United, though, will need to stay wary at the back.

Runaway Swiss league leaders Young Boys get on the attack for the first time but Roger Assale's low shot is blocked at the near post.

Over in Group G Viktoria Plzen came from behind to beat CSKA Moscow, which means they will clinch third spot if they match CSKA's result on matchday six.

The Russian side are away to Real Madrid while Plzen host Roma.

The result also means that both Real Madrid and Roma have reached the knockout stage regardless of the result in their game tonight.

United really want to end this goal drought.

Fred flashes in a fantastic left-footed strike from 25 yards out which sails inches over the crossbar.

Chris Sutton
Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

What a chance.

Marcus Rashford had time to look up and he tried to lift it over the goalkeeper, but it goes agonisingly over the bar. United should be one up.

United should be in front and end their goal drought at home in Europe.

Luke Shaw's clearance inadvertantly turns out to be a glorious through ball for Marcus Rashford, who only has goalkeeper David von Ballmoos but beat but the England international has too much on his chip and the finish sits on the roof of the net.

Jose Mourinho spins in the dugout in disgust, shaking his head.

Image source, PA

Bright start from the hosts, almost as bright as City's orange shorts.

Maxwel Cornet almost converts but his shot is blocked on the line.

Not like Pep Guardiola to spring a tactical surprise is it... We were expecting Oleksandr Zinchenko to start at left-back but it looks like he's in midfield.

That's means it is a three-man defence for City and one of those, Aymeric Laporte, concedes a corner as Memphis Depay lurks...

The Young Boys fans are making a heck of a racket inside Old Trafford tonight.

Nice to hear some noise at the venue...

Image source, Reuters

Chris Sutton
Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Jose Mourinho says he doesn't tell his teams to start slow. It is important they have a quick start tonight.

It's all over in Athens......And the four-time winners are through.

The visitors celebrated wildly at the final whistle, and who can blame them. They had not reached the knockout rounds of this competition since 2005.

Two Dusan Tadic goals rectified that though.

Chris Sutton
Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 live

Man City are a brilliant team and I don't think anybody in Europe can touch them. What is ominous for everyone else, is that they still have their best player to return from injury in Kevin de Bruyne.

Can the two Manchester clubs do the business tonight?

Let's find out.

Away we go.

Champions League anthem time.

Goosebumps everyyyyywhere.

Chris Bevan
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

We’ve heard lots about how United need a goal tonight - but how will they do at keeping them out without injured defender Victor Lindelof.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are two of United’s most experienced centre-backs but they have not played together much since Jose Mourinho took charge in 2016, starting only 20 Premier League games as a pairing in that time.

They have played only 52 minutes together this season - in United’s disastrous home defeat by Tottenham in August, when they shipped two of Spurs' three goals before Jones was hooked.

Perhaps it will help that Young Boys have the lowest shot conversion in the Champions League this season, converting just two of their 53 shots - or 4%.

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho speaking to BT Sport:

"I didn’t risk it I came in a car and it took two minutes. For the boys 25 minutes, which is much better than before. But there is still room for improvement.

"I think we have to [respond to the result against Crystal Palace]. We are in a very difficult group to qualify and we managed three fantastic points in Juventus after two bad results at home. We need to win this match and see if we qualify tonight, if we don’t it’s because Juventus lose and we still have a chance to finish first.

"The last performance at home was frustrating and the objective tonight is to try and win. They only have one point but they are very competitive even against Valencia.

"I think there’ll change the way they normally play and be more defensive than normal.

On Marcus Rashford playing:

"You are always asking for Marcus Rashford to play, so you cannot complain. You are asking for Fred to play, so you cannot complain that they are playing.

"We have fresh blood, fresh legs, people playing that did not play the last match two days ago.

"To play after two days is hard but with Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial as our forwards, all of them are young, fast and supposedly fresh."

BBC Radio 5 live

More from former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke: "We have a great attacking line up with quality players like Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, but they just don't seem to be hitting it off. Ultimately it comes down to the players on the pitch to have that understanding of what brings success at a football club.

"We have a manager who is very successful in everything he has done, I'm sure he will be scratching his head as to why we are in the position we are. The table doesn't lie but I wouldn’t panic, because we haven’t even got to Christmas yet, and all they need is to put a run together which will help them get out."

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke: "It has been disappointing in terms of where Manchester United are in the league.

"We still have a lot of work to do to get to the knockout stages, but we are talking about Man United and a team who has dominated the Premier League for a number of years.

"Even though it is not even Christmas yet, I would like to think the players and the manager are not happy with their position."

Manchester United

Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis, Gracenote

"Manchester United's surprise victory in Turin three weeks ago transformed the Red Devils' chance of playing in the knockout phase. United are now clear favourites to go through to the last 16 with Juventus.

"Manchester United were 1-0 down in Italy with five minutes remaining but scored two late goals. This has given them a 93% chance of progress according to the Euro Club Index Link, external whereas United's chance would have been closer to 50/50 had they lost."

Image source, .

What was I saying about Viktoria Plzen and late goals...

The visitors have turned things round completely in Moscow thanks to a Lukas Hejda goal and as things stand CSKA are going out of this season's competition.