Champions LeaguePreview: AC Milan -Manchester United

Teams
Man Utd.
Milan
Kick-Off: Tuesday,
February 16, 2010,
20:45 CET.
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza,
Milan.Champions League
Salvation
Before their game
against Udinese on
Friday, Milan hadn't won
a game in any
competition since their
defeat to Inter in the
Derby della Madonnina.
But the 3-2 win against
the Bianconeri has put
the Rossoneri back on
track.
At the moment Milan
are third in the Serie A
table and at this stage,
all they can aspire to
accomplish in the
domestic arena this
campaign is to finish
second. Leonardo's side
are out of the Coppa
Italia and the Champions
League is the only way
that they can gain
salvation.
Playing Manchester
United at home in the
first-leg of the Round
of 16 wouldn't
necessarily be an easy
task and perhaps
Leonardo would have
liked the first-leg to
have been at Old
Trafford. However, the
last time the two
giants of European
football clashed was in
the 2006-2007
Champions League semi-
finals, which Milan won
5-3 on aggregate.
Moreover, Milan
defeated Real Madrid
3-2 at the Bernabeu in
the group stages and
held the neo-Galacticos
to a 1-1 draw at home,
so they wouldn't be
intimidated by the Red
Devils, who do not have
a superstar in his prime
except Wayne Rooney.
Sheen Lost But
Spirit Retained
After Manchester United
lost Cristiano Ronaldo to
Real Madrid in the
summer, many thought
that this season the
reigning English
champions would
struggle. Which they did
initially and on
occasions, but at the
moment United are
second in the Premier
League table, just a
solitary point behind
leaders Chelsea.
Moreover, they won
their group in the
Champions League quite
comfortably.
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However, United have
yet to come up against
any big teams in the
Champions League this
season and Milan would
be their toughest test
yet. But playing the
first-leg away from
home would be a good
thing for the Red Devils
as they would know
that even a defeat
wouldn't be bad.
It would be interesting
to see how the
traveling United fans
take to the fact that
their former idol and
icon David Beckham
would be playing against
them for the first time
since he left Old
Trafford in 2003.
Beckham has already
remarked that he
wouldn't celebrate if he
scores against his old
side but was quick to
point out that it
wouldn't matter if he
doesn't feature on
Tuesday night as long
as Milan garner a
victory.
Another point of
interest is that the
Rossoneri have never
failed to progress when
they have faced the
English giants in a two-
legged tie.
FORM GUIDE
Milan
February 12 v Udinese
(H) - WON 3-2 (Serie A)
February 7 v Bologna
(A) - DREW 0-0 (Serie A)
January 31 v Livorno
(H) - DREW 1-1 (Serie A)
January 27 v Udinese
(H) - LOST 1-0 (Coppa
Italia)
January 25 v Inter (A) -
LOST 2-0 (Serie A)
Manchester United
February 10 v Aston
Villa (A) - DREW 1-1
(Premier League)
February 6 v
Portsmouth (H) - WON
5-0 (Premier League)
January 31 v Arsenal
(A) - WON 3-1 (Premier
League)
January 27 v
Manchester City (H) -
WON 3-1 (League Cup)
January 23 v Hull City
(H) - WON 4-0 (Premier
League)
TEAM NEWS
Milan
Marco Borriello is out
with injury but
Alexandre Pato is back.
David Beckham might be
given the nod ahead of
Gennaro Gattuso in the
midfield but coach
Leonardo might like to
go with the Italian
given that Beckham
could probably struggle
against a workman-like
United midfield.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3):
Dida, Abate, Nesta,
Thiago Silva, Favalli;
Gattuso, Ambrosini, Pirlo;
Pato, Huntelaar,
Ronaldinho
Manchester United
Nemanja Vidic, Ryan
Giggs and Anderson
have been left behind in
Manchester as they all
are suffering from
injury. Rio Ferdinand and
Nani are available as
their suspensions cover
only domestic matches.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1):
Van der Sar, Rafael,
Brown, Ferdinand, Evra;
Fletcher, Scholes, Nani,
Carrick, Valencia;
Rooney
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ronaldinho (Milan)
Ronaldinho has been on
fire for Milan this
season and has
undergone an almost
radical rejuvenation. He
has impressive
statistics with nine
goals and nine assists in
22 matches in Serie A.
The former Barcelona
playmaker was in great
form on Friday too
when Milan edged past
Udinese 3-2 to remain
third in the Serie A
table. Ronnie would be
Milan's main playmaker
on Tuesday night and
he would be trying to
expose the lack of
quality that United
have on the wings.
Darren Fletcher
(Manchester United)
Detractors would
suggest that Darren
Fletcher doesn't have
much talent and they
are right too, but the
fact cannot be denied
that he has been the
best player for
Manchester United this
campaign. Fletcher had
started to show his
quality last season and
this term he has been
brilliant with three goals
and three assists in 21
league matches. Against
a rather slow Milan
midfield that relies
heavily on passes and
individual tricks,
Fletcher's commitment
and hard work would be
assets for the Red
Devils.
PREDICTION
It wouldn't be easy for
Milan especially as
Manchester United
would be happy with a
draw or a 2-1 defeat.
However, Milan do have
more quality upfront
and with Alexandro
Pato retuning from
injury against Udinese in
fine form, it would be
difficult for the United
defence not to concede
at least two goals.
Milan 3-1 Manchester
United