagen vs Man United – Champions League: Live score, team news and updates as Rasmus Hojlund scores twice to put visitors in control against his boyhood club

This has been United’s best performance so far this season and now they have their tails up. Hojlund fancies his hattrick as he shoots a half-volley goalbound before Maguire tests Copenhagen with a header.

It’s two for Hojlund and two for United! The move was started by Fernandes who stole back possession on the halfway line and he then fed in Garnacho. The Argentinian took the shot on but Grabara could only parry the ball into Hojlund’s path who tucked into an open net.

The break stopped play for a few minutes and we are back underway again. These stoppages are preventing United from getting going and there will be plenty of time added on.

We have another stoppage as Harry Maguire points to something happening behind the United goal and the referee blows his whistle to stop play. No idea what happened there but United players don’t look happy.

Wan-Bissaka is asleep to the threat of Elias Achouri who creeps in behind him and looks to tap-in an equaliser. Fortunately for United, Onana was alert and snuffed out the danger.

United look confident – how many times have been able to say that this season? – and are just working the ball around the pitch with dynamism. Eriksen is pinging passes together and Rashford is linking up well with Wan-BIssaka. Positive signs for United.

That medical situation has been dealt with and Onana gets the ball rolling again. United will want to keep their early momentum going after scoring so quickly.

There is a prolonged stoppage in play as a medical emergency is attended to in the crowd. The players meanwhile start going through some drills to keep warm on the pitch.

EVans’ night is prematurely brought to its end and that forces United into an early change. Varane comes on while Evans looks upset with his injury as he continues to receive treatment.

Jony Evans has gone down on the edge of his box just seconds after Copenhagen worked their first shot onf the game on target that Onana saved comfortably. The Northern Irishman looks to be in pain as he walks off and could be replaced here.

A member of the crowd has ran onto the pitch draped in a flag and starts running around before eventually being removed. Play back underway.

The ENglishman prefers to play on the left but is displaced tonight by Alejandro Garnacho. That being said, Rashford has started strongly and looks really comfortable out on the right wing and it was his touch that got Unitedaway for the opening goal.

Much has been made of United failing to play to Hojlund’s strengths this season, but they did exaclty that with their first attack tonight and benefitted from the Dane scoring his fourth Champions League goal.

It was so simple from United and worked so well, they now have their tails up and sense goals.

It’s so simple and so effective as Wan-Bissaka plays a delightful pass round the corner for McTominay who doesn’t panic and looks up to find Hojlund across the six-yard line. He tucks the ball into the net and United lead.

The Dane celebrates emphatically against his boyhood club.

That is nervous from United as Scott McTominay bizarrely boots the ball at Harry Maguire in the box and it strikes him on the arm. Fortuantely Maguire was smart enough to have both hands by his side and the referee waves play on.

We are underway in tonight’s Champions League clash. Both teams swapped ends after the kick off toss and United will attack the end containing their home supporters in the first half.

There must be some creative individuals amongst the Copenhagen ultras because they have just unveiled a huge tifo emblazoned with the words ‘Theatre of Nightmares’ and a Red Devils sleeping in a bed.

That’s not what United players will want to see and it’s now up to them to turn this hellish visit into a dream evening in the Champions League.

Warm-ups complete, players back in the dressing rooms and we are less than 10 minutes away from kick off in Copenhagen. This is a must-win for both teams and United are desperate to produce the type of performance that can kick-start their season.

Copenhagen’s manager Jacob Neestrup used his pre-match press conference to warn United of the cauldron of noise they were walking into tonight. He wasn’t joking because the Parken Stadium is beginning to build some serious noise.

Expect fireworks tonight, not on the pitch but in the stands!

It almost seems like Erik ten Hag is still trying to work out what his best midfied is, but tonight there is concern over how an Eriksen, McTominay and Fernandes trio will work.

The last time they were asked to do so came in their recent win over Fulham and before that was against Man City.

Pep Guardiola’s side picked apart United’s almost non-existent midfield and Copenhagen will have been looking at that game to see how they do the same.

The main concern for United supporters is that McTominay struggles to do the defensive work in midfield, while Eriksen and Fernandes often stay forward to try and create chances.

Much has been made of Manchester United’s torrid form this season and the Ex-Red Devil isn’t happy with what he has seen from his former team this season.

Scholes doesn’t believe United’s stars aren’t trying but instead labelled Erik ten Hag’s squad as ‘limited’.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Scholes said: ‘I don’t think they’re not trying. I just think ability-wise, it’s quite a limited squad and I think that has shown over the full season.

‘I can’t remember a performance where I thought, “yeah, they look a good team, they play like a team.

‘I don’t think they’re bad players. I think there’s some really good players in there, but when you talk about a team playing like a team, keeping possession, showing nice patterns of play, but it’s not been there so far this season.’

United head to Copenhagen having already beaten tonight’s opponents in the reverse leg, but they wouldn’t be in that situation but for the penalty heroics of Andre Onana.

The United goalkeeper has been criticised for his performances since joining from Inter Milan but delivered a moment of brilliance to save Jordan Larsson’s penalty.

He will be hoping such heroics aren’t required tonight but this should be an opponent he feels confident against.

Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler is in Copenhagen for tonight’s Champions League crunch clash. He has just been reacting to the team that Erik ten Hag has put out and covers the big news that Marcus Rashford is back as Antony is dropped.

United are currently third in the Group A standings with just one win and two defeats, so tonight is definitely a must-win game. An away trip to Galatasaray and Bayern Munich’s visit to Old Trafford will give United the final chance to pick up points.

GROUP A; AS IT STANDS

Bayern – Played 3, W 3: Points: 9

Galatasaray – Played 3, W 1, D 1, L 1: Points: 4

Man United – Played 3, W 1, L 2: Points: 3

Copenhagen – Played 3, D 1, L 2: Points: 1

When he came to Manchester United two-years ago Raphael Varane was heralded by supporters as a Champions League defender. It appears nobody has told Erik ten Hag that as the Frenchman again starts on the bench.

Ten Hag revealed ahead of the recent Manchester derby that City won 3-0 that Varane had been dropped for ‘tactical’ reasons and Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire are still preferred.

Varane has remained quiet on the ongoing situation but United fans will be concerned as to how their arguably best defender isn’t being given a chance to start.

If Rasmus Hojlund wants to face-off against his younger brother then he will have to wait for Oscar to make an appearance from the bench. There is also space amongst the substitutes for a name United fans will have heard before: Roony.

Erik ten Hag brings Marcus Rashford straight back into his starting team for tonight while Rasmus Hojlund is given the nod to lead the line against his boyhood club.

Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans continue their partnership at the heart of United’s defence while Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes will be the midfield three.

Eriksen is returning to Denmark tonight and in the form of the midfielder, United have a player who can use his personal story to inspire them in the Champions League.

The 31-year-old joined Erik ten Hag in the pre-match press conference and spoke about the ‘special atmosphere’ of the Parken Stadium on the eve of Manchester United’s crunch Champions League clash with Copenhagen.

It was also Eriksen whose cardiac arrest on the pitch there during Euro 2020 sent the place into an eerie silence and shocked the wider football world.

READ MORE BELOW

Mason Mount was regarded as one of the best mdfielders in the Premier League and Europe just two-years ago. Now at Man United he is attempting to get his flittering career back on track, but things haven’t gone to plan so far.

Mount was entrusted with the fabled number seven shirt by United after making the summer switch from Chelsea and he now needs to forge a way into Erik ten Hag’s regular starting side.

The main problem is that him and Bruno Fernandes don’t appear capable of playing with one another as they both want to occupy the same position so can Mount redesign himself and start firing for United tonight?

Manchester United’s midfield has been one of the big topics of discussion around the club this season, but tonight they must show they can find a way forward without Casemiro.

The Brazilian has been ruled out until after Christmas with a hamstring injury and there is now a neccesity to fill the gaping defensive gap left without him.

Casemiro was United’s best midfielder last season but has looked off the pace so far this season.

Sofyan Amrabat is the likely member to be trusted in the defensive midfield position by Ten Hag and he needs to show he can do a job if picked to start tonight.

The Manchester United winger was injured for their Premier League victory against Fulham last weekend but has recently trained ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash.

Mail Sport’s Man United correspondent spent time earlier looking over the big talking points for United heading into their must-win European game.

Tonight is the fifth such occasion that United and Copenhagen have met in European competition. The bad news for Red Devils supporters is that their only defeat came at the Parken Stadion on their only trip to Denmark.

Marcus Alback’s goal condemned a United side featuring Edwin van der Sar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to defeat in 2005.

United have won the three other meetings between the two teams but have only scored more than once in one game.

Rasmus Hojlund is the man tasked with leading Manchester United’s attack, but he used to do that exact job for tonight’s hosts.

The 20-year-old rose through the ranks at Copenhagen before eventually moving to Atalanta and finally onto Old Trafford in a £72m summer transfer.

Tonight he returns to his boyhood team and could be lining up against one of his younger brothers, Oscar.

Hello and thanks for joining us for tonight’s live coverage of Manchester United’s Champions League clash against Copenhagen. The mission is simple for United, win at all odds.

Tonight’s Danish opponents are the only team they have taken points from in the Champions League group stage and they need to take three more tonight to keep their European ambitions alive.

United should have enough firepower to do exactly that, but nothing is straightforward with Erik ten Hag’s side at the moment and defeat would be a disaster.