Manchester United vs Fulham – Match preview and team news

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The Football Faithful

·2 March 2025

Manchester United vs Fulham – Match preview and team news

Manchester United welcome Fulham to Old Trafford this afternoon in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

In the previous round, the Red Devils knocked out Leicester City courtesy of a stoppage-time header from Harry Maguire.

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Patrick Dorgu is banned for today’s tie after he was shown a straight red card against Ipswich in midweek. Aside from the suspended Dane, Ruben Amorim has the same players at his disposal as he did on Wednesday.

Let's progress, Reds 💪 #MUFC || #FACup
– Sunday, 2 March 2025

Alejandro Garnacho has shaken off a knock but the likes of Toby Collyer, Altay Bayindir, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw remain sidelined. Lisandro Martinez was the match-winner in the last encounter with Fulham but the Argentine won’t play a part today as he is in the early stages of recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

A Rodrigo Muniz brace against Wigan helped the Cottagers book their spot in the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Marco Silva has confirmed that Kenny Tete, Reiss Nelson and Harry Wilson won’t travel to Manchester due to injury. Emile Smith Rowe participated in training after missing the midweek action.

Manchester United vs Fulham – Match preview and team news

Form

Manchester United: LWLDW

United succeeded in the face of adversity in beating a struggling Ipswich 3-2 during the week.

While leading 2-1, January signing Patrick Dorgu was given his marching orders for a reckless challenge on Omari Hutchinson.

Ipswich equalised just before the break, but the 10-player hosts reclaimed the lead through Harry Maguire and controlled proceedings to pick up an important win.

That result left the Red Devils in 14th position and with very little to compete for. Due to the shortcomings in the Premier League, this week is hugely significant for the complexion of their season.

After today’s fifth-round cup clash, United travel to Real Sociedad for the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie. A trophy would mitigate their Premier League woes and also secure qualification for European football next season.

Fulham: WWWLW

Fulham enter today’s match off the back of a positive period of form.

The Cottagers have triumphed in four of their last five matches and coincidentally have won all of those games 2-1.

Marco Silva’s side went within six points of third place in midweek by dispatching Wolves at Molineux.

Ryan Sessegnon recorded his first goal since returning to Fulham inside the opening minute before Rodrigo Muniz netted the winner.

Fulham last made the quarter-finals of the competition in 2023, when they were controversially eliminated by Manchester United. That result denied their passage through to Wembley. Revenge is on the cards today in their pursuit of making the last eight.

Last Meeting

Fulham 0-1 Manchester United, Premier League, 26th January 2025

Manchester United completed a league double over Fulham with a narrow victory back in January.

A cagey affair at Craven Cottage yielded very little presentable opportunities. The hosts had the lion’s share of the chances in the first half. Alex Iwobi and Raul Jimenez both tried their luck from distance but neither effort troubled Andre Onana.

Ruben Amorim’s side ramped up the intensity after the interval and started to impose themselves on the opposition. Bruno Fernandes’ disguised free-kick rippled the side netting with Bernd Leno scampering across his goal.

The deadlock was broken with a quarter of an hour remaining and it came from an unfamiliar source.

Lisandro Martinez picked up the ball on the edge of the box before unleashing an effort. The shot took a wicked deflection of Sasa Lukic and looped over the outstretched hand of Leno.

Toby Collyer then heroically cleared a Joachim Andersen header off the line to preserve the lead. Rodrigo Muniz had another possibility to level the score late on but the Brazilian lashed his strike over the crossbar.

Manchester United held on to their clean sheet to collect a valuable three points.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Yoro, Dalot; Ugarte, Casemiro; Fernandes, Hojlund, Zirkzee

Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Traore, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz.

Who is the referee?

Stuart Attwell will be the match official. Adrian Holmes and Simon Long will assist him while Darren Bond will be the fourth official. The VAR is Thomas Bramall.