Man United vs. Benfica

Steve_o

What will be the outcome of this??? I'd reckon with Man United current good form they should win 2 or 3 nil!!

county

2-1 or 3-1 to utd,its make or break time,they have to win

mike65

I think they'll freeze and end up in UEFA Cup, I dun't know why i think this but something will go wrong...

Mike.

merlinsmerryman

Granted they havn't played well in the Champions League I still think we'll go through. Rooney is in great form, Van is joint top score in the League(Damn Lampard:mad: ), Scholes has picked up in the last few games, Ferdinand and O'Shea are looking a lot more solid(pity about Silvestre and his form abandoning him:eek:) and Ronaldo's last 30 mins on Saturday were great and with Neville playing his first game as captain I expect us to get there in the end:D . Overall I think that United are in a lot better shape the last few weeks and hopefully will put Benfica to the sword.

Rikand

Benfica will score the first goal anywyas, it all depends how united react to it

Aquos76

Utd should win this as they know how much is riding on it. I also reckon that Benfica will score first also. Utd always tend to make things very difficult on themselves.

KevIRL

draw

Jimi-Spandex

Utd to win 4-1.

Benfica are missing Simao, Miccoli and a few other first teamers. Utd have a full team.

Rooney has been playing very well, Ruud hasn't been great but still okay, Giggs looked good at the weekend, Park I thought didn't have one of his better games but still had put alot into it. Ronaldo actually had some decent end product when he came on at the weekend and I think the fact that he's playing infront of his countrymen will spur him on.

That said, the defence has had it's comedy moments recently so I guess it is possible that Benfica could nick one early doors and shut up shop for the rest of the game.

besty

united have to do it.anything else would be disastrous and would really put an end to the belief the team has been cultivating in the past number of weeks. ruud to bag 2
2-0 united

OTliddy

Fergie could well put less emphasis on defence, and ask them to put on an attacking performance to remember. I'll go for United to score more goals than they've done in all the other games put together, and to come back from being a goal behind.

jank

Remember lads Utd havent scored away from home in europe for 2 years so they will struggle to get goals.

Id say a draw.

garred

I fancy United. There going into it on the back of a decent run. Its a big game that calls for big players.

Jivin Turkey

jank wrote:

Remember lads Utd havent scored away from home in europe for 2 years so they will struggle to get goals.

Eh....................

Apart from the goals they scored in this years qualifying rounds. And the goals they scored away at Lyon last year. And Porto away in the knock-outs in 2004. So in other words, yes, yes you are right, United havn't scored away from home in Europe for two years.

I think United will win, their strikers are on form, I also hope they win as I wouldn't fancy Liverpool drawing them in the next round, cracker of a tie as it would be.

jank

Eh....................

Apart from the goals they scored in this years qualifying rounds. And the goals they scored away at Lyon last year. And Porto away in the knock-outs in 2004. So in other words, yes, yes you are right, United havn't scored away from home in Europe for two years.

Opps my bad that should be "won a game"

Anyway I think the qualifiers dont really count do they.

When was the last time they won away from home anyway?

The Rooster

Benfica have plenty of flair, but are a bit windy. Lots of fancy touches but often lack penetration. Simao not playing is a massive loss. If United play well, they will win, although even if they dont play well I'd fancy Rooney to win it for them anyway.

TheMonster

A major in Uniteds favour is that Benfica have to win and not just draw. United have struggled to break down teams who have no interest in attacking them.
I fancy a comfortable win, but knowing United will do it the hard way and concede early. Rooney to shine and Scholes to score again - he always does after a break in scoring.

gracehopper

The Rooster wrote:

Benfica have plenty of flair, but are a bit windy. Lots of fancy touches but often lack penetration. Simao not playing is a massive loss. If United play well, they will win, although even if they dont play well I'd fancy Rooney to win it for them anyway.

yeah i'd agree with this - united to win if they play well and if they dont play well Rooney will win it for them, He's playing out of his skin at the moment, i'd like to see Ronaldo be a bit more direct tonite like he was against pompey on saturday when he came on. Ferdinand and Silvestre seem to have an air of no nonsense about them lately which i'm fairly pleased with, in fact even John o shea has looked a lot better lately, Whats going on???

mchurl

TheMonster wrote:

A major in Uniteds favour is that Benfica have to win and not just draw. United have struggled to break down teams who have no interest in attacking them.
I fancy a comfortable win, but knowing United will do it the hard way and concede early. Rooney to shine and Scholes to score again - he always does after a break in scoring.

Gives united a better chance attacking wise but is their defence good enough? I think they will go through in the end

TheMonster

Could his could be the first CL group to be decided on UEFA Coeeficents?


If United draw 0-0 and Villareal lose 1-0 then they will be tied on every other criteria.

cournioni

jank wrote:

Remember lads Utd havent scored away from home in europe for 2 years so they will struggle to get goals.

Id say a draw.

That has to end at some point jank. I reckon United will win 3-1, Ruud to get two and Rooney to get the other.

wheres me jumpa

just saw paul scholes is 9-1 to score first. im on! united are going into this game in good form and should do this. it will be a huge dissappointment if we dont make it.

chiller

united to win four-one like in 68 we will be champions of europe again

gracehopper

chiller wrote:

united to win four-one like in 68 we will be champions of europe again

Unfortunately we dont have Charlton,Law r Best playing for us but i admire your optimism, good man!

Kingp35

Alot of people are basing their opinion on the fact that Man U have to win so therefor they will be up for it and will win. Well the same can be said for BEnfica who also have to win and are playing at home. They have good players who can play decent football.

true Man U are in good form in teh PL but the CL isa totally different kettle of fish and they have been poor so far this season. I dont think they will win the game.

Draw

The Muppet

chiller wrote:

united to win four-one like in 68 we will be champions of europe again

That's the spirit. I'll settle for a one nil though or even a draw if its good enough to get us through. United usually produce in games when the pressure is on so I expect out big game performers to produce tonight.

I,ll go for a 2 1 to united.

PHB

It'll be Ruud and Scholes to score, whether its 2 or 3 I don't know.
Benfica are missing their best players, so I don't expect them to score, but with United's defense lately i wouldn't rule itout

Thanx 4 The Fish

Can't see past a UNited win, they have really come on in the Prem and while it has been said that it is a totally different game, there is the confidence of having 4 on the spin that will spur them on. Also Ruud has found his scoring boots which always bodes badly for the oppo. 2-0 but with a few RIOS to scare the away fans a bit.

Steve_o

Alex Ferguson was Kinda unsure on tv last night as to the team he's gonna select...personally i'd like to see ryan giggs start, Darren Fletcher just isn't good enough for such an important match!!

wheres me jumpa

PHB wrote:

It'll be Ruud and Scholes to score, whether its 2 or 3 I don't know.
Benfica are missing their best players, so I don't expect them to score, but with United's defense lately i wouldn't rule itout

is simao playing? he surprised me at OT, looks good.

gracehopper

wheres me jumpa wrote:

is simao playing? he surprised me at OT, looks good.

simao and miccoli and the greek fella karagounis are all out so hopefully We win and villareal lose, we get top spot and then get rangers in the 2nd round

mchurl

Jimi-Spandex wrote:

Benfica are missing Simao, Miccoli and a few other first teamers. Utd have a full team.

evad_lhorg

hopefully he doesnt play silvvestre. brown has been in good form lately and once neville is back to full strength we shall be rockin. i think that goal for scholes will do him some good and i hate to say it but oshea hasnt ben too bad lately either.

Töpher

Thanx 4 The Fish wrote:

Can't see past a UNited win

But you can hope

Steve_o

evad_lhorg wrote:

i hate to say it but oshea hasnt ben too bad lately either.

John O'Shea hasn't been playing well for a long time now...he lacks concentration and awarness...he's a major weakness in the United defence!!

Kingp35

Steve_o wrote:

John O'Shea hasn't been playing well for a long time now...he lacks concentration and awarness...he's a major weakness in the United defence!!

I would have completely agreed with you a few weeks ago but O' Shea really has picked up his game in recent times and he seems to be a lot more settles in the Man U side now. I am certainly not a fan of O' Shea and I think he should have been axed from the Irish team a long time ago but credit where credits due and he has been doing well.

For me I think it is the fact that he has been playing in every game and the most important is that he has been playing the same position. I hope he can keep it up as it can only be good for Ireland.

shepthedog

Come on United, get the season going.. I fancy a 3-1 win.. Rooney and Ruud sharing the goals..

They have the momentum to go on a good run at the moment as all good united teams of past have done, hopefully their slump is over and with everyone getting back fit, we should have squad to do well over xmas.

deisedevil

PHB wrote:

It'll be Ruud and Scholes to score, whether its 2 or 3 I don't know.
Benfica are missing their best players, so I don't expect them to score, but with United's defense lately i wouldn't rule itout

Why are people saying things like this, that the way utd's defense of late have been letting them down and could do tonight?? not the case at all, they have let in only 4 in the last 7 games. Defense lately is best it has been all season! It's whether they will satrt putting away chances is what concerns me and i'm a little bit bothered bout it, they haven't been doing that at all well in cl so far.

Atlas_IRL

Read Benfica are missing 5 first team players including Simao...

United's form has been good away from home but it'll probably be a hard and close match for them unless they get some early goals...

Aquos76

Team News

O Shea , Neville and Ronaldo all start.

Full Team

VDS, Neville, Rio, Mickel, O Shea, Ronaldo, Scholes, Smith, Giggs, Rooney, RVN.

Chong

I really do hope we can pull this off tonight but I am worried.

Davei141

United will win, and i hope theyre top so we avoid them and chelsea dont get villarreal/lille .

mike65

Thats as strong a team as Utd can manage right now and with so many Benfica players out then they have no excuses. If Utd win Simao will be joing Liverpool in January, so good luck chaps!

Mike.

Aquos76

You Beauty Scholesie

1-0 to Man U

Aquos76

wheres me jumpa wrote:

just saw paul scholes is 9-1 to score first. im on! united are going into this game in good form and should do this. it will be a huge dissappointment if we dont make it.

Hope you done that bet, because I did...

Happy Days

Chong

Well done scholesy come on.

Chong

Well I just dont know what to say, I was worried at the start , I am bricking it now.

gandalf

GOOOOOAAALLLLLLLLL Benfica

Aquos76

bollox

That was coming. We have been giving them way to much space since we took the lead

1-1

merlinsmerryman

VanNistelrooy coming to deep for the ball lost it and a goal from it. Shocking(still think we'll win:D )

Jimi-Spandex

Ah well, at least I won a first scorer bet. that was an easy €90.

Pacifico

Get in!!