Manchester United centre backs Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez will face their biggest test yet when they line up against Manchester City and Premier League goal machine Erling Haaland this weekend.
The Red Devils take on the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium in Sunday’s Manchester derby looking for their fifth consecutive victory in the top flight, but shutting out the Premier League’s top goalscorer will be key in standing any chance of securing victory.
And that task lands at the feet of Varane and Martinez, who have formed a solid centre-back pairing so far this season, although the strength of their partnership will really be put to the test when they line up against the league’s best striker.
Erik ten Hag’s side have shown significant improvement in the games since their season opening defeats against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, where Martinez came under plenty of scrutiny as United conceded six goals in those two defeats.
But following Varane’s introduction into central defence in place of club captain Harry Maguire, things have looked more sturdy and, alongside Martinez, the pair have since kept three clean sheets in the following five fixtures they have started together in all competitions.
United paid just shy of £100million for the pair over the past 12 months. Varane saw his first campaign in the north west blighted by injury as he made 26 starts across all competitions last season, while Martinez’s height of 5ft 9in raised plenty of questions over his transfer.
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However, the pair are beginning to silence their critics following impressive displays in victories over Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester City, Arsenal and FC Sheriff Tiraspol. In that time, the likes of Roberto Firmino, Jamie Vardy and Gabriel Jesus have been kept at bay.
Next up, however, is none other than Haaland. The Norwegian has already plundered 14 goals in 10 appearances for Man City across all competitions this season, including back-to-back hat tricks in the Premier League, and is on course to break more records against United on Sunday.
But Varane and Martinez will look to end his remarkable form by showcasing just what they are made of when they go head-to-head with the 22-year-old. Doing so individually may be too much of a challenge, but achieving that feat together is realistic.
Although the Man City striker is not renowned for scoring the majority of his goals with his head, his 6ft 5in frame is set to be a real test of physicality for United’s centre backs. However, the 6ft 3in Varane has the obvious height advantage ahead of Martinez, and will look to use this to his advantage.
But what the 5ft 9in Martinez lacks in height, he more than makes up for in aggression and intensity, which he will need to use to the fullest by preventing Haaland from getting the better of him both on and off the ball.
While the Eredivisie does not provide the same physical demands as the Premier League, there are still a whole host of strikers who are bigger and more physical than Martinez. That didn’t stop him from helping Ajax claim the title, however, while winning the club’s Player of the Year award speaks for itself.
Ten Hag wants to play an attractive style of football and believes Martinez is the perfect ball-playing centre back to help achieve this. Keeping the ball on the ground will be important to remember for both him and Varane, while one-on-one situations with the 22-year-old can also be dealt with.
Upon Martinez’s arrival at United this summer, many laughed at the thought of him coming up against Haaland when the two sides met this month. What many don’t realise, however, is that the Argentine has previous experience of facing the Norwegian.
Martinez was in the Ajax team that beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a UEFA Champions League group stage match in Amsterdam last season, and succeeded in shutting Haaland out. On that day, the centre back registered four tackles and four interceptions ( whoscored.com ).
As for Varane, the Frenchman is used to playing against strikers of the highest level, having won 18 trophies during a 10-year spell with Real Madrid that included three La Liga titles and four Champions League wins. He was also at the heart of the French side that won the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
With Varane’s physicality and experience of playing against some of the world’s best strikers, coupled with Martinez’s aggression, intensity and ability on the ball in defence, the pair have begun to form a strong partnership at Old Trafford and can be full of confidence.
Unfortunately for them, Haaland is unfazed by anything that stands in front of him and will take on anyone who dares to try and stop him, but should United’s centre backs continue their good form and combine their best attributes, they stand a good chance of stopping the 22-year-old.
