United v Benfica

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

Rooney scare not serious

21/11/2011 14:15, Report by Nick Coppack & Adam Marshall

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Wayne Rooney to be fit to face Benfica at Old Trafford on Tuesday, despite missing the Reds’ Monday morning training session.

Rooney was not among the 24 outfield players put through their paces at Carrington less than 36 hours before the Champions League Group C clash, but the manager allayed fears the striker had picked up a serious injury when he told media at UEFA’s pre-match press conference that the no.10 should be fine for the game.

"We've got one or two knocks from Saturday," explained the boss. "Jonny Evans has some tightness in his hamstring but will hopefully be okay tomorrow. Wayne's got a few knocks and missed training today but should be okay. Chris Smalling trained this morning but won't be available for tomorrow - he should be okay for Saturday [against Newcastle] and Anderson is out injured."

The manager recognises the importance of the fixture against Benfica and feels it's important to top the group.

"It's a big game," he enthused. "We recognise it's a real European game with the history between Benfica and ourselves. We've had a number of great games in the past and, of course, it always sticks in the memory bank.

"In the first game, I thought we did really well possession-wise and it was a deserved result [1-1]. In the last 15 minutes, they threatened quite a bit and it's a really interesting game tomorrow because both teams want to win, obviously, which should make it an open match. Hopefully, we'll get the result we want.

"Probably the bonus coming out of it is if we do finish top [of the group]. One issue is the teams you'll play but the other one is the second leg is at home at Old Trafford. It's always an advantage so it's always been our intention to finish top. That's not always been the case as we've finished second several times but, with the quality of the teams, it doesn't make a great difference. It could make a little difference and the main advantage, to my mind, is having the second leg at Old Trafford."

source : Manutd

Sir Alex targets top spot

21/11/2011 11:00, Report by Mark Froggatt

Sir Alex Ferguson is setting his sights on victory over Benfica and eventually top spot in Group C as he plots to avoid Europe’s elite in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.

The boss has done the maths ahead of Tuesday's Old Trafford clash and knows victory over the Portuguese giants would guarantee progress to the last 16, with only a point against FC Basel on Matchday 6 then needed to ensure qualification as section winners.

However, the United manager is wary of a potential upset and has challenged his side to make life easier by taking all six points from the two remaining games.

“We showed a bit of carelessness against Basel but we are joint top with Benfica,” Sir Alex warned. “FC Basel have got five points though so it’s still not over, if you look at all of the different scenarios we can still beat Benfica and go out.

“As stupid as it may seem, if Basel were to go and wallop Otelul Galati and then beat us, they’d be on the same points as us and could knock us out on goal difference, unless Benfica can score enough goals against Galati in their last game. If they do then we are out, so it is interesting.

“The most important thing is to qualify but it is always that little bonus if you are top because then you avoid the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Barcelona might not finish top, though, as they’ve got to go to Milan who have been doing alright.”

Inevitably, Sir Alex has kept a watchful eye over United’s Champions League rivals this season and has been particularly impressed by the efforts of Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, who currently sit three points clear of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Among other things, the manager is a fan of Real's work ethic and energy off the ball, as well as the individual talents of Mesut Özil and ex-Reds star Cristiano Ronaldo, whose scoring record in Spain currently stands at 104 goals in 107 appearances.

“I think Real Madrid have improved. I’ve been watching their games and they are playing really well," Sir Alex told the Sunday newspapers. "In fact, overall I’ve think they’re playing every bit as good as Barcelona and their goals have been phenomenal. They have definitely improved, there’s no question about that.

“They are fit as hell and they put some energy into their games. I think there is improvement in the boy Ozil too, he has improved a lot and Ronaldo is Ronaldo. He is phenomenal. 104 goals in 107 games is brilliant – it nearly breaks my record!”

source : Manutd