Berbatov back as United aim to finish job
2nd Leg: 2 - 0 (Agg)
Champions League
18:45 +00:00, May 4, 2011
Old Trafford, England
No team in the Champions League era has ever overturned a two-goal home defeat to progress on aggregate. Such is the scale of the task facing Schalke when they visit Manchester United on Wednesday evening for a game that will decide which side progresses to the final of the Champions League.
United's dominant performance in Germany saw them secure a 2-0 victory in the first leg thanks to goals from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, while only a remarkable performance from Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer kept the scoreline respectable. The margin of that victory, coupled with the fact that United are unbeaten at Old Trafford in all competitions this season, surely ensures it is Sir Alex Ferguson's men who will take part in the Wembley showpiece for their third final in four years. However, the job must still be finished to eradicate any lingering doubt.
Complacency is a threat, especially when Schalke scored no less than five goals when travelling to the home of the European champions Inter in the previous round, but Sir Alex Ferguson may still choose to rest players with a decisive Premier League game against Chelsea approaching on Sunday. The United manager, who saw his side lose 1-0 to Arsenal at the weekend, has suggested that Wayne Rooney could be rested, with Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen possibly starting in conjunction against Schalke and Paul Scholes coming into midfield. Rooney missed the start of United's training session on Tuesday, due to a tight hamstring, while Darren Fletcher could return after spending two months on the sidelines with a virus. Fabio suffered a knock in the defeat to Arsenal and is unlikely to feature.
Schalke's mission improbable could be helped by the possible return of defender Benedikt Howedes, who missed the first leg due to injury but has trained in the build-up to Wednesday's game. It is also reported that striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could end his prolonged absence due to a knee problem to take up his place in attack alongside Raul, who is the European Cup's all-time record goalscorer. Raul has fond memories of Old Trafford having scored a famous goal for Real Madrid following a back-heel from Fernando Redondo in April 2000, with Real progressing into the semi-finals with a 3-2 win on that occasion. The brutal truth is that similar heroics would not even be enough for Schalke on Wednesday.
Manchester United player to watch: Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian has only scored twice since the start of February after being usurped in the starting line-up by Javier Hernandez but is expected to start at Old Trafford so that both Wayne Rooney and his Mexican strike partner can rest up ahead of the Chelsea game at the weekend. Berbatov was only entrusted with 13 minutes of action across two legs of the Champions League quarter-final against the London club, and in fact has not scored a goal in the competition this season, so needs to demonstrate his worth to Ferguson on Wednesday if he is to have any chance of securing a place in the side for the final on May 28.
Schalke player to watch: Jefferson Farfan. United comfortably won the battle of the flanks in the first leg and the onus is now on Farfan and fellow winger Alexander Baumjohann to try and unsettle United in wide positions. Farfan will come up against the imposing talent of Patrice Evra and if he gets the better of the Frenchman then Schalke could have more success than they did in the first leg in Germany. The Peru international, formerly of PSV Eindhoven, fell out with previous coach Felix Magath but looks happier under the control of Ralf Rangnick. His pace and trickery is an important asset of the Schalke attack.
Key battle: Raul v Rio Ferdinand. Ferguson's plan to rest a number of players does not extend to his defence, which is itself a recognition of the respect he has for a player he considered signing following his release by Real Madrid last summer. Raul has scored 71 goals in European competition and, though he does like to drop deep, when approaching the box he will always pose a threat to the United defence. Ferdinand may be the superior physical specimen, particularly with Raul now the wrong side of 33, but few forwards are as clever as the Spaniard and if he is at his elusive best then the United defender may have a tricky night in front of him.
Trivia: Ryan Giggs' goal in the first leg saw him become, at 37, the oldest player to score in the Champions League.
Stats: Schalke have lost three and drawn one of their four previous games in England. They avoided defeat when drawing 2-2 with Wolves in the 1958-59 European Cup.
Odds: Manchester United (1.44), Schalke (7.00) and the draw (4.50) are on offer with bet365. Raul to score first is 11.00.
Prediction: Manchester United will clearly progress, and should do so with some comfort. Expect a two-goal winning margin.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview/_/id/315490?cc=4716
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