MATCHDAY: Man United plays in League Cup; CL playoffs start

Posted September 21, 2020 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears dejected during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Richard Heathcote/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

A look at what's happening around European soccer on Tuesday:

ENGLAND

After opening its Premier League campaign with a surprise home loss, Manchester United looks to get its season back on track with a win at second-tier Luton in the third round of the English League Cup. United's players were well off the pace in losing to Crystal Palace 3-1 and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must decide whether to give his first-choice team another run out to get them match sharp. Tottenham is scheduled to play Leyton Orient, although the fourth-tier hosts say 'œa number'ť of their first-team players have tested positive for coronavirus and its home stadium has been temporarily closed. Tottenham is likely to field its reserves if the game goes ahead, with the senior players in Europa League action in Macedonia on Thursday. West Bromwich Albion and West Ham are the other Premier League teams playing, at Brentford and Hull, respectively.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The playoff round begins with Maccabi Tel-Aviv missing seven players because of positive COVID-19 tests for the first leg of its match against Salzburg. 'œWe have to adapt to the reality,'ť Maccabi coach Giorgios Donis said. "I am not here to find excuses - it happens everywhere in the world." Midtjylland travels to Slavia Prague and Krasnodar plays PAOK Thessaloniki in the other games, with the playoff round reverting to traditional two-leg, home-and-away series. All three rounds so far in Champions League qualifying have been single-leg games in a congested schedule for the delayed season.

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Manchester United's Paul Pogba reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. (Martin Rickett /Pool via AP) The Associated Press

Tottenham's Son Heung-min smiles at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur at St. Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (Andrew Boyers/Pool via AP) The Associated Press

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