"When this fixture last took place, just before Christmas, it was a tale of two inside-lefts. Morgan Rogers scored for Villa, Matheus Cunha replied for United, Rogers did it again and then Cunha missed a sitter. Bruno Fernandes was forced off by a rare injury, which meant that United's midfield went from middling to makeshift."
"United should be stronger today, with a settled midfield duo of Casemiro (suspended last time) and the revitalised Kobbie Mainoo. But then Villa could have John McGinn, their driving force, making his first start since a knee operation in January."
"If Carrick's new-manager bounce has been fading, he's still got it at home, where he has won four games out of four. But Villa, the only English team to win in Europe this week, could be coming out of their slump."
Manchester United and Aston Villa meet in a pivotal sixth-round fixture with third and fourth positions at stake, separated only by goal difference. United lost their previous match 2-1 at Newcastle and benefit from a ten-day break, while Villa won 1-0 at Lille but face Thursday-Sunday fixture congestion after playing ten additional games. Their previous December meeting saw Morgan Rogers score twice for Villa against Matheus Cunha's single reply, with Bruno Fernandes suffering a rare injury that disrupted United's midfield. United now has Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo available, while Villa potentially have John McGinn returning from knee surgery. Manager Michael Carrick has won four consecutive home matches, and Villa remain unbeaten in European competition this week.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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