Tuesday, December 6, 2011

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07.12. (Wed) 20:45 Basel - Manchester Utd.

Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United (Getty Images)


PROBABLE LINEUPS

BASEL

Sommer
Steinhofer, Abraham, Dragovic, J.Park
Shaqiri, Huggel, G.Xhaka, F.Frei
Streller, A.Frei
MANCHESTER UNITED

De Gea
Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Nani, Jones, Fletcher, Young
Rooney
Welbeck
With no fresh injuries or suspensions, Basel boss Heiko Vogel is likely to stick with the same starting XI which helped secure a 3-2 victory over Otelul Galati on matchday five.

For United, the absence of Michael Carrick through suspension means Sir Alex Ferguson will almost certainly persist with Phil Jones in the centre of midfield, with Chris Smalling deputising at right-back.

Up front, the ankle injury sustained by Javier Hernandez means Danny Welbeck is likely to be the man linking up with Wayne Rooney.
DID YOU KNOW?


  • Basel need to win on Wednesday night in order to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages, while a draw will suffice for Manchester United.
  • Manchester United are unbeaten in the three previous meetings between the sides, winning once and drawing twice.
  • If Basel qualify from Group C, it will be only the second time they have gone beyond the first group stage of the Champions League. The first time, back in 2003, they reached a second group stage, and ultimately missed out on the quarter-finals only by goal difference.
  • Manchester United have reached the Champions League final in three of the last four years, and currently sit top of the Uefa club coefficient rankings.
  • Basel are currently on a run of nine straight victories in domestic competitions, and have only lost three of their 25 matches in all competitions this season.
  • Manchester United have only lost one of their last 25 away matches in the Champions League.
  • Both teams have scored in each of the three previous meetings between the sides.
  • Basel keeper Yann Sommer and Manchester United stopper David de Gea faced each other in last summer’s European Under-21 Championship final, with De Gea’s Spain triumphing 2-0 over Sommer’s Switzerland.

Prediction
United will have the better of the opening exchanges and will make their early superiority count by taking the lead. Basel will rally as the game wears on, but United’s formidable defence will ensure a comfortable passage to the knockout stages.
Editor's Prediction
Basel 0-1 Manchester United