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A place in the Champions League quarter-finals is at stake at Old Trafford tonight as Manchester United take on Marseille in the second-leg of their last 16 tie.
With no score after the game in France, it is all to play for as Manchester United look to keep their treble dream alive.
It is difficult to assess who is on top after the first-leg. United avoided away defeat which is positive for them, but Marsellie will be delighted that they didn’t concede an away goal.
They now know that for each goal they score tonight, the Red Devils will have to score twice due to the away goals ruling.
Despite this, United will be expected to win the game on the night and therefore are favourites to progress to the next round.
They have suffered indifferent form of late with defeats to Wolves, Chelsea and Liverpool in the Premier League, but the FA Cup win over Arsenal last weekend has got restored their confidence in finishing the season strongly.
Marseille will be up for the fight though and will be far from easy opponents for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. The French club haven’t made it through to the last eight of the Champions League since winning the trophy in 2003, so it is a very significant occasion for them.
Ferguson won’t be underestimating them, saying: “We have to recognise that they are experienced and powerful. It’s going to be a hard game, but it’s always a terrific atmosphere at Old Trafford, that does help us.”
As far as team news goes, Nani and Michael Carrick are expected to be in the Manchester United squad, as will Antonio Valencia who completed 45 minutes against Arsenal after so long out of the game.
Marseille are expected to name the same side that featured in the first-leg last month.
One final fact to point out is that Manchester United have never lost to French opponents at Old Trafford.
Whether this record remains intact will be dependant on which United team turns up. Will it be the one who limped to defeat against Liverpool? Or the confident, free-flowing team that dispatched Arsenal?
Either way, a Marseille goal first and it is well and truly game on at Old Trafford.
By Thomas Rooney
