Rooney Not 100% To Line Up For Man Utd Against Benfica
Man Utd currently top Champions League Group C despite having won only half their games in the competition so far, only one goal keeps them ahead of Tuesday's opponents Benfica which makes this game a crucial decider for who wins the group and avoids the big guns in the next round. The first game between the sides was 1-1 and whichever side wins this game will be three points above the other with a better head to head record so the loser cannot qualify as group winners.
Wayne Rooney is a slight doubt for this crucial group game, the England striker sat out of training on Monday because of a slight knock and although he is expected to recover in time for the match, we won't know for sure until the team sheets are announced. Jonny Evans is expected to be available for his manager despite the nuisance of a tight hamstring but Chris Smalling has still not recovered from his foot injury. Patrice Evra is back in contention after overcoming injury, Danny Welbeck is still a doubt because of the hamstring injury that kept him out of the England game against Sweden and the Man Utd game against Swansea whilst Michael Owen and Tom Cleverley remain long term absentees.
We have seen a different Man Utd in recent weeks, before their huge loss against Man City they seemed a more swashbuckling side but have had to tighten up since that defeat and have since been scoring fewer goals but have also kept five clean sheets from five matches which is what Sir Alex Ferguson was looking to achieve after conceding six in that match against their rivals. Despite a 3-3 draw at home to Basel, Man Utd are normally very reliable at home, espeically in the Champions League. Three final appearance in four years shows how professional this side are in this competition and you don't do that well by losing yur home games. Benfica have been in decent form domestically, winning four and drawing two of their last six matches, and away from home they are still unbeaten but have drawn three of their five games. Considering the calibre of opposition that doesn't bode well for their trip to Old Trafford and although Benfica will provide a test, a 1-1 draw in the away leg suggests that Man Utd should have the edge now that they have home advantage.