George Hider: What an assist by Ibra. Twinkle toes.

Josh Earl‏: Brilliant goal, very well worked. Excellent assist from Ibrahimovic.

Rostov respond immediately through Christian Noboa - his shot from distance flies into the arms of Sergio Romero.

Image source, AP

United's game at Rostov is the only goalless Europa League match so far (there's only three games at 18:00 GMT to be fair). 

Nicolae Stanciu has given Anderlecht a 1-0 lead at Apoel Nicosia. FC Copenhagen are still beating Ajax by the same scoreline.

Half an hour on the clock and neither keeper has had a serious save to make. United are settling into their new shape but are struggling to carve out chances.

Rostov's keeper comes rushing off his line just as Henrikh Mkhitaryan looks set to pounce.

Ibrahimovic gets his first sight at goal but hoofs it high and wide. This is a match with lots of effort but is low in quality.

Image source, Reuters

Another late challenge and another yellow card. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic lets out a scream after Rostov skipper Aleksandr Gatskan sends him flying in the air.

That's Gatskan out of the return leg.

Swapnil Deshpande‏: Man Utd v Rostov seems more like a "Headball" match than a "Football". Pathetic pitch!

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is fired up for this. He's already been involved in an incident which forced Rostov to make an early substitution and now he's tangling with Fedor Kudryashov.

The German referee has seen enough. It's a yellow card for the United man.

Image source, Reuters

Mr Fizz: Excuses already in place for everyone.. Pitch pitch pitch! Stop moaning and play the game, same for both sides isn't it?

If United escape from here without an injury they'll have done very well. It's been a bruising start.

Rostov have been forced into an early change after Vladimir Granat collided with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

On comes Denis Terentyev.

Image source, Reuters

United are playing with three at the back - with Young and Blind at wing-back. The ball is spending more time in the air than on the ground. There's already been a flashpoint - Phil Jones is complaining he has received an elbow in the face.

Image source, Reuters

Pitch update: It's already cutting up badly. There is a distinct lack of grass on the surface while there are vehicle tracks across the pitch. Very Sunday League.

Free-kick to United out wide. Daley Blind steps up to whip it into the box but the wind catches it and Rostov's keeper has to stretch to make sure it doesn't sail over him into the net.

There's been a goal in the opening seconds of tonight's Europa League games - Rasmus Falk has put FC Copenhagen 1-0 up against Ajax.

Apoel Nicosia against Anderlecht is the other match on now.

Rostov's keeper is wearing No 77. Their captain has 84 on his back while Aleksandr Erokhin has the No 89 shirt. Big numbers.

Image source, Reuters

Not only is the pitch awful, there's a strong wind whipping around the ground, but United have settled well.

Rostov's defence looks far from convincing in these early exchanges and the ball lands at the feet of Paul Pogba who scuffs his shot from 10 yards.

That was a decent chance.

Image source, Reuters

It's seventh in the Russian League against sixth in the Premier League. 

Ahh... the magic of the Europa League. 

We're under way.

Image source, Reuters

There isn't a spare seat in the ground. It's approaching 21:00 local time but the city of Rostov is out in force for one of the biggest games in the club's recent history.

Both teams are out on the pitch. It's fair to say many of United's 238 fans in the ground have taken advantage of a free blanket to keep warm.