Previews

English pair take it easy

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 25/11/2009
Football betting

Manchester United and Chelsea return to Champions League action on Wednesday evening having already secured their places in the next stage of the competition.

United's penultimate clash comes at Old Trafford against Turkish outfit Besiktas, who are rooted to the foot of the Group B table.

Sir Alex Ferguson could rest a few key first-team players with his team trailing Premier League leaders Chelsea by five points.

He could offer some of his youngsters the opportunity to grasp some vital European night experience as their budding careers continue to glow.

CSKA Moscow face Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg with both slugging it out for the second qualification berth in the Red Devils' group.

If the Wolves bag the three points they will ease themselves through to the next stage.

Chelsea, who are the joint sportsbook favourites alongside Barcelona to win this season's competition, face a tough trip to Portugal as they face Porto.

Just one point separates the two at the top of Group D and the Stamford Bridge club will want to secure their passage with a table-topping finish.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti will want to maintain the momentum his side have picked up on European and domestic soil.

Chelsea have strong links to the Portuguese outfit with five of their current players previously featuring for another of Jose Mourinho's former outfits.

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Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Henrique Hilario, Jose Bosingwa and Deco all spent successful spells with the Dragao Stadium club before making the move to London and all but Bosingwa, who is out until the new year through injury, could feature.

APOEL Nicosia and Atletico Madrid will meet as they look to take the consolation prize of a UEFA Europa League position.

In Group A, Bordeaux face Juventus as they clash for top-spot.

The two are well ahead of German giants Bayern Munich, who are seriously struggling to make an impact in this season's competition and they sit in third place, four points behind Juventus and six adrift of Bordeaux.

They will compete against basement boys Maccabi Haifa, who have lost their opening four matches.

Real Madrid will host FC Zurich and they should collect another three points as they sit top of the pile.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still short of fitness following an ankle injury but with the quality available to coach Manuel Pellegrini, the Spanish giants should cruise to another success and qualification.

Second-placed AC Milan host Marseille in a repeat of the inaugural Champions League final in 1993.

Just one point separates the two teams and a Milan success would see them through to the next stage at the cost of their French counterparts.

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