Man United appeal successfully as Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s Champions League suspension is REDUCED to one game… making him available for Atalanta
- Defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka was given a straight red card against Young Boys
- But upon appeal his two-match European ban has been reduced to just one
- Wan-Bissaka has already missed Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Villarreal
- It means the right-back will be available for United’s next game against Atalanta
Manchester United’s defensive crisis has been eased slightly after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s two-match suspension in the Champions League was reduced to one following a successful appeal.
The right-back’s initial punishment came following a late lunge on Young Boys’ Christopher Martins Pereira, leading to him being given a straight red card for dangerous play.
It led to the Red Devils’ losing in 2-1 in Switzerland on the opening night of the group stage having taken a 1-0 lead through a Cristiano Ronaldo effort.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s red card against Young Boys has seen a two-match ban reduced to one
The defender was issued a straight red card just 30 minutes into the Champions League game
Solskjaer outlined his disappointment with the decision and maintained that United would ‘of course’ be appeal.
He outlined that United would be armed with a prime example as to why the decision shouldn’t be applied, and cited the midfielder of rivals Man City Kevin De Bruyne as a reason why.
During another Champions League tie with PSG, De Bruyne went in late on Idrissa Gueye and left the midfielder writhing on the ground in pain, only to then receive a yellow card.
Kevin De Bruyne’s lunge on Idrissa Gueye, which got only a yellow, was used as an example
With Wan-Bissaka having already missed United’s next match in the competition – a 2-1 victory over Villarreal – it means he will be available for their third game against Atalanta on Wednesday.
The news will come as a boost for United boss Solskjaer who has a defensive crisis to attend to following the international break.
He is already without captain and centre-back Harry Maguire who although back in light training is yet to link up with the first-team again having limped off last month with a calf injury in the defeat by Aston Villa.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have his defensive crisis slightly eased by Wan-Bissaka’s return
But his centre-back partner Raphael Varane is also out of contention having picked up a knock in France’s Nations League final victory over Spain.
United travel to Leicester City on Saturday and are set to field a centre-back pairing of Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof as their back-up options.
Phil Jones is another alternative for Solskjaer, but the former England defender has only just returned from 18 months of injury set-backs and is unlikely to be thrusted straight back into the first team.
United face a tricky round of fixtures following the international break, with the trip to the King Power Stadium followed by the European tie at home to Atalanta, an Old Trafford clash with bitter rivals Liverpool and a trip to Tottenham Hotspur.
