How Manchester United should line up vs Bayern Munich in must-win Champions League fixture

It's simple. Manchester United must beat Bayern Munich to have any hope of remaining in the Champions League and even then, it might not be enough.

United are rooted to the bottom of Group A after three defeats in five matches, know they must defeat table-toppers Bayern and hope Copenhagen and Galatasaray draw in the other match.

In terms of early team news, Victor Lindelof could return after he came off at halftime in the win against Chelsea last week and was unavailable for the 3-0 home humbling by Bournemouth. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford both missed training on Monday.

Here is how MEN writers think they should line up:

Samuel Luckhurst

Raphael Varane is a four-time Champions League winner and United need his expertise on a night as pivotal as this one. Aaron Wan-Bissaka merits a recall after Diogo Dalot's blunt attacking play of late. Dalot also struggled against Bayern's wingers in Munich.

Rasmus Hojlund had to be a certain starter even if Anthony Martial was well. Midfield-wise, United run the risk of leaving themselves too open against Bayern if they go without an outright defensive midfielder but Sofyan Amrabat could not shield the defence so United might as well recall Kobbie Mainoo.

Tyrone Marshall

Ten Hag has put some of United's inconsistencies this season down to not being able to pick a settled XI, so this is a chance to change that. The back four can stay the same for starters. Reguilon was good against Chelsea and less good against Bournemouth, but he offers an attacking threat badly needed. Varane should start but it's reached the point of being pointless to even put him in this team as we know he won't start.

Amrabat's experience trumps Mainoo's youthfulness in this game, with the latter an