21/11/2011 02:30 , Mark Froggatt
United welcome Benfica to OT knowing a win will seal progress to the UEFA Champions League last 16...
Form guide
United recorded a fifth consecutive win and clean sheet on Saturday with a well deserved victory over Swansea City in the Barclays Premier League, adding to earlier triumphs against Aldershot, Everton, Otelul Galati and Sunderland. Another three points against Benfica would guarantee the Reds safe passage through to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, though the Portuguese giants know a similar result would seal their own qualification. Impressively, the Leões are unbeaten in all competitions this season and have won 13 out of 20 games.
Ins and out
Sir Alex Ferguson is without Tom Cleverley (ankle) and Michael Owen (hamstring) who have both been ruled out until Christmas, while captain Nemanja Vidic is suspended following his straight red card against Otelul Galati in Bucharest. Danny Welbeck (hamstring), Chris Smalling (foot) and Ashley Young (toe) are all in contention, as is Wayne Rooney, despite the striker sitting out Monday's training. Galati are without Enzo Perez (knee) and should be missing Javier Saviola (knee) and Nemanja Matić (foot), however Javi García has recovered from a dead leg and is likely to feature.
Last meeting
Ryan Giggs earned United a well deserved draw in a difficult Group C opener in Lisbon, firing home from 20 yards to cancel out Oscar Cardozo’s similarly impressive strike at the Estádio da Luz. The Welshman’s goal extends his record as the competition’s oldest scorer to 37 years and 289 days.
Top man
In contrast to his diminutive figure, Nicolas Gaitán is a powerful weapon in Benfica’s attacking arsenal and is definitely a man to watch. Although naturally a centre-midfielder, the former Boca Juniors man is regularly deployed on the left of a three-pronged attack, adopting the role of creator-in-chief for towering striker Cardozo. The Argentine was a standout performer against United in September and has since been linked with a £40million move to M16.
Quote/unquote
“You do want to finish top. First and foremost, you look to qualify for the knockout stages. But you want to finish top, for the last-16 draw and for other perks like playing the second leg at home.” – Darren Fletcher
Any sub-plots?
Both United and Benfica sit joint-top of Group C, meaning Tuesday’s match will go a long way to deciding which team finishes first and avoids the big guns in the knockout stages. This fixture also evokes memories of 1968, when the Reds beat Eusebio and co at Wembley to lift the European Cup for the first time.
Whistle blower
Promising Turkish official Cüneyt Çakir has enjoyed a steady ascension since his European debut in 2003, taking charge of five Champions League games and several more in the Europa League. The Insurance worker from Istanbul is yet to referee either side.
Rivals watch
Elsewhere in Group C, Otelul Galati hope to register their first points of the campaign against FC Basel in Romania while Manchester City travel to Italy to face Napoli in Group A.
source : Manutd
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