UCL ~ Manchester United vs Sporting Lisbon ~ 27 Nov

zocoss SG

Vs

Manchester United vs Sporting Lisbon

Tuesday, 27 November 2007

Channel : Ch 23 - 3:45am - (Live) (Wed Morning)

Ronaldo and Vidic set to return for United

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic are both in contention to face Sporting Lisbon tomorrow after Manchester United completed preparations for their Champions League encounter at Old Trafford. The duo were key absentees from Saturday's shock Premier League defeat at Bolton, with Vidic particularly missed as his replacement Gerard Pique made the mistake that gifted Nicolas Anelka his winner.

Sir Alex Ferguson had suggested neither Vidic's minor back problem nor the thigh strain Ronaldo picked up on international duty last week would have eased sufficiently for them to figure against Sporting. However, they were able to take part in training, along with a remainder of Ferguson's weekend squad.

Having registered four straight wins in Group F so far, United are already assured of their place in the last 16. Ferguson would hope to secure top spot and a more favourable knockout-round draw, although this may not prevent him giving some of his fringe men, such as Pique, Anderson, Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson more first-team experience.

Team : Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton, Brown, Simpson, Ferdinand, Vidic, Pique, Evra, Evans, O'Shea, Nani, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Anderson, Eagles, Carrick, Giggs, Saha, Tevez.

popmynutsy SG

2-0.

r0mE_27 SG

pray they dun perform as they did with bolton.

3-1

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Double boost for United

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic are both fit to face Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night in United's penultimate Champions League Group F match.

The United pair, who were key absentees in the 1-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, both trained with the rest of the squad at Carrington on Monday and Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed they are both in contention for a starting berth against the Portuguese side.

"Vidic and Ronaldo are both fit," revealed the United boss at his pre-match press conference. "They'll be in the squad for Tuesday night."

Sir Alex also hinted that Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea and Tomasz Kuszczak may start, but insisted he won't be making too many changes.

United have won all four matches in Group F so far and are assured of a place in the last 16. But Sir Alex will be keen to secure top spot and a potentially easier first knockout round draw.

The Reds boss is expected to go for a mixed selection against Sporting, who must better AS Roma's result in Kyiv to keep alive there hopes of progressing as a group runners-up.

omgukilledkenny SG

Veloso aims to impress

Miguel Veloso is hoping to impress Sir Alex Ferguson when Sporting Lisbon face United this week.

He admits he cant wait to take on United in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The best game of my career so far was when we played Manchester United, said Veloso.

They are a great team and it is the dream of any footballer to play for such a club.

sand king SG

2-0. Man Utd.

=)

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Forward thinking

Sir Alex faces a selection headache as United welcome Sporting Lisbon to Old Trafford on Tuesday.

"I'll make one or two changes," the Reds' manager told Manchester United Radio ahead of the game. "Players like Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea need some minutes on the clock but my biggest concern is what to do up front.

"Louis Saha played a full game on Saturday, his first full 90 minutes since last December. That was a big test for him. It was an awful lot to ask of him but we're delighted he got through the game."

Ferguson must now decide whether to call upon the Frenchman for a second time in four days. The only other fit first-choice striker, Carlos Tevez, has also been put through a punishing schedule in the last week, travelling to South America and back for Argentina's World Cup qualifiers.

At this stage, Sir Alex may not be sure who'll play up front on Tuesday night, but he does know Sporting Lisbon will be tough opponents.

"Sporting will come to win," Sir Alex said. "They have to win in order to catch Roma. We have to make sure we're on top of our game and use the atmosphere we know we can generate at Old Trafford. We have an opportunity to ensure we finish top of the group so we must take that chance."

popmynutsy SG

score, 2-1. lucky ronaldo score at 90 mins.

Pitot SG

I felt the the early goal spoiled the match.

Before united could even get into gear, they conceded a goal. And since they already qualified, they took it easy and did not play up to standard.

Fortunately, SAF farked them upside down during the break and they came back playing better.

Deserved to win.

lpx88 SG

How was their play ah?

Pitot SG

1st half disappointing. 2nd half pretty much on par.

I think i am being a little kind. Laughing

lpx88 SG

Haha..can rmb our starting team? Very Happy

Pitot SG

Nani--Saha--Ronaldo
Anderson--Carrick--Fletcher
Evra--Rio--Vidic--Oshea
Kuzzz

Nani and fletcher were replaced by Giggs and Tevez during halftime.

Owen replaced someone else... saha i think..

lpx88 SG

Not bad la..half half makeshift team...least got Ronaldo..1 thing is our style of play was too dependent on our forwards. No Ronaldo, No Rooney = Nothing Laughing

Pitot SG

Actually i believe in the individual abilities in all our players.

Its just that sometimes, in a team, there are one or more members who tend to take the lead. So over time, people tend to rely on them and lose believe in themselves.

Each of them can form a good team on paper. But its their mind that let them down.

sand king SG

1st 2 goals like tyco sia.

Pitot SG

ya Laughing

lpx88 SG

True, like how fletcher came in for a few games last season and did a remarkable job. Though we all know Ronaldo >>>>>>>>> Fletcher. This season ..not rly up to the mark though. So maybe it's really their self belief bah.

iceFatboy SG

hi all,
during one of the MUFC game, the commentators made a remark that left me scratching head..

he said that during free-kicks, ronaldo or some players love to position the ball where they are directly kicking the pump-valve. and once kicked, it will then be compress and then return to it org position. And in doing that, it gives the ball the uneven motion when travelling goalwards..

is that true?

zocoss SG

Now the United have top their group, I guess they now face teams in the lights of Rosenborg...

Fenerbahce or PSV Eindhoven

Lyon or Rangers

Celtic or Shakhtar Donetsk

Lazio or Olympiacos

Marseille or FC Porto

Actually i would prefer they get match-up against Celtic or Rangers... It would be interesting... Smile