Previews

United require solitary point

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 08/12/2009
Football betting

Manchester United and Chelsea are back in Champions League action on Tuesday with both of the Premier League giants already through to the knockout stage of the competition.

The Red Devils will be buoyed by their imperious 4-0 success at West Ham United on Saturday, but injuries to defensive duo Wes Brown and Gary Neville tempered the resounding victory.

Sir Alex Ferguson takes his men to Germany as they prepare to face Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg without a raft of defenders including Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Jonny Evans, Brown and Neville.

Michael Carrick is likely to start as a makeshift central defender alongside the diminutive Patrice Evra.

With the impressive Wolves boasting talent in the form of Zvjezdan Misimovic, Grafite and Edin Dzeko - who has hit 40 Bundesliga goals in 75 appearances - they will be looking for the win that will see them secure a top-spot finish in Group B their debut season.

However, the Germans, who are tied on seven points with CSKA Moscow, know a win is essential if their own fate is to remain in their hands.

The Russians travel to Turkey to face Besiktas.

Chelsea, who are the joint sportsbook favourites to claim Champions League glory at the end of the season, entertain APOEL Nicosia at Stamford Bridge and coach Carlo Ancelotti could ring the changes.

With the Blues topping the Group D table by four points, they will qualify for the knockout stage as group winners regardless of the outcome against the plucky Cypriot outfit.

Ancelotti will have been disappointed to see his impressive side lose 2-1 at Manchester City on Saturday evening, this despite taking an early lead.

Frank Lampard missed a penalty to bring the scores level and it was the Londoners' first setback in the Premier League after five successive victories.

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FC Porto, who will qualify in second spot, travel to the Spanish capital to face Atletico Madrid.

Elsewhere, Juventus face a crunch clash against Bayern Munich and the Germans know that a win will propel them above the Old Lady into the second qualifying spot to join Bordeaux into the next stage.

The Italians will be confident going into the game after cutting down Internazionale's lead at the top of Serie A to just four points after they defeated their big rivals 2-1 on Saturday.

Bordeaux travel to Maccabi Haifa, who are yet to grab a point in the Champions League after five successive defeats.

AC Milan travel to face FC Zurich and a win will guarantee a safe passage from Group C.

Table-toppers Real Madrid, who face Marseille in the south of France, will qualify barring a catastrophe.

Only a 3-0 win for Marseille coupled with a Milan win would see the Spanish giants crash out.

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