Previews

United and Chelsea on the cusp

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 03/11/2009
Football betting

Manchester United and Chelsea both have the chance to book their places in the knockout stages of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

United host CSKA Moscow at Old Trafford looking to maintain their 100 per cent start to this year's competition.

It's a similar story for Chelsea, who are on the road with a trip to Spain to take on Atletico Madrid.

The top two in the Premier League have been untouchable in their groups so far and would both dearly love to confirm their respective passages into the last 16 with two matchdays still to go.

United left Moscow two weeks ago with a 1-0 victory after Luis Antonio Valencia struck a late winner.

Since then the Russian club have sacked coach Juande Ramos after just 42 days and replaced him with Leonid Slutski.

The sportsbook favourite Red Devils are expected to win again on Tuesday as CSKA do not travel well and have not won on the road in Europe for four years.

However, United do have question marks over the fitness of Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov after they all missed training on Monday.

:Will United be crowned European champions again this season? - Latest Football Betting http://www.888sport.com/bet?action=go_events&type_id=4407&sr=712289:end:

Chelsea have no such concerns as they prepare to fly out to Madrid for a Group D encounter.

The Blues were 4-0 winners over the struggling Spanish side at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, with that heavy defeat leading to the sacking of coach Abel Resino.

Former Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores has been handed the reins at the Vicente Calderon but his first European game at the helm will certainly be a difficult one with Chelsea in fine form.

They warmed up with a 4-0 rout of Bolton Wanderers at the weekend and welcome star striker Didier Drogba back from his three-match European ban.

Elsewhere on the night, Real Madrid will be out to gain revenge on AC Milan after losing 3-2 in front of their own expectant fans to the struggling Italian side on matchday three.

Alexandre Pato's last-gasp winner at the Santiago Bernabeu could well have saved Leonardo's job following the Brazilian's poor start to life at the helm of the Rossoneri.

Madrid could welcome Cristiano Ronaldo back after the £80million winger's four-week absence with an ankle injury.

Bayern Munich host Bordeaux in a mouth-watering Group A encounter at the Allianz Arena, while the other high-profile tie of the night is Juventus' must-win trip to Israel to face Maccabi Haifa.

BET NOW