Man Utd v Benfica (TV3 - 19.45)

MagicMarker

Manchester United will hope to celebrate qualification for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League by beating Benfica at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils endured a stuttering start to the group phase, but know victory over Benfica, coupled with Basel's failure to win away to Otelul Galati, would secure top spot.

Last season's beaten finalists started Group C with a 1-1 draw away to Benfica before snatching a 3-3 home draw with Swiss side Basel.

Back-to-back 2-0 wins over minnows Galati have put United in a strong position to progress and Ferguson will look to get the job done when Benfica visit.

United beat Benfica to win their first European Cup back in 1968 and Ferguson is aware of the memories facing the Portuguese side will stir among supporters.

Memories

"We will try to do justice to the memory of Sir Matt's tussles with Benfica in the old days because people of vision are rare," Ferguson told United Review.

"The memories of many Manchester United supporters will fly back to those early days in European competition when George Best mesmerised Portugal's finest in the Stadium of Light, and then ultimately to the night Sir Matt Busby achieved his European dream in 1968 to make United the first English club to win the European Cup.

"Europe runs deep in the psyche of Manchester United and Benfica evokes these memories."

Ferguson is optimistic striker Wayne Rooney will be fit for the game after he sat out training on Monday and he could start alongside Javier Hernandez.

Captain Nemanja Vidic is suspended as a result of his sending off in the away win over Galati so, providing he shakes off a minor injury, Jonny Evans is expected to partner Rio Ferdinand in defence.

Chris Smalling is close to returning from a toe injury and Danny Welbeck is a doubt, but Anderson and Tom Cleverley are definitely on the sidelines.

Michael Owen is out until Christmas after hurting his hamstring in the opening stages of the recent home win over Galati, while Dimitar Berbatov will hope to be given a rare start.

Benfica also have qualification to the last 16 in their sights and are aware that victory will ensure Jorge Jesus' side finish top of the group.

Following the opening draw with United, Benfica beat Galati and Basel away from home before being held by the Swiss outfit in their last encounter.

Jesus will be without Argentinian playmaker Javier Saviola due to a knee injury, while Enzo Perez and former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic are also absent.

UTD line up...

De Gea
Fabio Jones Ferdinand Evra
Valencia Fletcher Carrick Nani
Young
Berbatov

Subs : Lindegaard, Smalling, Rafael, Giggs, Park, Gibson, Hernandez

Berbatov better give the performance of his life.

Blatter

The dreaded pairing of Fletcher and Carrick in midfield is rarely a good thing. They don't combine well.

Not confident of Berbatov doing what we need him to do, will be delighted if he proves me wrong.

The rest of the team if okay, although I don't like seeing Rio and Jones paired together but needs must I suppose.

NUTZZ

Delighted to see Young back for this one, hopefully he'll bring some much needed creativity that has been lacking badly lately.

Jax Teller

Berba better put in a good shift .

applehunter

Rooney missing out.

Bookies reaction

Yesterday Utd. were a general 1/2 shot now they are freely available at 4/6.

Blatter

Martin Keown talkin through his hole.

Ferguson said that Ferdinand has lost a yard of pace, how the f*ck is that writing him off?

lordgoat

Moran and Keown good good almighty. Pair them with Welch on commentary and TV3 really are bottom of the pile.

Not even Kirsteen can save them.

Giggsy11

Subs : Lindegaard, Smalling, Rafael, Giggs, Park, Gibson, Hernandez

Welcome back...

Blatter

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Welcome back...

I thought you were going to highlight Gibsiesta

Giggsy11

Blatter wrote: »

I thought you were going to highlight Gibsiesta

Irish Xavi :cool:

Edit: How many goals have Xavi scored in champions league semi finals? I think 0. Gibson has scored 1. #BigGamePlayer

Spanish Gibson must improve a lot.

Kylo Ren

Hopefully Berba scores. Will be his first in the CL since 08 if he does.

parc

YES! FOOTBALL!

Anyone have a world-class stream for this?

Can't get tv3 where I am btw

MagicMarker

It's going to be a long night.

JerryHandbag

Ooops

IvySlayer

FFS!!

Mars Bar

Oh dear...

Kylo Ren

Aww Jesus.

mike65

Arf!

Giggsy11

Jones was disappointed that he didn't score senior goal. Well he scored one now

tommyhaas

Wes Brown on the score sheet ? Thought you's sold him

Mars Bar

We're playing ****e.

Smegball

Evra caught out again! WTF!

shadowcomplex

FERGIE OUT

IvySlayer

Getting massacred in CM already...

MagicMarker

shadowcomplex wrote: »

FERGIE OUT

Stop embarrassing yourself.

Your Airbag

MagicMarker wrote: »

Stop embarrassing yourself.

Haha, I'm pretty sure he was joking.

Good urgency about Utd despite the scoreline.

Chong

He was obviously taken the piss

Mars Bar

We can't even play it out of our own half.

shadowcomplex

MagicMarker wrote: »

Stop embarrassing yourself.

Jaysus lighten up Mr Magic Marker Meldrew

JerryHandbag

Great work Nani. Let that be the spark we need.

MagicMarker

Nani :cool:

Mars Bar

Well done Nani

starbelgrade

Shockingly cynical tackle.

Mars Bar

Agh, if he got it to bounce in front of the 'keeper, it might have had a chance.

RT2010

Great feet nani.

Hard to see where goals will come from if nani kept quite. Need berb and young to be firing tonight!

shadowcomplex

any streams for this?

MagicMarker

Another great run from Nani, pity about the final ball.

Mars Bar

Ah Nani! Looking good tonight but needs to sort out that final ball.

Mars Bar

That's much better play.

MagicMarker

First shot from open play after 20 minutes.

BigCon

shadowcomplex wrote: »

any streams for this?

Liveonlinefooty is the only stream you'll ever need for football.
Well worth the 6 pound/2 months...

neil_18_

Anyone found a decent stream? None working for me so far

EDIT: this one not bad so far
http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/93650/1/watch-manchester-united-vs-sl-benfica.html

Mars Bar

Well, the TV3 stream on the website is working splendidly for me.

neil_18_

Mars Bar wrote: »

Well, the TV3 stream on the website is working splendidly for me.

Im in France atm, doesnt work here

starbelgrade

neil_18_ wrote: »

Anyone found a decent stream? None working for me so far

EDIT: this one not bad so far
http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/93650/1/watch-manchester-united-vs-sl-benfica.html

Channel 6816 on Sopcast.

Decent stream & has the benefit of not being TV3 commentary

tommyhaas

The Benfica fan's are quality tonight, fair play to them, great noise out of them. Sounded very like the Arteta chant there (obviously their own version)

Mars Bar

Jeez Fabio...

JerryHandbag

Berba not in the game at all

MagicMarker

JerryHandbag wrote: »

Berba not in the game at all

Same goes for Young.

Kylo Ren

Poor ball again.

Mikeyt086

Mother of god, Antonio Valencia has been absolutely woeful since the Champions League Final.

Not looking good at all tonight. Berbatov cannot cope on his own up front, 30 mins in and he hasnt had a touch. Changes needed asap, it's just not working.

EDIT: 30mins in and Berba has had 1 touch. Well done lad