DUBAI: Cristiano Ronaldo will look to push Manchester United closer to the knockout stage by helping the English team beat Omonia Nicosia for the second time in a week.
With Anthony Martial injured once again, Ronaldo should start for United at Old Trafford and is pressing a case to get more minutes in the Premier League after scoring the winner against Everton on Sunday for his first open-play goal of the season.
The Portugal forward has been marginalized since the hiring of manager Erik ten Hag, who looks to want more mobility and pressing from his strikers, meaning Ronaldo has mostly been used in Europe so far this season.
United had to come from behind to beat Omonia 2-1 last week to move to six points, three behind Real Sociedad. Sociedad, which host Sheriff Tiraspol, is one of four teams to have opened with three straight wins while Arsenal have won two from two, with their other match having been postponed.
Of those with 100 percent records, Real Betis host Roma, German team Freiburg visit Nantes and Belgian club Union St. Gilloise host Braga.
Arsenal, the Premier League leader, visit Bodø/Glimt in Norway.
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
West Ham are eyeing another deep run in continental competition after reaching the Europa League semifinals last season, and can secure qualification from their group with two games to spare if they beat second-place Anderlecht.
West Ham winger Maxwel Cornet remains out with a calf strain and forward Michail Antonio has missed training with a cold. Elsewhere, Villarreal have won all three of their games so far and can extend that perfect start away at Austria Vienna, the last-place team in their group.
Fiorentina’s uneven start has left the Italian team three points behind group leader Istanbul Başakşehir. Next up for Fiorentina is a game at home to Scottish side Hearts. In Group D, Cologne face a potentially tricky away visit to Partizan Belgrade, while Nice plays Czech club Slovácko.
