Written by Ellis Stevens
Manchester United face İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. for the first time in their history later today, with Man Utd looking to continue their win-streak in the group while İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. will be hoping to get their first goal and points of the historic competition tonight.
Başakşehir are likely to field a few well-known players tonight, with former United man Rafael, Liverpool’s former defender Martin Škrtel and former Newcastle, Chelsea and West Ham man Demba Ba all likely to start.
Ellis Stevens will be taking you through the action as it happens.
STARTING LINEUPS
Here’s how the teams lineup.
Out come the players here as they get ready to kick off.
KICK OFF – Man Utd get us kicked off here.
3′
Fernandes looks to curve a pass in behind the Başakşehir defence for Rashford, but he can’t get there and Başakşehir get a throw.
5′
Bolingoli manages to squeeze his way past Wan-Bissaka into the box, he plays the ball into Ba but this ball into the box is too heavy for anyone to get to.
7′
Man Utd have looked much sharper already today than they did throughout the whole of the Arsenal game at the weekend. They’ll just be hoping to get a result alongside that.
10′
Man Utd with some nice play on the edge of the area and as the ball finds Shaw he sets it out with his first touch before driving it across the box and towards the bottom corner. It goes just wide and no one was gambling on it to turn it in.
13′ GOAL İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. 1-0 Manchester United
Man Utd knock the ball around by the corner flag before losing it to the Turkish side, the ball is played over the top into the Manchester United half where Ba finds himself all alone.
He races through with only Matic being vaguely near him, before slotting neatly past the Champions League debutant Dean Henderson.
Not the start Man Utd would have wanted, but Başakşehir will be buzzing with that as they score their first in the competition this season.
17′
Başakşehir must have done their homework on this United side, as every time they win the ball back they quickly look to hit a long ball in behind their opposition’s high line for someone to get onto.
And so far it’s been working.
20′ Yellow Card to Tuanzebe
Another long ball in behind United’s defensive line which allows Ba to run in behind, but before he can get to the ball Tuanzebe pulls him to the floor.
The young centre-half may be quite lucky to get away with only a yellow there as Ba raced through towards the ball and United’s goal.
Free-kick in a promising position to Başakşehir now though.
22′
The following free-kick hits the wall and United easily get possession back.
26′
Istanbul looking dangerous on the counter here.
Every time they break out of their half they seem to penetrate the United defence in some way.
28′
Fernandes takes a lovely touch which enables him to turn and drive into some space in the Istanbul box, but he tries to take on one too many players and eventually the ball is cleared for a throw-in.
Maybe he would have been better off getting his shot off quicker there, but he does seem to be the brightest spark on the pitch so far for United.
30′
Man Utd with a chance there as Martial’s shot is blocked by the former Utd man, Rafael.
Was a clever, sweeping move by United though as they were able to create some space for Wan-Bissaka down the right side whose cross was the one that set up Martial for his chance.
32′
Bolingoli bursts down the right of United’s defence and puts a great ball into the box, which Aleksic meets with a powerful header. Henderson will be glad that it ended up being quite central in his goal, allowing him to catch easily enough.
Man Utd do look to be struggling in their transition from attack to defend here.
34′
A foul on the edge of the area gives Istanbul a free-kick at a very good range.
The ball is crossed in towards the back post, but the referee deems the ball to have bounced out of play.
37′
Istanbul again break with speed, as Ba flicks it on to Kahveci. He’s able to cut inside and look to get his shot off, but Maguire makes a good tackle and is able to come out with the ball.
The organisation of this United defence is looking really poor so far, Istanbul will really fancy themselves to get at least another tonight.
40′ GOAL İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. 2-0 Manchester United
Mata loses the ball in a bad position for United, which allows Turuc to burst down the right side and hit a low pass towards Ba on the edge of the box. But he brilliantly dummies and allows the onrushing Visca to strike with venom and into the back of the net.
Man Utd really have a task on their hands now to continue their flawless streak in the Champions League so far.
Not bad company to be keeping with his performance so far.
43′ Goal İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. 2-1 Manchester United
Well that’s one way of making the task a bit easier, as Shaw goes down the left and cuts inside of his man and floats a lovely ball towards Martial. The number 9 has to jump backwards slightly to meet the ball, and he does so, with the header nestling nicely in the bottom right.
Başakşehir’s 2 goal lead stood for just 2 minutes, they will not be happy with that.
HALF-TIME İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. 2-1 Manchester United
A strange first-half comes to end, with Manchester United deservedly trailing.
Başakşehir won’t be pleased to have had their lead cut in half after such a short amount of time, but they’ve definitely got more goals in them as they look as if they could score almost every time they attack.
The former Liverpool man making sure he’s turned up at his best this evening.
Substitution for Manchester United
45′
Başakşehir get us kicked off again here at the Fatih Terim Stadium.
Lets hope the second half has as much action as that first half did.
47′
Matic has dropped into the defensive line for United to make up the back 4, while Mctominay slots into the centre of midfield.
Tuanzebe really couldn’t have had 2 more contrasting performances in the Champions League, with him being exceptional against PSG but being bullied against the veteran Ba.
51′
Manchester United have started off this half on the front foot as they look to get back on level settings with the Turkish outfit, but no chances of note as of yet.
54′
Rafael throws himself into Fernandes on the edge of the Başakşehir box, and despite winning the ball a free-kick is given. Lets just say the brasilian is not too happy with that decision.
56′
Fernandes tries to go over the wall and into the top left, but he can’t get enough power on the strike and the keeper is able to make it across and parry away with ease.
59′
Manchester United starting to really control the game now, with them creating a couple of openings in the last few minutes. They’ll want to finish one of these chances soon though if they want to go on and get 3 points.
61′ Substitution for Manchester United
62′
Lovely drop of the shoulder by Fernandes to create a yard of space to shoot with his left, but his shot spins off the defender and out for a corner.
The resulting corner is collected by Gunok.
66′
Bolingoli tries to drill a ball into the United box but it’s blocked by Wan-Bissaka, with it spinning up to Maguire who can calmly head it back to his keeper.
70′
United defending aggressively now, possibly out of frustration as they keep losing the ball in simple areas when trying to find their way through this Başakşehir defence.
74′
Man Utd now fully camped in Başakşehir’s half, with Maguire being the deepest man for United and he is still within their opposition’s half.
76′ Substitution for Manchester United
Final changes for Manchester United, as they still search for the equalizer in this game.
79′ Substitution for İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.
81′
Başakşehir taking the saying that the bets form of defence is attack literally here as they win a corner.
United have been quite poor in the second half, not being able to create a good chance as of yet. Still 10 minutes to go, but full credit to the Turkish champions as they continue to frustrate the English side.
85′
Fosu-Mensah’s recovery pace saving him from some embarassement there, as he judges the initial pass wrong but is able to get back and knock the attacker off the ball.
United look to attack again.
87′ Substitution for İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.
89′ Yellow Card to Martin Škrtel
Škrtel slices Martial down before he can take him on, but it gives United a free-kick that they can cross.
The free-kick is hit too deep, but United recycle it and come again.
90′
Three minutes added on here, what a result this would be for Başakşehir.
90+2′
A bit of a jumble in the Başakşehir box leads to Epureanu somehow miraculously clearing the ball from the goal line and out for a corner.
Inches from heartbreak for Başakşehir, but they keep their lead and it looks like they will get the shock victory.
FULL-TIME İstanbul Başakşehir F.K. 2-1 Manchester United
Başakşehir get a famous victory as they beat a Champions League veteran by two goals to one in their first ever meeting. Not a bad way to get not only your first goals of the Champions League this season, but also your first ever win in the competition.
Manchester United have another poor performance following their defeat to Arsenal, Solskjær may be in for some uncomfortable questions over the next few days.
