Will Juan Mata have an immediate impact on  Manchester United against a half Norwegian Cardiff team? The match of the week will show!

Manchester United v Cardiff City
Barclays Premier League Round 23
Old Trafford
18-01-2013 @ 19.45







How are the two teams form?

Last years Champions are out of the FA Cup, and after last week's penalty mayhem against Sunderland, the Premier League and the Champions League is all there is left for the Red Devils. In the league United are currently 7th with five points to Everton on the 6th.

Cardiff are last in the table with eighteen points before the match at Old Trafford. Manchester United legend, and new manager at Cardiff, Ole Gunnar Solskjær is still missing his first win with the Blues, and is hoping his three new Norwegian players can make a difference against Manchester. 

What are the probable lineups?

Nemanja Vidic is unavailable against Cardiff due to the red card he received against Chelsea on the 19th January. Furthermore, Moyes will be without Marouane Fellaini, Nani, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie due to injuries. Both Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand are doubtful for the match. For Cardiff, Andrew Taylor is out with a calf injury.

De Gea

Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Evra

Fletcher - Jones

Valencia - Mata - Januzaj

Welbeck
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Campbell

Noone - Mutch - Gunnarsson

Whittingham - Medel

McNaughton - Turner - Caulker - Théophile-Catherine

Marshall

What to expect from this match?

Manchester United goes into this match against a Cardiff struggling to with the hard competition in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see what effect Juan Mata will have on the United team, and he will do his best to show Mourinho that he made a mistake selling him. At the moment Cardiff is working on signing Zaha and Fabio from United, but it is very unlikely to go through before the match. Should it go through the two players are unlikely to be ineligible for the squad. However, we might get a view of the new Norwegian talents in Cardiff. As I said, United are the favorites at Old Trafford, but given their current form I could see this match end in a goalless draw.

What are the odds?

The best odds on a Manchester United victory comes from Ladbrokes with a 2/7 bet while a draw gives 5 at Bet365. Cardiff gives a stunning 15 back at Bet365 as well. If you think Mata will score in his debut match, Betvictor offers a 7 bet.