Champions league Preview – Match day 5
Group - C
Rangers FC V Manchester United FC, Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland, 2045 GMT
Rangers currently occupy third spot in the Champions League Group A table, behind Manchester United and Valencia. In order to secure automatic qualification they need to win both their remaining matches however, a win and a draw could still see them through
provided other results go their way.
The Gers have not lost a single match in this year’s campaign, but face a rampant Manchester United side. United moved up to second in the premier league, trailing Chelsea on goal difference, following a 2-0 win over Wigan last week.
Rangers will be playing tonight’s match at Ibrox without their star centre-back Madjid Bougherra, while James Beatie and Maurice Edu are also set to miss out. The task at hand for Rangers is not easy, as they face a United side, which remains unbeaten this
season. The Red Devils will also be welcoming star striker Wayne Ronney back into the starting line-up.
The last time these two sides met was on the opening day of the Champions League this season, when a resilient Rangers side held Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to a nil-nil draw at Old Trafford. Tonight however, they will have to go one better if they are to keep
their fortunes in the competition in their own hands.
United have won eight of their last nine away fixtures in the Champions League, and have not lost a single game in any competition this season. Ryan Giggs returns from injury and will be available for selection.
Their defensive duo of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will not be in the squad since they have been rested by the manager. In their absence Chris Smalling and Johnny Evans are likely to start at the heart of defence for Manchester United.
Valencia V Bursaspor, Estadio Mestalla, Valencia, Spain, 2045 GMT
In the other match of the group, Unai Emery’s Valencia will welcome Turkish minnows Bursaspor to Spain, and a victory against the Turks will surely guarantee qualification into the next round. No team in the history of the Champions League has ever been
knocked out after accumulating 10 or more points, but that record could be broken this year, as in Group H there is a distinct possibility of Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga ending up on 12 points each.
But there are no such fears in Group A, as a win tonight against Bursaspor will seal Valencia’s progress into the next round.
Valencia have only lost once in their last five matches, and have won three of their last four fixtures at home, but tonight they face Bursaspor without Fernando Navvaro and Miguel. That could hamper their chances in the match, but Unai Emery’s men should
still have enough firepower to see off the challenge from the Turkish debutants.
Bursaspor on the other hand have only pride left to play for in the competition, after losing all their matches so far, but they could still play a role in deciding the eventual qualifiers from the group.
Uefa Champions League : Group C Table
P
W
D
L
F
A
GD
PTS
1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/default.stm
4
3
1
0
5
0
5
10
2
Valencia
4
2
1
1
8
2
6
7
3
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/default.stm
4
1
2
1
2
4
-2
5
4
Bursaspor
4
0
0
4
0
9
-9
0
Remaining fixtures of the group:
Bursaspor v Rangers
Man Utd v Valencia
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