KEY BATTLES VILLARREAL V MAN UTD

Gerard Moreno

Victor Lindelof v

With Manchester United captain Harry Maguire expected to be missing through injury, Lindelof will lead the defence. Moreno is likely to provide him with a stern test, having scored 23 goals in La Liga this season. He has been in fine form in the Europa League too, with six goals in his eight starts.

Bruno Fernandes v Etienne Capoue With 40 goals and 25 assists in 79 appearances for United, Fernandes has become their most important player. If Villarreal can nullify him, they will succeed in suppressing United’s main attacking threat. That task is likely to fall to Capoue, who started the season in the Championship with Watford, and who will need to be at his best to keep Fernandes quiet.

Edinson Cavani v Raul Albiol Cavani has vindicated United’s decision to sign him as a free agent last summer, with 16 goals this season, including nine in his past 10 games, to earn a one-year contract extension. At 34, Cavani will hope to get the better of another veteran in Albiol, 35, a World Cup and European Championship winner, in what promises to be an absorbing personal duel.