Aaron Wan-Bissaka Champions League ban reduced by UEFA

Premier League side Manchester United will be able to call on their number one right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka for next week’s Champions League clash with Atalanta at Old Trafford.

Wan-Bissaka was dismissed for a clumsy challenge in the first half of September’s 2-1 defeat to Young Boys and was subsequently handed a two-game ban by UEFA after the tackle was deemed to be ‘rough play’.

The former Crystal Palace man subsequently missed the second Champions League outing of the campaign, as United came from behind to beat Villarreal 2-1 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s late strike

Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off in the first half in the 2-1 September defeat to Young Boys and was subsequently handed a two-match ban by UEFA which has since been reduced to one after a successful appeal by Manchester United. | PHOTO: Courtesy |

However, United has been successful in appealing the length of the ban, which was reduced from two games to one.

As such, the 23-year-old, who has started every Premier League game this season will be available to face Serie A side, Atalanta, at Old Trafford next Wednesday.

A UEFA statement read: “The appeal lodged by Manchester United has been upheld. Consequently, the UEFA Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body’s decision of September 23, 2021, is amended as follows:

“To suspend Manchester United player, Mr. Aaron Wan‐Bissaka, for the next one (1) UEFA club competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible, for rough play.”

The news will come as a huge relief to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who knows that his side is in need of a victory at Old Trafford if they are to avoid falling further behind than they already are.

United find themselves third in Champions League Group F, below second-placed Young Boys on goals conceded and trailing leaders Atalanta by a point, so defeat against the Italian side could well be fatal to United’s hopes of finishing top of the group. The manager is also having fresh memories of last season when his side failed to qualify from the Champions League group stages.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has played every Premier League match for Manchester United this season. UEFA has reduced his Champions League ban making him available for selection against Atalanta on Wednesday. | PHOTO: Courtesy |

The match hasn’t been made any easier by the enforced absences of center-back duo Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane. Maguire picked up a calf injury before the international break, while the French man Varane damaged his groin during his time with France.

With Solskjaer forced to play a second-choice defensive pairing, he will be relieved to have his preferred right-back available to try and add some extra composure.

Atalanta was Serie A’s top-scoring team last season, bagging 90 goals across their 38 games, but that attacking potency has been hard to come by this season. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side finds themselves ninth in Serie A table, with their return of ten goals being bettered by no fewer than eight sides.

Manchester United will however have a tough one today as they travel to Leicester in the Premier League. Atalanta on their side travels to Empoli tomorrow before making the trip to Manchester.