When: Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 2:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. GMT
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Odds (via Bovada)
Manchester United: -400
Draw: +450
Cardiff City: +1400
Team News
Rooney has been missing with a groin strain since the New Year's Day defeat by Tottenham, whilst Van Persie suffered a thigh problem in the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk last month.
However, both are in contention to face Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, along with £37.1 million new-boy Juan Mata, who is set to make his debut.
Match Notes
A new era begins for United with the arrival of Juan Mata but will he make a difference?
At his price, he should, and if he begins life with Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, Cardiff could be in for a hiding.
United have lost four of their last five in all competitions but Cardiff arrive boosted by a 1-0 win iat Bolton in the FA Cup.
Stat of the game: Manchester United have earned 998 points at Old Trafford in the Premier League, more than any other team has managed on home soil.
Alexandera's prediction: Manchester United 2 Cardiff City 1.
Key stats
Here are the two sides top scorers in the Premier League this season:
| Name | Team | Pos | Goals | Apps | Mins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Rooney | Man Utd | FW | 9 | 17 | 1,459 |
| Danny Welbeck | Man Utd | FW | 8 | 16 | 1,096 |
| Robin van Persie | Man Utd | FW | 7 | 11 | 912 |
| Name | Team | Pos | Goals | Apps | Mins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fraizer Campbell | Cardiff | FW | 5 | 22 | 1,542 |
| Jordon Mutch | Cardiff | MF | 4 | 20 | 1,206 |
| Steven Caulker | Cardiff | DF | 2 | 22 | 1,980 |
| Peter Whittingham | Cardiff | MF | 2 | 22 | 1,958 |
Their average possession statistics:
| Name | Possession Percentage | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 54.50 | 22 |
| Name | Possession Percentage | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff City | 44.41 | 22 |
And the amount of clean sheets they have kept this season:
| Name | Clean Sheet | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 6 | 22 |
| Name | Clean Sheet | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff City | 5 | 22 |
5 players to watch
Juan Mata - His signing has caused some excitement for Manchester United fans and it will be interesting to see just how David Moyes uses him in the side. It would not be surprising if he provided a great amount of attacking threat against Cardiff. Expect a goal or an assist from United's new record signing on his debut.
Fraizer Campbell - Campbell has been in relatively good form under Solskjaear having scored three goals since the former Manchester United striker took over from Malky Mackay in the Cardiff dugout. Campbell also returns to his former club having scored against them earlier on this season. Can he haunt them again?
Darren Fletcher - With Michael Carrick out of the side, even more responsibility is going to be placed on the shoulders of Fletcher at the heart of the United midfield. Though Cardiff are bottom of the pile, they do possess a pretty creative midfield and the Scotland international will need to stamp his authority on the game to keep the opposition quiet.
Jordan Mutch - A tricky customers to deal with in midfield. He's quite strong, can pick a good pass and has a goal threat, so the home side will want to keep him quiet.
Adnan Januzaj - Despite him still being a teenager, he has been talked of as United's go to man this season, so it will be interesting to see how Januzaj's performance is affected if at all, and whether he takes up a different role within the side given Mata's arrival.
Earlier on in the season
Cardiff City 2-2 Manchester United, November 2013
Twice United took the lead at the Cardiff City stadium and twice they were pegged back by the home side. Wayne Rooney gave the visitors an early lead after his shot was deflected home after 15 minutes. Cardiff grew into the game and equalised just after the half hour mark when Fraizer Campbell cooly finished after latching on to Jordan Mutch's through ball. United restored their lead on the stroke of half time when Patrice Evra headed home Wayne Rooney's corner. It was a lead that would last until stoppage time when Kim Bo-Kyung headed home Peter Whittingham's free-kick to give the home side a share of the spoils.
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