I look at this United side, and I don’t think of it as being as strong a side as their impressive record shows. Missing Wayne Rooney for nearly a month, and Antonio Valencia suffering such a terrible injury. I surly thought United would be in or around 3rd place. But there’s something about this United side that is certainly special, lets hope they can keep this up!

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Sir Alex gave 20 year-old Ben Amos his Champions League debut and started the Da Silva twins along with Ferdinand and Vidic. Carrick, Anderson, Park and Nani covered the midfield, while Rooney and Berbatov started up top.

United had a chance of handing Sir Alex yet another record, by becoming the only team to go through the group stage without conceding a goal.

After some good chances from both sides, it was a Valencia who would take advantage of a horrible mistake by Michael Carrick. The midfielder tried to play it back to his defender but it was read and intercepted by Dominguez before picking out Pablo, who was unmarked. Pablo made no mistake and finished in the first half hour of the match.

A great chance for United and a spark of brilliance from Wayne Rooney as he cuts in and curls one up and over Guaita but cant beat the crossbar, the ball land for Nani but the Portuguese play-maker hits it wide.

United would trail 1-0 at the half.

United would have to wait 15 minutes into the second half for the equalizer, as Park took a powerful shot from outside the 18 and Anderson ran in for the rebound. You done usually see the young Brazilian on the score sheet, but he was at the right place, at the right time and didnt disappoint.

Now all United had to do was hold on to secure top spot, and they did. United will now face

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With leading Kuszczak the back, keep in mind that this was a decision made long before Van der Sar’s mind-boggling error over the weekend and not as a result of the unintentional mistake. Rafael, who I like more and more every time I see play. Smalling, Vidic, and the world best left back, Evra across the back.

Fletcher, Carrick, and Anderson across the middle, as Scholes and Giggs are still out injured. Park and Nani on the wings, while Macheda played as a center striker.

This is one of those games Sir Alex could use to give his youngsters a bit of European experience.

United had a wonderful start, as usual, it will be interesting to see if they could hold the lead this time! Nani hit a wonder strike from way out, finding the far-post with his left foot. 7 minutes in United is up 1-0.

United continued to dominate, particularly Nani, who was everywhere. He is carrying the team at the moment and pulled all the strings in midfield, frustrating the Bursaspor’s defense into fouling him.

Macheda was useless in the first-half, he didn’t hold a single ball he received, and he lost it every time. There was also minimal effort from the young Italian

Halftime: United find themselves in a very familiar scenario, they are up 1-0 at half. Could they hold the lead.

It was a slow start to the second half, United could not get anything going. Sir Alex needed to make a move and like an unwritten rule the sub comes in the 70^th minute. Park would come off for Obertan, a smart sub from Sir Alex. You’re not going to get a big difference between the two, and Obertan gets some Champions League experience.

Chicharito would come on for Anderson in the 78^th minute and make an instant impact. Obertan was getting involved and United looked alive in the last 15 minutes, creating chances by putting some great passes together.

Chicharito would have a great opportunity in the 90th minute that he missed just wide. I liked the combination of Macheda, Chicharito, Obertan and Nani. They seemed to flow well, and understood each other.

After 90 minutes the ref blew the whistle and United win 1-0. Finally! United keep a lead and win the match!

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No Scholes, no Giggs, no Neville and No Rooney. It was a newer generation to take on Valencia, and maybe that’s what it took to beat those statistics, United had only won once in 18 matches against Spanish opposition, on Spainsh soil.

United would play with Berbatov as the lone striker, with Nani and Park on the wings. while Anderson joined Carrick and Fletcher in the middle. United had, what I feel, is the strongest back line with Van der Sar in goal, Ferdinand and Vidic in the middle, they just compliment each other so well. With Evra and Rafael at left and right back, Evra is arguably the best left back in the world, and Rafael will be one of the best right backs, both provide another option going forward.

While Macheda, Hernandez, Owen, Smalling, O’Shea, Gibson, and Kuszczak waited patiently.

Both teams went into the match with plenty of respect for each other. Much of the first 10 minutes were played in the middle of the field.

It wasn’t until the 15th minute that Valencia got look at goal because Carrick made a mess of what seemed to be a faily routine play, he seemed to have mistaken Pablo for for a United player, generously handing over the ball 25 yards in front of goal. Luckily Pablo puts a little too much on it and it sails over the bar.

Soldado would have a golden opportunity a minute later. Who knows what Van der Sar was thinking when he came out to try and get that ball. He was caught out in no-mans-land and lucky for him Soldado just wasnt expecting it as he hits it up and over the bar.

After those two chances there wasn’t much action in the first half. Both teams were lacking that number 10 “maestro” in the center of midfield. Anderson is Brazilian, but he lacks that Brazilian magic of say Ronaldinho.

The first half would end 0-0 with Valencia having more chances on goal.

By far the most influential player was Pablo, he was taking players on and putting in some great service, but no one could get on the end of it.

Pablo had another great effort in the 49th minute, coming in from the right and cutting to the left past Evra and pulled off a great left shot that just went wide.

Finally United would look a little dangerous in the 56th minute when Fletcher found Berbatov with a 40 yard pass which he controlled brilliantly and then took his defender and went in on goal, earning a corner for United.

But still Valencia looked more dangerous, United couldnt get anything in the final third.

That was until Sir Alex went to the bench and brought on, Javier Hernandez. Many thought it would be Owen off the bench first, but it’s the young Mexican who comes on for Anderson to partner up with Berbatov.

With in 5 minutes of coming on Hernandez would have a look at goal, Nani put in a brilliant ball and Hernandez just got a foot on it, but it wasnt enough as he hits the post.

And again Owen was snubbed as Macheda would come on for Berbatov. But Sir Alex’s decision would pay off in a big way. After only a minute of being on the pitch together, Macheda and Hernandez would team up for the GAME WINNING GOAL! Nani took the ball down the line, just like hes supposed to, he pulled two players toward him which allowed Macheda to open up in the middle, then Macheda would pick out Hernandez at the top of the 18, and with a absolutely brilliant first touch, Hernandez would put in a superb left footed goal.

That would be it! Manchester United would win against Spanish opposition.

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First, we wont see Scholes, Giggs, or Rooney

Keepers: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Amos. Defenders: Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O’Shea, Evans, Smalling, Rafael, Brown. Midfielders: Anderson, Bebe, Nani, Carrick, Gibson, Fletcher, Park. Forwards: Hernandez, Berbatov, Owen, Macheda.

I think United should start with Van der Sar at keeper. Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, and Rafael across the back. Fletcher and Gibson in the middle, with Nani and Park on the wings. And Berbatov and Hernandez up top.

Valencia is currently on top of the La Liga table, ahead of both Barcelona and Real Madrid, even without thier superstar Davids, David Villa and David Silva. This will be a good test for United, it will give us an idea of whether United will be Champions League contenders or not.

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“Two to three weeks maybe, it depends. He’s a strong lad and he’s done quite well in recovering from injury in the past,”

But What ankle? No one seems to know. And in what play? I remember watching the match and it must have happened off camera.

I think this is an attempt to keep poor Rooney out of the tabloids, and buy him some time to regain focus. Focus which he has obviously lost, he has been horrendous lately. I hope this strategy works.

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Sir Alex has stated “The operation has been successful and the break was clean, which was the major concern for us at the time,”

When asked when we could expect Valencia back, he said “You can never be 100 per cent accurate in these situations and it is a bad injury, but we are looking at the end of February, which is better than we thought on Tuesday.”

“He is a strong boy, who is very positive about it.”

“Being positive helps you in these situations, so we are very hopeful we will get him back then.”

Valencia was in great form leading up to this injury, and unfortunately I don’t believe he will find this type of form again, but I do wish him the best and I hope all his recovery is a speedy and successful one

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Im anxious to see what Bebe has, I doubt Sir Alex will play him though, I am sure it was only to quiet some of the critics. A more ideal debut for the 20 year-old will be in the Carling Cup the following week against Scunthorpe.

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United will have a strong line-up for the quarter-final. I predict Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, and Evra across the back, Carrick and Fletcher as holding midfielders Nani on the left and Park on the right, with Rooney up top.

Robben looks to be in doubt for the big match, and that would be a big plus, seeing as how the Dutchman has been in impeccable form.

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Manchester United will beat Bayern and then beat Bordeaux in the semi final before booking their spot in the final for the third consecutive year. While Barca will blow by Arsenal and have to face Inter. Although Barca already beat Inter in the group stage, the semi-final will bring an extremely different match up.

I feel Inter will come out on top and set up for a memorable final at the Santiago Bernabeu between Inter and Manchester United.

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