Here we go then. There's countless millions of pounds and reputations potentially riding on the next 90 minutes for Manchester United.

John Hartson
Former Arsenal striker on BBC Radio 5 live

"Manchester United have to go and perform. This is a big night for Memphis Depay.

"Marouane Fellaini isn't a bad ploy because you know he'll make a nuisance of himself and Anthony Marital can get around him. It's a style of play you might associate more with Wimbledon, rather than United, but it is effective."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, speaking to BT Sport ahead of kick-off, on the importance of tonight's match: "You don't have an excuse anymore, you have to win - that's what I'll tell the players. It's logic."

On full-back Guillermo Varela making his first Red Devils start: "We have problems in this position because all our full-backs are injured so we have to look and compare players. In the end I give confidence to a very young player. It could have been Ashley Young but I have chosen Varela because he did well when he came in against West Ham."

On Anthony Martial feeling the burden of United's scoring responsibility: "You don't have to lay all the responsibility of scoring goals on a striker. We have 11 players. David de Gea can't score but all the others can score. In our way of playing all the other players have chances to score."

Hands up who expected Manchester City to be played off the park by Stoke last weekend? No, me neither. But it happened.

I like Manuel Pellegrini's style though. Rather than panic, he says he won't be reining in his side's attacking tendencies.

"Maybe you can defend better with eight or nine players near our box but it is not the way we play," he said. "We have bad games, as every team do, but we must continue not to change the style and try not to make so many mistakes."

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

Ahmet: Amazing LvG has spent £250m & the bench looks as strong as Yeovil's.

Alex Mulcrow: No. His style of football doesn't work in the Premier League.

Shane Daly: We United fans are happy, it is everyone else who is telling us that we are not. But we are.

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Image source, Rex Features

Manchester United fans might want a few more good omens ahead of tonight's game.

Well, their Under-19s team have already beaten Wolfsburg 2-0 today.

Want another one? OK, as coach of Bayern Munich, Louis van Gaal was unbeaten in four encounters with Wolfsburg, winning three of them. 

Image source, Getty Images

If Wolfsburg were to win tonight, they will reverse a trend which has seen them lose their last seven meetings with English sides in Europe (Man Utd, Fulham and Everton).

Maybe United should have signed Fulham's 2010 heroes Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff for tonight's tie?

I'm only half joking.

John Hartson
Former Arsenal striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"If the next Manchester United manager is going to be Ryan Giggs, who was coached under Louis van Gaal, what will he bring that is different?  Will the next manager give the lads more freedom and flair to go out and play? To play what you see, take responsibility on the pitch, to come out of your zones and show you are a good player, express yourself?

"That is what Manchester United is famous for – players who make things happen. Right now they look like they are playing under orders."

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

Paul Jones: £230m spent and name me one player from those signings that would get in any other team! Slow, turgid, boring football. If you put the goalposts at the halfway line we'd be unbeatable with LvG.   

Keith: So Man Utd are fourth in the Premier League with fifth- best goal difference and three points from top.If they win tonight they qualify top of the group. Man U fans should be happy. 

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Image source, Getty Images

Former Wolfsburg and Nigeria striker Jonathan Akpoborie on BBC World Service: "Wolfsburg are playing at home against a side who cannot really find their scoring boots right now. 

"Over the weekend though Wolfsburg lost to Dortmund at home which could be something United could exploit. 

"They have what it takes to beat United. United are solid and it will be a very difficult game, low scoring. I don't think it will be boring though, as Wolfsburg can be exciting up front."

Image source, BBC Sport

Xhaka has a bit of an edge to him though, he's been sent off twice in the Bundesliga this season.

I imagine there'll be a few visiting fans at the Etihad tonight - if only because I saw quite a few Borussia Monchengladbach supporters having a walk round the German-style Christmas markets in Manchester last night.

It got me thinking... if you were from Germany, would you really want to go and visit some German markets?

There's a touch of the busman's holiday about it all. Surely?

Of course, it's not all about the Champions League tonight.

Not if you're a fan of Dumbarton, who host Alloa in the third round of the Scottish Cup this evening. 

Or perhaps you're frequenting the Moss Rose tonight for Macclesfield v Eastleigh. Gateshead also host Southport in the National League.

If you're going to any of those three games, I applaud you.

Feel free to send me a selfie/picture of a burger and we'll do our best to tip our hat in your direction.

John Hartson
Former Arsenal striker on BBC Radio 5 live

"He's not been at his best, Anthony Martial. But when you're scoring goals you are confident, and when you're not you really do show it. 

"It really will be interesting to see if United can create good chances for Martial tonight. In recent games, there hasn't been a lot coming through from midfield for him."

Image source, Getty Images

Anthony Martial has only managed to score one Champions League goal in the 841 minutes that he has featured in. Surely that will worry Manchester United fans?

Tonight is the night to turn it all around though.

BBC Radio 5 Live

German journalist Thomas Hiete of Kicker magazine: "Wolfsburg will not be as offensive as they are normally, they will look to see what Manchester United do. I am sure they will deal with what United throw at them.

"It's very surprising here in Germany that United are not scoring goals but they are in a good position still, and the Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking told us that we should be careful to say it’s a bad team.

"Wolfsburg think United are very strong, but when you see the line-up you think: 'Hmmm'. I think United will have a problem tonight."

It's only six years ago that Manchester United played the same opponents, in the same stadium, on the same date... and won.

All thanks to a Michael Owen hat-trick.

But check out their team that day below. Darron Gibson marshalling the midfield? Darren Fletcher at centre-back? Anderson flying down the wing?

It's all there, folks.

Image source, Getty Images