Champions League Group H Preview: European misery on the cards for Man Utd?

 

Rounding off our run down of all 32 teams is Group H, arguably the most dramatic of all eight. Manchester United face a real task to qualify for the knockout stage after being drawn alongside last season's finalists and semi-finalists in Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, respectively.

 

We have picked out all the key players to watch from all four teams in Group H and predicted where we expect them all to finish come the end of the campaign.

 

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

 

Champions League Group H Preview: European misery on the cards for Man Utd?

 

Key Player: Kylian Mbappe

 

Kylian Mbappe's return to full fitness has unsurprisingly seen an upturn in results for PSG following their shocking start to the season. The 21-year-old appears to have leapfrogged Neymar in the pecking order as PSG's main main over the last year and heads into the Champions League group stage in devastating form. Mbappe has scored four goals and provided three assists in just four league appearances this season

 

One To Watch: Mitchel Bakker

 

Mitchel Bakker looks set for an unexpected run in the PSG first team after they failed to sign a replacement for long-term absentee Juan Bernat. Age is nothing but a number for 20-year-old Bakker, who boasts both a pass success rate and tackle success rate in excess of 90 per cent in Ligue 1 this season. With one assist in five league starts, Bakker can also help out in attack

 

Group Prediction - 1st

 

Reaching last season's Champions League final will now be held as the benchmark for success for Thomas Tuchel this season. Anything other than a straightforward group stage campaign would be seen as a disappointment but PSG have lost experienced players like Edinson Cavani and Thiago Silva without replacing them sufficiently.

 

MANCHESTER UNITED

 

Champions League Group H Preview: European misery on the cards for Man Utd?

 

Key Player: Bruno Fernandes

 

Bruno Fernandes is arguably the reason Manchester United are even in the Champions League this season. He completely changed the fortunes of the club upon arrival in January and spearheaded their charge into the top four. Even when he is not playing well he still manages to pop up with something decisive. Fernandes has impressively played a direct hand in 26 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions for United.

 

One To Watch - Edinson Cavani

 

Signed on a free on deadline day, it will be fascinating to see what Edinson Cavani has left in the tank. The 33-year-old left PSG in the summer as the their all-time record scorer (200 goals) and will offer invaluable experience to a relatively novice squad at this level. Having been a free agent since July, however, he will need time to get back to full fitness. United's new Zlatan or their next Falcao?

 

Group Prediction - 3rd

 

The group stage draw could have been a lot kinder for Manchester United. Pooled with PSG, Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir, United face a tough task getting out of Group H. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's flaws as a coach could be truly exposed up against PSG's Thomas Tuchel and Leipzig's Julian Nagelsmann.

 

RB LEIPZIG

 

Champions League Group H Preview: European misery on the cards for Man Utd?

 

Key Player: Dayot Upamecano

 

After playing a big role in Leipzig's run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, it's a surprise they managed to keep Dayot Upamecano over the summer. The talented centre-back had the best tackle success rate in the competition last season (92.6%), even signing an extension with Leipzig in July. Drawn in the same group as PSG and Man Utd, Upamecano will be tested again straight away

 

One To Watch: Angelino

 

An after thought at Manchester City, even with their current woes at left-back, Angelino is certainly proving he has value to RB Leipzig. Re-signed by the Bundesliga outfit over the summer, the 23-year-old has picked up from where he left off last season with two goals in four league appearances so far this season. Angelino bombing down Leipzig's left hand side will be a regular occurrence in Europe this season

 

Group Prediction - 2nd

 

Few would have predicted Leipzig to make it to the last four last season but it is credit to the work of young manager Julian Nagelsmann. Leipzig do not have the resources of PSG or Manchester United but make up for that with superb coaching. United lack in that department and Leipzig can take advantage.

 

ISTANBUL BASEKSEHIR

 

Champions League Group H Preview: European misery on the cards for Man Utd?

 

Key Player: Edin Visca

 

Having finished four of the last five league campaign's as Istanbul Basaksehir's top rated player, it's clear they will rely heavily on Edin Visca to have any chance of doing something in Group H. Now 30, Visca is getting his first ever taste of the Champions League proper and it will be one to savour with trips to Paris and Manchester to come.

 

One To Watch: Irfan Can Kahveci

 

Adding drive and purpose from deeper areas in Istanbul Basaksehir's midfield is Turkey international Irfan Can Kahveci. The 25-year-old has, like the rest of the team, made a slow start to the season and quick improvements are required on the eve of the group stage campaign. Since the beginning of last season, Kahveci has played a direct hand in 10 league goals and averages 2.9 successful dribbles per 90.

 

Group Prediction: 4th

 

Istanbul Basaksehir may well come into the group stage as domestic champion of Turkey but they will be under no illusion of the task ahead of them. With Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig to play, they will do well to get any points let alone think about challenging for third place. 

Champions League Group H Preview: European misery on the cards for Man Utd?