BBC Radio 5 Live

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen: "Going out at the group stage would be a massive disappointment after not taking part last year.

"And if that happens then the pressure on Louis van Gaal will undoubtedly increase, because that’s not what everyone expects – it’s not what he expects himself.

"Over the last few weeks when I've seen United play there’s still plenty of quality there, but they lack a cutting edge and there is no freedom at times in the attacking third. 

"They would be in a completely different position if they had converted the chances they had against PSV two weeks ago."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Just a reminder for those just joining us, tonight's game in Germany will be on BBC Radio 5 live.

Perfect if you're at your kids' Christmas concert or something similar. Just remember to plug in the earphones before you press play.

After all, Alan Green's never featured in any Nativity I've been to.

Is Louis van Gaal the right man for the job at Old Trafford?

Joe Wedgwood: Anti-LvG sentiment is utter nonsense from fickle 'fans'! Sir Alex was NOT always brilliant and was famously poor pre-Christmas!

Liam Nield: Does anyone remember how good we looked from the Spurs match last season until the Chelsea match? Form is temporary.

Greg Randles: LvG has steadied the ship, we've stopped leaking goals, two more world class signings and a bit of time and we'll be there. 

You can tweet us on #bbcfootball,, external text on 81111 in the UK only (please include a name) or post on the MOTD Facebook page., external

Goal difference or head-to-head record?

Thankfully, the Uefa Champions League handbook has all the answers.

The key detail comes very early in the piece....

17.01 If two or more teams are equal on points on completion of the group matches, the following criteria are applied in the order given to determine their rankings:

a. higher number of points obtained in the group matches played among the teams in question;

b. superior goal difference from the group matches played among the teams in question;

c. higher number of goals scored in the group matches played among the teams in question.

The list of criteria goes on for quite some time.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolfsburg,who know they will reach the knockout phase for the first time with a draw, make two changes from Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Borussia Dortmund.

Brazil centre-back Dantereplaces Timm Klose, while Christian Traschstarts at right-back instead of Daniel Caligiuri. Former Arsenal strikerNicklas Bendtneris named on the bench.

Wolfsburg starting XI:Benaglio, Trasch, Naldo, Dante, Rodriguez, Arnold, Guilavogui, Vieirinha, Kruse, Draxler, Schurrle.

Is Louis van Gaal the right man for the job at Old Trafford?

Garry McCammon: Man Utd were hardly scintillating in Fergie's last few seasons. Not at their best right now but sacking LvG would be stupid.

Vinodh Natarajan: Ancelotti in, LVG out. Man U need someone who can fit their philosophy to the available players.

Shohaib: I think LvG should stay as it's too early to judge him. He's spent a lot but he's brought in young, fresh talent.

You can tweet us on #bbcfootball,, external text on 81111 in the UK only (please include a name) or post on the MOTD Facebook page., external

BBC Radio 5 Live

Over on BBC Radio 5 live, two Manchester United fans are giving their thoughts on what's going wrong at Old Trafford. One of them has really let loose. 

Chris says: "I agree that we are not scoring goals but the play has been what Louis van Gaal wanted. The problem is, he just hasn’t got his scorer.

"Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay are learning their trade, you cannot expect them to carry the team. The biggest problem is Wayne Rooney.

"At the beginning of the season, Van Gaal thought he would get 25 goals from Rooney, but for whatever reason, he has disappointed.

"There’s been names linked with the team in the papers but the problem is, they are big names, the best, and clubs won’t let them go. Thomas Muller, Neymar, Gareth Bale.

"Who wants a Wilfred Bony? Van Gaal is prepared to wait. He thought his team would still get the goals, but has been let down."

Yaya Toure is back in the Manchester City side after missing the defeat to Stoke on Saturday.

What does Wilfried Bony's place on the bench say of the faith Manuel Pellegrini has in him? No Sergio Aguero and still the ex-Swansea striker does not start.

Borussia Monchengladbach, fresh from a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich over the weekend, are unchanged. Watch out for Brazilian Raffael - their top scorer in the league this season.

Image source, EPA

If, like me, you're struggling to remember what happened last weekend, you might find our Champions League permutations piece useful.

It's all there, in black and white, what each side has to do tonight.

Other than Manchester United's group, most qualification issues are boxed off.

It's just a case of who finishes first and second. All eyes on the Red Devils then, and this handy graphic is a perfect beer mat for the evening.

BBC Radio 5 Live

But don't wait until 19:45 to tune into the radio... why not train your ears to the wireless now? Dan Walker and the team are discussing Manchester United's current problems, their lack of goals and the form of Anthony Martial.

Oh... and the small matter of Louis van Gaal's future. If, indeed, he has one at Old Trafford!

BBC Radio 5 Live

Struggling to watch the football tonight?

Perhaps you've decided to watch The Great Pottery Throwdown on BBC Two tonight instead? After all, Stoke seem to be the most fashionable team in the Premier League these days.

Or perhaps, like in my household, your Christmas tree lights have gone kaput and you need to strip the tree before putting news ones on. Not good.

Whatever your reasons for not watching the game, it's fine: you can listen to Manchester United's game in Germany on BBC Radio 5 live or through this very page.

No excuses, basically.

Here's one for you: you can walk into a certain bookmaker, which shall remain nameless, and be given odds of 5-4 on Louis van Gaal to be sacked before the weekend.

Or 12-1 on both the Dutchman and Jose Mourinho leaving before their side's next Premier League game.

So, tonight we're asking you if Louis van Gaal is the right man for the job at Old Trafford? You can vote via this page, or join in the debate on Twitter using #bbcfootball,, external send a text with your name on it to 81111 or post to the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.

And don't just say yes or no... we want to know who should replace LvG were he to leave his post. Or, if you prefer, send us your reasons for keeping the ex-Bayern and Barcelona manager.

Image source, #bbcfootball

This is how Manchester United will line up in Wolfsburg. But there are not many familiar names on the bench if they need a boost.

Young midfielder Nick Powell, who has not played for the Red Devils since the 4-0 defeat at MK Dons last season, is among the substitutes.

Image source, AP

As you might have just seen with the team news below, it's not just Manchester United in action tonight.

If Manchester City want to avoid what seems to be their obligatory last-16 tie with Barcelona, they need to win against Borussia Monchengladbach at the Etihad and hope Sevilla get the better of Juventus.

Stranger things have happened, I suppose. We'll be across that game too.

Image source, Reuters

Manchecter City - criticised for their defensive display in defeat at Stoke on Saturday - change two of their back four as Bacary Sagna moves to the bench and Martin Demichelis is left out through injury.

Man City XI: Hart, Clichy, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov, Toure (C), Fernandinho, Delph, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling.

It's crunch time in the Champions League for Manchester United. If they don't beat Wolfsburg tonight, it's likely to be curtains for another season.

And with it, trips to far-flung corners of the continent in the Europa League.

LvG has a decision to make: does he want to be sat in the plush seats of the Nou Camp next spring, or making do with a trip to Midtjylland's MCH Arena.

It's likely to be the latter if he doesn't go all Mary Mary, external and throw those shackles off.

The Manchester United team sheet has already been handed in. Young Uruguayan defender Guillermo Varela makes his first Red Devils start at right-back, while Dutch forward Memphis Depay returns to the starting line-up.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Varela, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Fellaini, Schweinsteiger, Lingard, Mata, Memphis, Martial.