Manchester United will field their strongest side at home to Valencia as they seek the draw or victory which would secure top spot in Champions League Group C.
TEAM NEWS
With their weekend game against Blackpoolhaving been postponed due to the weather, United should be fresh. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are expected to start up front ahead of Mexican Javier Hernandez, who scored the winner in Valencia earlier in the campaign. Alex Ferguson has said he will not rush back Michael Owen. Winger Nani will start with recent returnee Ryan Giggs or Park Ji-Sung on the other flank. Patrice Evra has not trained fully for a few days but should feature at left-back; Wes Brown and Jonny Evans will not make it while Owen Hargreaves and Antonio Valencia face a long period on the sidelines.
Valencia, defeated 2-0 at Real Madrid at the weekend, can win the group if they grab an unlikely victory at Old Trafford. Coach Unai Emery said: "We've got two objectives: the first was to qualify, the second was to finish top of the group. We've achieved the first and now we're going for the second. We want to taste victory at a place like this, which would set our stall out and send out a warning sign to the other clubs." First-choice goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez is struggling with a hamstring injury while understudy Miguel Angel Moya is definitely out with a thigh injury. David Navarro, Manuel Fernandes, Mehmet Topal and Jeremy Mathieu are miss the match, but right-back Miguel may play after coming on in the Bernabeu following a thigh problem.
Qualifying chances
United and Valencia are both through. United will top the group unless Valencia beat them at Old Trafford. Rangers are sure of their Europa League place and Bursaspor are out.
Head-to-head
Played: 7
Wins: Man United 2, Valencia 1, draws 4
UEFA: R1 15.09.82 Man United 0 Valencia 0
29.09.82 Valencia 2 Man United 1
Champions League: Second group stage 8.12.99 Man United 3 Valencia 0
21.03.00 Valencia 0 Man United 0
Champions League: Second group stage 14.02.01 Valencia 0 Man United 0
20.02.01 Man United 1 Valencia 1
Champions League: Group stage 29.09.10 Valencia 0 Man United 1
Disciplinary
Misses next match if booked: Aritz Aduriz, David Albelda (both Valencia)
MATCH FACTS
There were just three shots on target in the match between United and Valencia at the Mestalla, two for the English champions.
United have picked up just two yellow cards, fewer than any other team in the Champions League.
Aritz Aduriz has mustered five headers on target in the Champions League, more than any other player this season.
Man Utd have only allowed four shots on target from inside the penalty area against them in the Champions League, fewer than any other side.
The Red Devils could be the first team ever to go through a Champions League Group Stage without conceding a goal.
Man Utd have lost just one of their last 28 Champions League matches at Old Trafford.
Valencia have only lost one of their last seven Champions league away games.
1-1..
ReplyDeleteanderson after he took the ball punch away by the oppose keeper.. =)