Manchester United's Europa League journey continues at Russian side Rostov on Thursday
Here, we take a closer look at the side looking to scupper United's hopes of progressing from the round of 16.
European record
Rostov were formed in 1930 but only made their continental debut in 1999, bowing out in the Intertoto Cup semi-finals to Juventus 9-1 on aggregate. The side, then known as Rostselmash, also played in the following season's Intertoto Cup and made their Europa League debut in 2014-15. Their fourth season in Europe has been memorable, though. Rostov's maiden Champions League campaign ended with an admirable third-placed finish in a group from which Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich advanced. The Russian side overcame Anderlecht and Ajax to reach Group D, where they earned two draws against PSV Eindhovern and secured an impressive 3-2 home win over Bayern.
Form
Having dropped into the Europa League, Rostov made light work of Sparta Prague. The Czech side qualified from a group that saw much-fancied Inter Milan and Southampton bow out, only to succumb to a 5-1 aggregate loss. The Zholto-Sinie - the Yellow-Blues - have shown few signs of rust from their winter break. The Russian Premier League campaign resumed at the weekend and Rostov thrashed bottom-placed Tom Tomsk 6-0.
Key man
Rostov are a side built around good players rather than star names, including the likes of veteran Spanish defender Cesar Navas, Christian Noboa - an Ecuador team-mate of Antonio Valencia - and tough-tackling Miha Mevlja. The closest the Russian side have to a star is Sardar Azmoun, dubbed the 'Iranian Messi' by some. A quick-thinking player, the 22-year-old is a fine finisher and has reportedly attracted admiring advances from Liverpool.
Did you know?
Former Arsenal, Blackburn and Tottenham winger David Bentley played for Rostov, joining them on loan in September 2012. The now-retired 32-year-old was farmed out by Spurs and made seven appearances for the club. Another Englishman, Paul Ashworth, was Rostov's sports director in 2005 and also served as interim coach for two matches.
Source: PA
