Five minutes in and none of the four sides have managed a shot yet.

Best not be 'one of those nights'.

Banks of empty seats at Vodafone Park, the Carsi faithful not enticed by the Europa League.

That will dampen the atmosphere a little.

United all in black with names and numbers in orange.

That's a lovely looking kit.

Away we go in Istanbul and The Hague.

Jo: When Spurs played in the Champions League.

I thought I'd gone to heaven.

But it wasn't to be

We lacked energy

And Bayern ended up scoring seven

Louis van Gaal is at the Cars Jeans Stadion tonight.

The Dutchman managed both of these teams in his glittering career.

"Philosophy".

Partizan Belgrade have won 2-1 in Astana to go top of Manchester United's group.

Umar Sadiq scored twice for the visitors, who had former United player Zoran Tosic in their line-up.

Tosic signed for the Red Devils on the same day as Adem Ljajic, but did go on to play five times for the side.

Image source, Getty Images

Adem Ljajic has been directly involved in three goals in his last five Europa League starts for Besiktas, scoring once and providing two assists.

Not sure if you are aware of this story, but back in January 2009, Ljajic signed for Manchester United as a 17-year-old, before being loaned back to Partizan Belgrade.

Despite training with the club, Sir Alex Ferguson pulled out of a deal to sign the teenager by the end of the year citing "work permit issues".

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not impressed by today's plastic pitch.

"I've seen better, to be diplomatic," he told BT Sport. "I've seen many in Norway, a couple of generations further on.

"We'll try to make the most of it. The young lads are used to playing on astroturf.

"Brandon Williams' start is well deserved, he's been fantastic all season for the reserves. He's not looked out of place."

Leander Dendoncker ain't wrong.

I went to Vodafone Park for a Turkish league game last season and my ears are still ringing from the trip.

Amazing experience, the fans bouncing up and down, constant whistling of the opposition, stewards smoking cigs...and offering you one!

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves are seeking their first victory in the main stage of a European competition since 1980.

Today they are in Istanbul to face Besiktas who have have a raucous following.

"Besiktas is obviously known for its fans and its stadium, and it's tough to go and play there," said midfielder Leander Dendoncker.

"I played my first Champions League game with Anderlecht in Galatasaray and I've heard Besiktas is even louder."

If you didn't know today is National Poetry day so it is time to let your creative juices flow.

Send your football-related poems to #bbcfootball, external or by texting 81111 (UK only) and we'll feature the best ones in tonight's live (keep them clean!).

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are unbeaten in their last five Europa League away games (W3 D2), after losing five in a row prior to this run.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United will be competing on a plastic pitch today at the Cars Jeans Stadion in The Hague.

Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "I was surprised they have chosen to play on this pitch when I look at it.

"I am used to Astroturf pitches from back home in Norway and it is not the best I have seen. It is one of the worst ones I have seen for a long while.

"We have all got standards back home in Norway. They are all more modern and new, and you get them changed.

"But it is safe. It's just not the newest.

"I probably wouldn't risk him [Pogba] on Astroturf anyway if he was available for this game. But he needs a bit of rest now."

Wolves

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo makes two changes to the side that beat Watford on Saturday.

Ruben Neves and Morgan Gibbs-White return to the side, replacing Leander Dendoncker and Adama Traore.

Wolves XI: Rui Patricio, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Doherty, Neves, Joao Moutinho, Jonny, Gibbs-White, Jimenez, Pedro Neto.

Subs: Vallejo, Bennett, Cutrone, Ruddy, Ruben Vinagre.

For Besiktas, on-loan Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny makes his first start since the 4-2 defeat at Bratislava in the Europa League on 19 September.

On-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius and ex-Tottenham winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou also start.

Besiktas: Karius, Douglas, Vida, Uysal, Pedro Rebocho, Tokoz, Elneny, Ljajic, Lens, Yalcin, Nkoudou.

Subs: Roco, Mehmet Nayir, Ozyakup, Hutchinson, Gonul, Erkin, Yuvakuran.

Manchester United

Manchester United make eight changes from the side who drew 1-1 with Arsenal.

Teenage defender Brandon Williams makes his first start, while midfielder Paul Pogba is out with a foot injury.

David de Gea, Victor Lindelof and Daniel James are the only three to stay in from Monday.

Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes and Diogo Dalot are the other youngsters to start.

Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Lindelof, Rojo, Williams, Fred, Matic, Mata, Gomes, James, Greenwood.

Subs: Maguire, Rashford, Lingard, Romero, Tuanzebe, McTominay, Chong.

Former Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar starts for AZ Alkmaar.

He is one of three players brought in fom Sunday's 2-0 win over Heracles, along with youngsters Yukinari Sugawara and Calvin Stengs.

AZ: Bizot, Sugawara, Vlaar, Wuytens, Wijndal, Midtsjoe, de Wit, Koopmeiners, Stengs, Boadu, Idrissi.

Subs: Chatzidiakos, Ouwejan, Druijf, Aboukhlal, Clasie, de Boer, Reijnders.

Oh yeh, five teams from these shores are also testing themselves in Europe's second tier, here is what we have coming up:

17:55:

Besiktas v Wolves

AZ Alkmaar v Manchester United

Young Boys v Rangers

20:00:

Arsenal v Standard Liege

Celtic v Cluj

Head here to follow all action from the Scottish teams

Image source, Getty Images

We saw the cream of the crop of Europe on Tuesday and Wednesday, now it is time for those who did not quite make the grade.

Fear not, for there are some big name teams in action.

Borussia Monchengladbach, Istanbul Basaksehir, Ludogorets Razgrad and Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub.

How is that tickling you?