Man Utd pull off incredible comeback as Paris St-Germain capitulate in Europe after dramatic late VAR decision

Aggregate score: 3-3; United win on away goals

“United are back,” they sang at the end. And they are. Whatever happens now, this was Manchester United as they want to be known; as they were known. And they partied like it was 1999.

They made history again and that raucous wedge of 2,000 United fans sang and sang again in the rain long after their heroic players had sprinted to them in disbelieving joy at what they had achieved. They also sang long after Paris St-Germain had slumped to the turf distraught, Kylian Mbappe in tears.

If there were any doubts as to whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves to be confirmed as the next United manager, then that should now change. Hang logic or process or waiting – just give it to him.

The day before, Solksjaer had said there was no such thing as a lost cause and while everyone nodded, no one believed. But he did. No team in Champions League history had overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg. United did and without 10 players, without their first-choice midfield and with 19-year-old Tahith Chong and 17-year-old Mason Greenwood on the pitch.

Solskjaer spoke about the importance of scoring first – they did, after 111 seconds – and about United’s illustrious relationship with late drama that is so associated with him, of course. And how, with Sir Alex Ferguson in attendance, they also recalled 1999 and that most incredible of Champions League finals. Football, bloody hell, as the man said, and he joined in the celebrations in the dressing room here.

“Ooh ahh, VAR,” was another chant from United’s fans and the Italian video assistant referee played his part. They say the VAR is killing drama in football. Not here. This was the most astonishing, unforgettable finish as United were awarded a 90th-minute penalty.

Substitute Diogo Dalot drove a shot that struck Presnel Kimpembe on the elbow. The defender had turned his back but, after consulting with the VAR and checking the monitor, Slovenian referee Damir Skomina pointed to the spot.

Romelu Lukaku was on a hat-trick but, with Paul Pogba suspended, Marcus Rashford took the kick. How calm, how cool the 21-year-old was as he waited before striking the ball fiercely past goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who will feel, as he did in last season’s Champions League when Real Madrid scored a late, controversial penalty to knock out Juventus, that the gods are conspiring against him.

Those gods are smiling on Solskjaer. But he is making his own luck, and that is what the United hierarchy should reflect upon. The caretaker manager got his team selection wrong by playing Eric Bailly at right-back but was ruthlessly professional enough to take him off during the first half.

One chance. That was what it was all about – and staying in the game long enough to take it. United’s defence was brilliantly marshalled by Chris Smalling, who stood up to the awesome threat of Mbappe. They were in danger of being overrun.

So Solskjaer abandoned his 4-4-2 formation and switched to 5-4-1. He pushed Rashford back into midfield and moved Andreas Pereira. He tightened it up and limited PSG. And how it worked.

Juan Bernat, who had scored PSG’s goal, struck the base of the post from a tight angle, but United remained – relatively – secure as the clock ticked down to Fergie time. Or is that now Ole time?

This was about courage and believing that, as Solskjaer said, there is never a mission impossible. It was about resolve, determination and sheer, bloody-minded guts, which was also the hallmark of the man he always refers to as “gaffer”.

It had been a remarkable first half. For long periods United were dominated, with the statistics at one point showing they had just 13 per cent of possession and had completed 25 passes to PSG’s 256.

Yet United scored twice. Both goals were gifts, snapped up by Lukaku, with the second changing the dynamic. If Bailly, United’s right-back, struggled then so did PSG’s Thilo Kehrer who, under pressure, tried to play the ball back to captain Thiago Silva without looking. It fell to Lukaku, who appeared to overrun the chance round Buffon but stretched and found the net.

PSG were stung into action, with Mbappe collecting Dani Alves’s pass and whipping a ball across the United six-yard area for Bernat to run in and slide past David de Gea. With Bailly again caught out soon after, the goalkeeper saved smartly from Bernat and, just maybe, that was a crucial moment because it was United who struck next.

It seemed speculative when Rashford shot from 25 yards but the ball bounced in front of Buffon who, still, would have been expected to collect it. However, it bounced off the 41-year-old’s chest, with Lukaku sweeping the ball past him. Then came the penalty drama, with PSG failing in four, frantic added minutes to save themselves.

Without the injured Neymar, the French champions once more opened themselves up to accusations that they choke on the biggest stage. A stage that, after an absence of so many years, United have reintroduced themselves to as they gloriously go forward into the last eight. Welcome back.

10:42PM

The joy of VAR

I've watched this replay a good few times now and I think it's an extremely harsh - but legit - penalty. Kimpembe has turned his back, his arm does come out a little wide... it's hard to tell whether he'd have been able to swivel out the way without actually being Kimpembe.

If you hate VAR, fine, we can argue all night because it's actually great. The real problem is the laws. VAR helps the referee get the laws exactly right - the laws state that penalty was a penalty, therefore the problem is the law.

PSG fought the law and Man Utd won.

10:38PM

Patrice Evra reacts

10:36PM

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer words

Got the job yet?

10:28PM

Players react

Joel Pereira stood in with the United fans.

10:24PM

Opta stats

• Manchester United became the first team in Champions League history to qualify for the next round having lost the first leg of a knockout match at home by two or more goals.

• PSG conceded with three of the four shots on target they faced in this game and have been eliminated at the last 16 stage in each of the last three Champions League seasons.

• Romelu Lukaku’s first goal after 111 seconds was Man Utd’s fastest in a Champions League knockout match since Wayne Rooney scored after 63 seconds against Bayern Munich in March 2010.

• Since the start of last season, the only Premier League players to score more goals in all competitions than Man Utd’s Romelu Lukaku (42) are Mo Salah (64), Harry Kane (64) and Sergio Aguero (55).

• Marcus Rashford’s winning penalty was the first he has ever taken in a competitive match for Manchester United.

• PSG have lost seven of their last 12 Champions League knockout matches (W4 D1), including each of their last two at the Parc des Princes.

• Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first match in charge on December 22^nd, only Manchester City (15) have won more matches in all competitions than Man Utd (14) among teams in the top five European leagues.

• Manchester United have now scored in 21 consecutive away matches in all competitions, equalling the club record set between November 1956 and September 1957 under Sir Matt Busby.

• Mason Greenwood became the youngest player to appear for Manchester United in the Champions League, aged 17 years and 156 days, breaking the record held by Gerard Pique (17y 310d).

10:22PM

Solskjaer is amazing

Chris Smalling looks like he's really good at defending, Luke Shaw is top quality, Victor Lindelof was brilliant tonight, Scott McTominay was outstanding - pumped up, tireless, Fred was everywhere, Greenwood and Chong played in a last-16 match, Lukaku is great again.

That whole team looked awful about two months ago. Forget how good the team is now, the value of their players has been saved. Some of those players looked done a few weeks ago. Lindelof was a waste of money, Shaw was doing OK, Lukaku was benched, Pogba could have been on his way out...

What the hell was Mourinho doing? How did he have such a bad handle on the squad?

10:18PM

Rashford and Lukaku

Rashford

Lukaku

10:09PM

xG for that game

10:08PM

Peter Walton's take

Rio Ferdinand then points out that the natural position of your arms means that's exactly where they'd be when you jump. Walton says that's just what the law is!

10:05PM

Nobody seems to think it's a penalty

I'm waiting for a referee to give the rule interpretation but Owen Hargreaves sums it up quite nicely:

10:03PM

Reaction

10:01PM

Rio Ferdinand is quite happy

9:59PM

Lukaku consoling Kimbempe

Lukaku goes over to Kimpembe, who is in bits after giving away that penalty, gives him a big hug and has a word in his ear. #heartwarming

9:57PM

FULL TIME!

MAN UTD HAVE DONE IT! Marcus Rashford completes the great escape, PSG's Champions League woe continues! Absolutely incredible, I've never seen anything like it. That VAR call came from nowhere.

9:57PM

90 mins +9

Chong does a bit too much with the ball, Shaw commits a foul. PSG have everyone up but Lukaku powers the header away! AND THAT'S IT!

9:55PM

90 mins +7 - PSG 1 Man Utd 3 (3-3 on agg)

Neymar is on the touchline. Everyone's up. They're running out of time! Man Utd getting rid, just getting the ball anywhere they can! They're still playing, United have everyone back - there's no space for PSG to get a shot on goal. The ball is chipped in, Marquinho climbs all over Shaw and wants a penalty but he's fouled Shaw!

9:53PM

90 mins +5 - PSG 1 Man Utd 3 (3-3 on agg)

THIS IS SO EXCITING. Cavani is on. PSG go straight for goal drom kick iff. Di Maria gets to the box, shoots low... blocked! Corner! Chong goes flying in to a slide tackle and makes it. The ball goes wide left, Veratti moves it on, Di Maria crosses and misses everyone! Throw in!

9:51PM

INCREDIBLE!

MAN UTD HAVE WON! THAT MUST BE IT! RASHFORD WINS THE TIE WITH THE LAST KICK OF THE GAME.

9:51PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!

RASHFORD HAS DONE IT!!!!!

9:50PM

The players cannot believe it

PSG players are surrounding the referee but there's nothing they can do! The referee's had a chance to watch it and make his decision! Rashford has the ball, can he finish this off? Buffon stands up against him. Buffon was playing professionally before Rashford was even born!

9:49PM

PENALTY! VAR PENALTY!

WOWOWOWOWOWOOWOWWWW! THIS IS AMAZING! IT'S A PENALTY!

9:49PM

90 mins +2 - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

The referee is looking at the footage, he has a decision to make here! It looks like the ball definitely comes off Kimbempe's arm but is it on purpose? I don't even know the rule anymore!

9:48PM

90 mins +1 - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Oh my god. The referee is about to look at the VAR... there might be a handball penalty decision. This is amazing.

9:47PM

90 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

De Gea launches the ball, PSG win it and move up the pitch. That's a little naive but here come Man Utd now. Dalot has space to run into, takes a shot... wins a corner.

9:46PM

88 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Young comes off, Greenwood comes on. Thats a 4-2-4 now, Dalot at right-back. Solskjaer really going for it, defenders pumping the ball forward rather than keeping it short. The problem with that is PSG can just head away and kill the danger.

9:44PM

86 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Man Utd need to just nail it forward now. Five minutes left. Chong runs to overlap, Shaw ignores him and crosses to the back post... BERNAT HAS MISSED IT! But Dalot hasn't read the cross and it's out for a throw.

Mason Greenwood is getting ready to make his debut in the final five minutes of a Champions League last-16 game. Nae bad.

9:42PM

85 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Smalling's playing Mbappe onside here... he must know... he doesn't! The ball is played! MBAPPE IS CLEAN THROUGH! De Gea reads that superbly and is about 10 seconds ahead of play, standing right on the edge of his box ready to block Mbappe. He grabs the ball, Smalling puts in a challenge which takes the ball and wipes out Mbappe, Di Maria hits the post! So close.

9:40PM

83 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Chong was an essential part of my Champions League winning Aberdeen team in Football Manager 19, just in case you wanted to know how good he is. And yes I know it's a game but that's one of my greatest ever achievements.

Meanwhile, PSG aren't sitting back... this isn't what Man Utd want to happen.

9:38PM

81 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

McTominay has been superb tonight. He and Fred have been running around the pitch like dogs chasing wasps, preventing PSG from being able to play the passes they want.

Di Maria plays a corner short... and hits it down the left wing. To nobody. Shaw bounces into the player he's chasing and gives away a foul.

And now Tahith Chong is coming on! Off goes Pereira, that might be a change of shape for the final push in this game.

9:35PM

78 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Oooohhhhhh Young's got away with that one. Dalot throws the ball to Young, Young doesn't get enough of a touch on the ball and Di Maria skips away with it! Young wants a handball, PSG don't care, Mbappe is racing away! But he's gone too fast again and knocked the ball ahead of himself, out for a goal kick.

Solskjaer and Phelan are out on the sidelines directing everything here. They know exactly what they want here.

9:33PM

76 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Booking for Paredes, who comes through the back of Pereira and wipes him out. It's not a horrible challenge but it sounds worse because Pereira goes 'ARHARGHGHRAHGRHGAGHRGHARHGARHGRAGAHGRAHGRGHAAGHRAGHRHARHGARGH' as he's caught, so you think he's dying. He's actually fine.

9:32PM

75 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

It's been all PSG in this half but I suspect Man Utd are just waiting for their chance to attack in these final 15 minutes (plus added time). They only need one, there's no point bursting for that too early and leaving the defence open to counter-attacks. PSG will want to sit back and defend what they have soon.

9:30PM

72 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Neither side has attempted a shot since the 34th minute.

And that very nearly almost changes as Mbappe sparks a move to life and Meunier drills another low cross into the area. This time Young is there to defend and denies Bernat at the back post by getting in the way and clearing his lines.

9:28PM

71 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

PSG subs. Kehrer off, Paredes on. Draxler off, Meunier on.

9:27PM

70 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

United are holding their shape really well now, defending high in a 4-4-2 with Dalot moving up when needed then dropping into a 5-4-1 closer to their own box.

Draxler has indicated to the bench that his game is over. He's twanged his hamstring hitting a cross into the area and will need to come off.

9:24PM

67 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Dalot finds space wide right but his cross is blocked. Cavani encourages his teammates from the sidelines as they get ready to defend the throw, Silva punts it clear and De Gea has to come right off his line to clear.

9:23PM

65 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

I've managed to find a sneak peak at what OGS had written to Ashley Young there.

Incredible scenes.

9:20PM

62 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Veratti takes a wee knock to the face from McTominay, goes down like he's been punched by peak Tyson, then is absolutely fine a second later to square up to the Man Utd man. McTominay has been all over him tonight, never giving him space.

9:16PM

59 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

OGS is using Lukaku going down holding his ankle off the ball as a good time to share his tactical updates with Ashley Young. It looks like a 5-4-1 is the new plan and we can see the shape already.

9:14PM

GOOOOOOAAAAAAA - OFFSIDE!

Di Maria has scored! Great finish, chipped over De Gea as Mbappe flicks a pass through to him on the run but the linesman has his flag up. A little review of the replay shows that decision is entirely correct. Man Utd had a good line there.

9:13PM

56 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Pereira chases a ball wide left, turns back to pass and keep the move going, Dalot whips a cross in and Pereira starts again. Lukaku can't reach the cross swung in from the left and the move fizzles out.

Man Utd pressing high up the pitch then dropping to a deep 4-4-2 when PSG get near their box.

9:10PM

53 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Young gets a shout from De Gea and heads a cross behind to stop Bernat sneaking in behind him.  Corner.

Draxler will take it, curls in and it's hooked away before Fred wins a free-kick off Alves.

Di Maria can run at the box now! The crowd roar him on, he crosses to Alves at the back post but Lindelof sticks a foot out and clears. Good defending.

9:08PM

51 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

De Gea plays a long ball over the top, Lukaku chases and holds it up then links play. United move into the PSG half but Young overplays and gives it away, Shaw sprints to close down Mbappe quickly and give it back to De Gea.

9:06PM

48 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

PSG pass the ball around the Man Utd half, Mbappe takes on Shaw wide right but has to pass backwards, Marquinhos is linking everything in midfield. PSG start this half slowly, presumably they've been asked to take the sting out of the game. Tuchel looks furious as an offside hands Man Utd possession.

9:03PM

KICK OFF 2

Here we go. What do PSG have here?

9:01PM

Club record alert

Manchester United have scored in 21 consecutive away matches in all competitions, equalling the club record set between November 1956 and September 1957 under Sir Matt Busby.

8:57PM

Buffon mistake

I'm no goalkeeper, and this looks ridiculously hard to stop, but Buffon will regret (instantly) not pushing this one away rather than just trapping in front of his goal.

Perhaps he's not used to playing against teams with two strikers - defensive teams tend to only start one, which means you wouldn't usually have another running towards you once one has had a ping from long range.

8:53PM

Average positions

��‍♂️

PSG clearly doubling up in wide areas against Man Utd's full-backs. Man Utd's shape makes no sense because they changed it around so much. It's a 4-4-2 in defence, 4-3-3 in attack at the moment, Dalot playing right wing, Rashford wide left... but he's also playing centre-forward.

PSG have a midfield two, so do Man Utd. Like we said before the game, Solskjaer is basically bypassing the midfield, attacking wide at high speed.

8:48PM

HALF TIME

What a game. Brilliant fun. PSG are shaking like a freezing cold skeleton, xylophone noises and all, Man Utd only need one goal to take this game. All to play for! Tactical decisions to be made by both managers.

8:46PM

45 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Dalot has just won the prize for worst pass of the night, including the ball the Kehrer sent into Lukaku's path for teh goal. He runs down the right, doesn't have a safe option and so calms it down, puts out the 'calm down' hands, then chips the ball 40 yards back towards his own centre-backs, passing directly to Mbappe. Luckily for him, Mbappe is too fast for his own good and leaves the ball behind.

8:43PM

43 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Dalot runs up the right wing, faces up to Bernat and has completely done him with quick feet! There are bodies in the box, Dalot hits it low and it comes off a PSG shin! Buffon gets down low to smother and block the shot.

8:41PM

41 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

I bet Solskjaer can still play, too. As in he'd definitely score about five goals a season off the bench if he were playing now.

8:39PM

38 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Rashford is played in behind the PSG defence with one pass from a free-kick... he only has the goalie to beat! His shot is dragged wide... that's a massive chance. Oh god what a chance. But the linesman has his flag up so all is saved. Rashford's having a weird game.

8:38PM

35 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

That's the end of Bailly's game. Man Utd have subbed on natural right-back Diogo Dalot for him. He was absolutely rubbish tonight but it might even have been because of a knock he took earlier, that one with all the screaming.

Young has gone to right-back, Dalot is further forward.

8:35PM

34 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Di Maria is booked for leaving a bit on McTominay, which the Man Utd man really seems to feel. Doesn't look like there was much in it. And McTominay is down again after another foul! Veratti is getting some chat from the referee now.

8:33PM

32 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 2 (3-2 on agg)

Bailly has gone absolutely screaming after a foul on him, the referee takes his time to figure out what to do. Man Utd are playing a 4-3-3 at times now, Young further forward. That is forcing Bernat to stay further away from goal, which means PSG can't play two wingers vs Bailly. Smart move.

8:30PM

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!

BUFFON MISTAKE! Lukaku has scored!

Rashford absolutely launches a shot from distance which bounces in front of Buffon, he can't control it and pushes the ball into Lukaku's feet! He finishes from zero yards. There's still hope in United yet.

8:30PM

29 mins -  PSG 1 Man Utd 1 (3-1 on agg)

RASHFORD IS IN! Kehrer slips again (!!!) and Rashford runs down the left wing with Lukaku and Young in support but the pass is awful and goes behind for a goal kick! That's a real waste.

8:29PM

28 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 1 (3-1 on agg)

Sir Alex Ferguson is in the crowd too! He's giving management and leadership tips to Nicolas Sarkozy.

8:26PM

26 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 1 (3-1 on agg)

Mbappe floats a pass to Di Maria which just goes over Bailly's head, PSG win a corner. Thiago Silva ends up punting it out for a goal kick.

8:24PM

23 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 1 (3-1 on agg)

Mbappe has scored four goals and assisted once in six CL appearances against English sides. That's an Opta stat for you.

Young is now dropping into the right back space, which will mean one of the midfielders needs to cover his space on the right of midfield.

Di Maria tricks his way past Bailly, Bernat crosses in and Alves goes for a bicycle kick that fortunately doesn't connect with Luke Shaw's face.

8:21PM

20 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 1 (3-1 on agg)

Bernat has the entire left channel to attack! Bailly isn't tracking runners, he doesn't know his position and PSG have just been able to pass Bernat into a one v one inside the box. Bernat takes a touch, slows it down and his shot is saved.

PSG are doubling up on that left side - they have a 2 v 1 every single time they go forward against Bailly.

8:18PM

18 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 1 (3-1 on agg)

The France manager is here. That's him on the right. At the moment he's watching Eric Bailly having one of those games that makes him regret becoming a footballer, Di Maria tear Young apart and Mbappe sprinting past everything on the pitch.

Tuchel is up on the sidelines directing things now. Veratti responds, turns McTominay inside out and switches play but puts a little too much on the pass, hitting it out for a throw.

8:15PM

15 mins - PSG 1 Man Utd 1 (3-1 on agg)

Bailly is having an absolute nightmare, as though he's never played right-back. I wonder if OGS thought Young would provide a bit more cover from his right midfield role - it might not be all Bailly's fault. Di Maria is absolutely binning Young for skill and pace and has done that just now to chip to the back post. Alves is there! He wants for the ball to drop and slams a volley... or rather he tries to. Instead Alves slices the shot and knocks it over.

8:13PM

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!

Bernat sprints past a flat-footed Bailly to have a tap-in at the back post! Mbappe sets it up with a great cross after Alves' playmaking. What a start to this game!

8:12PM

12 mins - PSG 0 Man Utd 1 (2-1 on agg)

United defending deep in their 4-4-2, still forcing the play wide and making PSG think. They have some clever players though and Dani Alves is one of them, finding teammates in space with little chipped passes over the top.

And that's Mbappe in! PSG CAN SCORE!

8:09PM

9 mins - PSG 0 Man Utd 1 (2-1 on agg)

United showing PSG wide, then blocking the channel and forcing them inside, defending in a 4-5-1. PSG putting everything down that left side.

8:08PM

7 mins - PSG 0 Man Utd 1 (2-1 on agg)

PSG are on the ball now, moving it around the Man Utd half and appear to have sharpened up since that dreadful opening spell. Di Maria bursts away on the left and has Mbappe in the box! He squares the pass but it's just too fast for Mbappe to get on it.

PSG getting loads of space down the left, Bailly's being overloaded and can't deal with it.

8:05PM

4 mins - PSG 0 Man Utd 1 (2-1 on agg)

PSG are rattled already. Rashford steals the ball from Kehrer again, bursts forward and hits a ball into the box. Pereira hacks Dani Alves and he squares up to him, the referee seems firmly to believe that Man Utd are being too aggressive. They aren't.

8:04PM

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!

PSG 0 Man Utd 1 (Lukaku 3')

Kehrer turns under pressure, passes ahead of Silva, he can't beat Lukaku to the ball and Lukaku rounds the goalkeeper to finish brilliantly while sliding from a narrow angle! Unbelievable start!

8:03PM

2 mins - PSG 0 Man Utd 0

Di Maria goes rolling around the floor in agony having been cleanly and quite superbly tackled by Fred. He's the wettest player in the world. Always in pain then miraculously recovered. Steve McManaman has just realised that PSG play a back three at times - it's not a set three, they change it up and let the middle man carry it out. AND THERE'S A MISTAKE!!!! LUKAKU IS IN!

8:01PM

KICK OFF

The rain is pouring down, Man Utd's shape looks to be a 4-4-2.

7:58PM

Time for the Champions League song

7:54PM

Who are Man Utd's youngsters?

Tahith Chong - Dutch winger, left-footed, can dribble with the ball and likes to do that at high speed. Cuts in from the right wing to attack the final third.

Mason Greenwood - the next Rashford! Really quick, can play on the flanks, good movement off the ball. Is extremely highly rated and it won't be long before he's considered part of the first team, all going to plan.

Angel Gomes - highly skilful, tricky, creative attacking midfielder. Does mad things with the ball, hugely technically gifted. And here's one from the archives: at the age of 16 years and 263 days old, he became the youngest player to play for Manchester United since Duncan Edwards in 1953.

James Garner - hard working midfielder, good touch, likes to pass. He's like a mini-Carrick.

7:47PM

OGS prepared to use his young bench if needed

7:43PM

The power of Mbappe

7:40PM

Images from the buildup

7:32PM

Thomas Tuchel is very nice

PSG lead Ligue 1 by 17 points and the win over Man Utd a couple of weeks felt like a big step up. How did Tuchel manage it?

How?

Then Tuchel invites Rio Ferdinand to come and watch PSG train. Great guy.

7:24PM

Big Man Utd fan?

Then you should probably sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter, written by James Ducker.

James has all the inside knowledge and writes lovely words. All you have to do is register for the site to get access!

6:51PM

Starting lineups

Man Utd

De Gea, Young, Bailly, Smalling, Lindelof, Shaw, McTominay, Fred, Pereira, Rashford, Lukaku

PSG

Buffon, Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Verratti, Marquinhos, Dani Alves, Draxler, Di María, Mbappe

Would you look at that? Man Utd have gone with a three centre-back formation, something I imagine will look most like a 3-3-2-2 with the wing-backs pushing high up the pitch and McTominay anchoring everything behind Pereira and Fred. It's a very offensive lineup - don't let the CBs fool you!

United quite clearly want to get the ball forward quickly and not waste their time passing through the midfield. Feels a little risky - these European games are usually won and lost in midfield and United are trying to score goals without bodies in the centre.

6:37PM

Man Utd are going hard with the 'believe' schtick

This could work in a couple of different ways.

1. Man Utd players are inspired and play the game of their season

2. It heaps pressure on them. PSG can burst the bubble with an early goal or by shutting them out for the first 30 minutes to make the game nice and boring.

6:34PM

Gary Lineker throwing stats bombs all over the place

5:29PM

A big European night

Hello and welcome to our liveblog for Man Utd's attempt at pulling off a dramatic turnaround and securing passage to the quarter-finals of the Champions League by scoring three and conceding none against a very talented, hugely determined PSG. Not easy.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes things happen and even though he only has about five players left due to an injury crisis at exactly the wrong time in the season, there's a belief at Man Utd that maybe - just maybe! - they have a chance.

Unlike Lloyd Christmas, those hopes are based in reality - it's only two goals after all and PSG have been here before. Remember Barcelona? How could anyone forget!

The previous meeting between these two ended with a 2-0 win for the French side, with Kylian Mbappe causing a heap of trouble behind a balanced, organised looking midfield and cleverly orchestrated team shape. Depending on how you look at it, Thomas Tuchel had the advantage of Neymar and Edinson Cavani being injured and was able to put out a more solid, hardworking team, or pulled off a big win with a weaker team.

With Mbappe up front, PSG played a 4-3-3 which shifted to a 5-4-1 in defence and a 4-2-3-1 at other times. With Neymar left and Cavani central, they are a different team - dangerous on the counter-attack but entirely vulnerable to the counter-attack themselves, lapsing defensively in the wide areas that Mbappe and Neymar operate in.

Man Utd are missing Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sánchez, Nemanja Matic, and Anthony Martial through injury for this one which puts Solksjaer in quite the pickle. Perhaps worse than the second goal that United conceded was Paul Pogba's clumsy red card, a silly moment which has robbed United of their player most likely to score (Pogba has the 3rd highest xG of any player in the Premier League this season) and their primary creative source.

Who will step up? Can Man Utd find a way to beat PSG in their home stadium? Could this be a fantastic Champions League night we'll remember always? Or will PSG have learned from the past and use experience and tactical nous to see their way through?

Lots of questions and the answers will start coming at ya when the referee blows his first whistle. Contenders, READY!