Football
ESPN staff 7y

Marcus Rashford starts for Man United vs. Ajax; Smalling, Fellaini both return

Marcus Rashford leads the line for Manchester United in their Europa League final against Ajax, while Chris Smalling and Marouane Fellaini have both shaken off injuries to make the starting lineup.

Rashford, who scored key goals in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the competition, was rested for United's final game of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace on Sunday but returns to the team for Wednesday's match in Stockholm.

Smalling and Fellaini also missed the 2-0 victory over Palace through respective toe and hamstring injuries but United manager Jose Mourinho has deemed them fit enough to start against Ajax.

Juan Mata, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ander Herrera, Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind, Antonio Valencia and Sergio Romero also come into the team after being left out against Palace.

Paul Pogba is the only player to keep his place among Mourinho's 10 changes, while Eric Bailly misses out through suspension.

Valencia captains United, who can quality for next season's Champions League and win a second major trophy of the season -- after the EFL Cup -- with victory over Ajax.

Kasper Dolberg, who has 22 goals to his name this season, starts up front for Ajax, with Chelsea loanee Bertrand Traore also playing in attack.

Matthijs de Ligt becomes the youngest player to play in a major European final at the age of 17 years and 285 days, while Justin Kluivert, son of former Ajax striker Patrick, is on the bench.

Ajax's starting XI is the youngest ever in a major European final at an average age of 22 years and 282 days.

Manchester United XI: Romero, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Herrera, Fellaini, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford

Ajax XI: Onana, Veltman, Sanchez, De Ligt, Riedewald, Schone, Klaassen, Ziyech, Traore, Dolberg, Younes

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