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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man Utd v Benfica (Wed) | Man Utd v Benfica (Wed) |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Match report to appear here later. | Match report to appear here later. |
| 606 DEBATE: Your views on the match | 606 DEBATE: Your views on the match |
| SCOUTING REPORT ON THE OPPOSITION | SCOUTING REPORT ON THE OPPOSITION |
| Who are they? Benfica are one of Portugal's big three clubs along with Sporting Lisbon and Porto. The trio have won all but two league campaigns in Portugal; Benfica lead the way with 31 titles to Porto's 21 and Sporting's 18. | Who are they? Benfica are one of Portugal's big three clubs along with Sporting Lisbon and Porto. The trio have won all but two league campaigns in Portugal; Benfica lead the way with 31 titles to Porto's 21 and Sporting's 18. |
| Recent form: It has been a stop-start campaign for Benfica so far, but things have begun to pick up in recent weeks and they recorded a third successive win for the first time this season at the weekend with a 2-0 victory at Sporting. It was their first away win in four attempts and means they stay fourth in the table. | Recent form: It has been a stop-start campaign for Benfica so far, but things have begun to pick up in recent weeks and they recorded a third successive win for the first time this season at the weekend with a 2-0 victory at Sporting. It was their first away win in four attempts and means they stay fourth in the table. |
| European record: A rich history, with the emphasis on history. Back-to-back European Cups in the early Sixties when they also reached three finals. Also lost in the showpiece match in 1988 and 1990 and more recently reached the quarter-finals last season. | European record: A rich history, with the emphasis on history. Back-to-back European Cups in the early Sixties when they also reached three finals. Also lost in the showpiece match in 1988 and 1990 and more recently reached the quarter-finals last season. |
| How did they get here? A third-placed finish in the Portuguese league led to them booking a qualifying spot, where they beat Austria Magna 4-1 on aggregate. | How did they get here? A third-placed finish in the Portuguese league led to them booking a qualifying spot, where they beat Austria Magna 4-1 on aggregate. |
| Ones to watch: So far this season 15 different players have scored 33 goals for the club, but it is the attacking trio of Portuguese internationals Simao Sabrosa and Nuno Gomes and Italian forward Fabrizio Miccoli who provide the real threat in attack. | Ones to watch: So far this season 15 different players have scored 33 goals for the club, but it is the attacking trio of Portuguese internationals Simao Sabrosa and Nuno Gomes and Italian forward Fabrizio Miccoli who provide the real threat in attack. |
| Did you know? What has Fabrizio Miccoli got in common with Diego Maradona? A World Cup win under his belt? Staples in his stomach? In time maybe, but for the moment it is just a tattoo of Che Guevara that the pair boast. | Did you know? What has Fabrizio Miccoli got in common with Diego Maradona? A World Cup win under his belt? Staples in his stomach? In time maybe, but for the moment it is just a tattoo of Che Guevara that the pair boast. |
| They say: "Seriously, it's not crazy to talk about a possible win in Manchester. We are completely capable of winning and go to England calm but optimismic. I am convinced Benfica can do some damage to United and we want to exploit that. I have asked my players to ignore the atmosphere and only to think of winning. I'm expecting them to fight until the end."Fernando Santos, Benfica coach | They say: "Seriously, it's not crazy to talk about a possible win in Manchester. We are completely capable of winning and go to England calm but optimismic. I am convinced Benfica can do some damage to United and we want to exploit that. I have asked my players to ignore the atmosphere and only to think of winning. I'm expecting them to fight until the end."Fernando Santos, Benfica coach |
| BIG MATCH STATS | BIG MATCH STATS |
| Definitions of terms used:- | Definitions of terms used:- |
| Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93. Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League). Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded. | Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93. Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League). Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded. |
| Qualification | Qualification |
| Manchester United require at least a draw in this match to progress to the last 16. Benfica must win the match to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League. If Benfica fail to win, they will play in the Uefa Cup. | Manchester United require at least a draw in this match to progress to the last 16. Benfica must win the match to qualify for the knockout phase of the Champions League. If Benfica fail to win, they will play in the Uefa Cup. |
| United will finish top of Group F if they beat Benfica and Celtic fail to win in Denmark. Benfica will top the group with a win and a Celtic defeat. | United will finish top of Group F if they beat Benfica and Celtic fail to win in Denmark. Benfica will top the group with a win and a Celtic defeat. |
| Head-to-heads | Head-to-heads |
| Manchester United have won both of their previous home matches against Benfica, and five of six games against them, with the only exception being the 2-1 victory by Benfica which knocked United out at the group stage exactly a year ago. | Manchester United have won both of their previous home matches against Benfica, and five of six games against them, with the only exception being the 2-1 victory by Benfica which knocked United out at the group stage exactly a year ago. |
| Benfica have won twice on their nine previous visits to England. The Portuguese club won 1-3 after extra time at Arsenal in the 1991-92 Champions Cup and 0-2 at Liverpool in last season's Champions League. | Benfica have won twice on their nine previous visits to England. The Portuguese club won 1-3 after extra time at Arsenal in the 1991-92 Champions Cup and 0-2 at Liverpool in last season's Champions League. |
| European history | European history |
| Manchester United have won the Champions Cup/Champions League twice (1968, 1999), the Cup Winners' Cup once (1991), the European Super Cup (1991) and the Intercontinental Club Cup (1999). They are taking part in their 12th Champions League season, and are aiming to make the knock out stages for the 10th time in 11 seasons. | Manchester United have won the Champions Cup/Champions League twice (1968, 1999), the Cup Winners' Cup once (1991), the European Super Cup (1991) and the Intercontinental Club Cup (1999). They are taking part in their 12th Champions League season, and are aiming to make the knock out stages for the 10th time in 11 seasons. |
| Benfica have won the Champions Cup twice, in 1961 and 1962, and are taking part in their fourth Champions League season. Their best result in the Champions League was reaching the quarter-final stage in 1994-95 and 2005-06. | Benfica have won the Champions Cup twice, in 1961 and 1962, and are taking part in their fourth Champions League season. Their best result in the Champions League was reaching the quarter-final stage in 1994-95 and 2005-06. |
| Current European form | Current European form |
| After a 100% start in their first three matches, United have now lost two in a row and are second in Group F. No club has ever won their first three Champions League group matches and failed to qualify for the next stage. | After a 100% start in their first three matches, United have now lost two in a row and are second in Group F. No club has ever won their first three Champions League group matches and failed to qualify for the next stage. |
| Benfica are third in Group F having won two home matches and drawn 0-0 at FC Copenhagen. They have failed to score in their last three Champions League games away from home. | Benfica are third in Group F having won two home matches and drawn 0-0 at FC Copenhagen. They have failed to score in their last three Champions League games away from home. |
| Player and disciplinary info | Player and disciplinary info |
| Manchester United's Paul Scholes will be suspended if booked. Benfica's Kostas Katsouranis will be banned if he receives a yellow card in this match. | Manchester United's Paul Scholes will be suspended if booked. Benfica's Kostas Katsouranis will be banned if he receives a yellow card in this match. |
| Ryan Giggs is the highest scoring Champions League player in the current Manchester United squad with 21 goals. Paul Scholes needs one goal to equal Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjær is two shy. Red Devils's keeper Edwin van der Sar and Benfica's Leo and Quim are yet to a miss a minute of this season's Champions League campaign. | Ryan Giggs is the highest scoring Champions League player in the current Manchester United squad with 21 goals. Paul Scholes needs one goal to equal Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjær is two shy. Red Devils's keeper Edwin van der Sar and Benfica's Leo and Quim are yet to a miss a minute of this season's Champions League campaign. |
| Other miscellaneous facts | Other miscellaneous facts |
| Alex Ferguson's Champions League total of 120 matches is a record for the competition. Benfica could suffer their 50th defeat in the Champions Cup/Champions League. | Alex Ferguson's Champions League total of 120 matches is a record for the competition. Benfica could suffer their 50th defeat in the Champions Cup/Champions League. |
| United hold a six point lead at the top of the Premiership table, while Benfica trail leaders FC Porto by nine points and lie fourth with a game in hand in the Portuguese League. | United hold a six point lead at the top of the Premiership table, while Benfica trail leaders FC Porto by nine points and lie fourth with a game in hand in the Portuguese League. |
| Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports | Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports |