Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Europa League between Rostov and Manchester United.

After getting past Zorya Luhansk and Fenerbahce in the group stages, Jose Mourinho would have hoped that the club's long trips were over for the season but that has not turned out to be the case. A long trip to Russia - which was undertaken on Tuesday afternoon - and after concerns over the pitch, we are less than an hour away from seeing whether they can record another victory after a multiple-hour journey.

After their setback against Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend, it's fair to say that Mourinho will be placing more priority on this competition. It appears that they are going to be up against it to earn a place in the Champions League with a top-four finish and given the rewards for winning the Europa League, expect his squad to have been told of the importance of this fixture.

That said, Mourinho has opted to ring the changes. How many has he made? Let's find out...

ROSTOV XI: Medvedev, Kalachev, Mevlja, Navas, Granat, Kudryashov, Noboa, Erokhin, Gatskan, Poloz, Bukharov

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: Romero, Young, Jones, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Pogba, Fellaini, Herrera, Mkhitaryan, Ibrahimovic

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: De Gea, Valencia, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rashford

In answer to that earlier question, the answer is seven. The most notable alteration sees Henrikh Mhkitaryan make his return from a hamstring injury, while Ander Herrera comes back into the starting lineup with Wayne Rooney remaining in England. Sergio Romero is preferred to David de Gea, while Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini are included. The changes mean it's a strong bench, with Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford all offering options in the final third.

Rostov boss Ivan Daniliants is without first-choice goalkeeper Soslan Dzhanayev but he has no such problems with the rest of his team. Russian international Dmitry Poloz is the club's top goalscorer with 11 goals this season, but Sardar Azmoun - who has nine goals to his name - doesn't feature.

It goes without saying that United and Rostov have not faced each other in a competitive match, but how have United fared against Russian opposition? The answer to that is not great. In nine matches, they have claimed just two wins, with six draws being recorded. They played two matches against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League last season - winning 1-0 and drawing 1-1 - with their sole defeat coming to Zenit St Petersburg in the 2008 Super Cup final.

United have made seven alterations this season but they include two of the players who have played the most minutes this season. They go by the name of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the fact that they remain in the starting lineup shows their importance to the side. There is obviously a side-story involving Ibrahimovic but Pogba has been poor of late, yet he is still in the team. He has played a total of 2250 minutes this season in the Premier League and aside from Ibrahimovic and Antonio Valencia, that's over 400 minutes more than any of his teammates. You have to wonder whether he would have benefited from a rest from this game.

Going back to Ibrahimovic and his inclusion is a result of his sending off against Bournemouth at the weekend. The Swede faces a three-match suspension from domestic action, which is a blow to Mourinho, but it means he doesn't have to think twice about involving him in Europe. He probably deserves his place in the team anyway - he netted a hat-trick against Saint-Etienne in the previous round and has scored a total of five goals in this competition this season.

United have been without Mkhitaryan since the second leg against Saint-Etienne and while he wasn't missed against Southampton in the EFL Cup final, he could have aided his team's cause against Bournemouth at the weekend. They were still able to create chances but they missed the clinical touch which the Armenian could have provided. It was thought that he may be kept in reserve for the FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea but Mourinho has opted to throw him in at the first opportunity. Only time will tell whether it's the right call.

You are probably not aware of how Rostov are faring in the Russian Premier League so let me bring you up to speed. After 18 games, they sit in seventh position after recording eight victories and four draws. It seems unlikely that they will be able to challenge the top two - who are Spartak Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg - but they are only five points off third. In their most recent game on Friday, they ran out 6-0 winners at Tom Tomsk. Probably fair to say that they won't be short of confidence.

They have also hit the headlines this season for their performances at their home ground in Europe. Not only have they defeated Bayern Munich in the Champions League, they thrashed Sparta Prague in the previous round of this competition. Sparta qualified from a group involving Southampton and Inter Milan so they were certainly no pushovers.

PREDICTION! United are the favourites but we most certainly don't think that they will have it their own way tonight. We think Rostov will have most of the ball and force United to play on the break but that said, we are going to predict a 2-1 win with Ibrahimovic getting on the scoresheet.

The two teams are making their way out onto the iffy pitch in Russia. You can understand Mourinho's concerns and it's probably why he has selected such a physical side. There's not going to be much play on the deck.

Rostov gets us underway.

It's been a fast start from both sides but United should probably be ahead. After a Young cross wasn't dealt with, Mkhitaryan teed up Pogba who should net from 12 yards but he completely scuffs his effort and Rostov survive.

The home side's supporters are doing their best to create an intimidating atmosphere for United but the English team look bright in these early stages. Pogba looks eager to impress.

You can certainly see why Mourinho was so agitated over the pitch. The grass has worn away on a number of areas and the ball isn't reacting as it should. It's all about adapting to it in these opening minutes. United are doing a good job so far.

We touched upon the fact that United could take the physical approach to this game and that's exactly what they are doing. Fellaini is getting into the penalty area every time United have the ball in a wide position and Rostov are coming off second best so far. Still no more opportunities, however.

Romero had to deal with a speculative strike in the first minute but I don't think he has handled the ball since. United are doing well to keep the home team's attacking players away from the penalty area.

SUBSTITUTION! This is a blow for Rostov. Denis Terentyev has come on for Granat, who picked up an injury after a collision with Mkhitaryan.

BOOKING! There's not much in this but Mhkitaryan goes into the book for the use of an arm. In this case, it looks harsh but it's not the first time he has put himself about in this fashion.

BOOKING! This is starting to heat up. Gatcan, the Rostov skipper, is booked for a strong challenge on Ibrahimovic. He is now suspended for the second leg. Still no more chances. It's been very poor from both sides in the final third.

Based on this performance, we are struggling to see how Rostov managed three goals against Bayern Munich and four against Sparta Prague. We are closing in on 30 minutes in this match and we have seen nothing of them in the final third

I'm starting to sound as though I am repeating myself but there's very little going on. United are starting to try to play the ball on the deck in the Rostov half but they are either slipping or seeing their passes bobble and a teammate failing to control the ball.

How big a goal could this be? Fellaini plays the ball to Ibrahimovic, who then reaches the byline before crossing for Mkhitaryan and he has the simple task of converting from six yards out. United lead, have the away goal and this tie is there for the taking now.

Since conceding, Rostov have started to show much more ambition - it's as if they were targeting a goalless draw from this game. Romero has made a couple of easy saves while a free kick from a threatening position went straight to Romero.

Pogba is being given much more freedom by Mourinho tonight. He is using his strength to good effect in holding off a number of Rostov players at the same time before earning a free kick. He's done that a few times.

BOOKING! Bukharov becomes the second Rostov man to be cautioned after a crude tackle on Rojo.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes in Russia and United deservedly lead thanks to that close-range effort from Mkhitaryan. They haven't been at their best but they haven't needed to be. Rostov have been poor and only showed any attacking threat once they have gone a goal down. Expect a change in tactics at the break.

The two teams are making their way back out. It looks like Rostov are keeping the same XI.

United get us back underway.

CHANCE! This shot is from almost 25 yards out but Ibrahimovic would have expected to hit the target. He cut inside onto his right foot and he looked favourite to test the goalkeeper but his effort went skywards.

Rostov may have kept the same team out from the first half but they are definitely showing a greater urgency to get forward. They have found themselves in a number of situations in and around the penalty area but they are yet to test Romero.

SHOT! A fine move from United ends with Blind's pass being dummied by Ibrahimovic in order for it to find Young. However, his first-time effort is sent a yard or two wide of the post.

Out of nowhere, Rostov are level and it's a brilliant goal. A floated pass catches the United defence out and Bukharov is able to chest the ball down and volley past Romero from around 12 yards in one movement. It's very much game on. Space is starting to open up at both ends of the pitch.

This is developing into a much more entertaining contest. It was pretty dire in the first half but we now have two teams who are prepared to look for a goal rather than being concerned with conceding.

BOOKING! This is one of the worst refereeing decisions I have ever seen. Noboa tackled Herrera, even though the United midfielder handled the ball, but after Herrera went down acting injured, because he had barely kicked the Rostov's players boot, Noboa was booked!

It's going to be interesting to see how Mourinho works his substitutions. Most of his defensive-minded players are already on the pitch. I'd expect Carrick to be introduced at some stage. United need someone to calm down proceedings.

CHANCE! United are all over the place at the back now. Yerokhin managed to run onto a pass from a teammate and he has the chance to test Romero. Instead, his toe-bunter went away from goal.

CHANCE! A corner from the left finds the head of Fellaini, but his header is into the ground and straight at the goalkeeper.

SUBSTITUTION! That's the end of Mkhitaryan's evening. He is replaced by Anthony Martial.

We are into the final 20 minutes in Russia and United remain second best, just. It's encouraging to see Mourinho introduce the pace of Martial but I'm sure he would have no problem in taking a 1-1 draw.

BOOKING! I've no idea why but Kalachev has gone into the book - the fourth time a Rostov man has been cautioned this evening. He will also miss the second leg.

SUBSTITUTION! The Iranian Messi is on the pitch. Sardar Azmoun has replaced Bukharov.

BOOKING! Herrera clips Poloz near the Rostov penalty area and it's another booking. The United midfielder probably deserved one for getting Nodoa booked earlier.

Clear-cut chances are few and far between now. There is ambition from both teams but they aren't putting together the kind of attacks which are going to trouble the respective defences.

Azmoun thinks he is about turn clear of the United defender but Rojo makes an excellent challenge to prevent him from moving into a shooting position.

SHOT! Gatcan tries his luck with a volley from 25 yards but it is straight at Romero. Worth a go at this stage of the match.

There will be three minutes of added-on time. Rostov have a free kick on the flank.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Mourinho makes a late double change with Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick coming on for Blind and Herrera.

The full-time whistle goes in Russia and United have held on to secure a 1-1 draw. Mkhitaryan's away goal could prove crucial next week and it's effectively job done for Jose Mourinho's men. They would have been wary of their hosts - who defeated Bayern Munich earlier this season - but they were unable to repeat the heroics from that occasion.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.