Match Preview – Manchester United v FC Basel

Competition: Champions League
Kick-Off & Date: 7:45pm, Tuesday, 27th September 2011
Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester (Home) 
Live TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1 (HD), 7:30pm – 10pm

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Elenito Di Liberatore & Massimiliano Grilli
Additional Assistant Referees: Mauro Bergonzi & Andrea De Marco
Fourth Official: Antonio Danilo Giannoccaro


Form: United supporters were frustrated with two dropped points away to Stoke City on Saturday, but will be looking forward to seeing their team preform in Europe. Despite a build-up in injuries, we can be guaranteed we will have a far better referee. The 1-1 draw with Stoke was only one of only a handful of below-par showings this season, and United are expecting nothing less than a win at Old Trafford against FC Basel. But it won’t all be plain sailing… 
 
Basel come to The Theatre Of Dreams with the intention to upset the routine, and they can be taken as at least the second biggest threat in Group C, most likely below the standard of SL Benfica, but above that of Otelul Galati. FCB are reining Swiss Champions, and have won 6 out of their last 12 matches, which included 4 draws and 2 losses. Basel also beat Otelul 2-1 in their last European Cup game, while United were held to a 1-1 draw with Benfica.
 
 
The Injury Front: United have been riddled with injuries over the past couple of weeks, and the last couple of days did not buck the trend. Wayne Rooney suffered a hamstring problem, and is likely to miss the next two games, Javier Hernandez contracted a dead leg, which will keep him sidelined for one game, Jonny Evans is out with an ankle injury and Chris Smalling has a groin strain. Nemanja Vidic, Rafael DS, Darron Gibson and Tom Cleverley are also out. 
 
Squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Evra, Jones, Ferdinand, Fabio, Fletcher, Park, Nani, Anderson, Young, Valencia, Giggs, Carrick, Owen, Berbatov, Welbeck, Macheda, Diouf.
 

Basel are in much better shape that United, but still have a couple of problems to deal with. Manager Thorsten Fink and his staff have had a while to prepare for their biggest away game of the season, and have rested key players ahead of their mouthwatering tie with The Reds. However, wing ace Xherdan Shaqiri serves a suspension, while stalwart defensive midfielder Benjamin Huggel is also banned for the game. But that is it for Basel !

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The Gaffer: Thorsten Fink is not an acclaimed football manager – yet – but has tons of knowledge about the sport since his professional playing career started back in 1986, the year Sir Alex Ferguson took charge of United. Indeed the German played against our team, in the 1999 Champions League Final with Bayern Munich. Hmm…

Most-Feared: Alexander Frei is one of the most experienced footballers in the Swiss Super League and has the rarity of also being born in Basel. The 32-year-old forward has been around some of Europe’s best teams, and knows how to haunt United’s defence from the past. He has 48 goals in 64 matches with the club !

The Ref: Paolo Tagliavento hails from the Italian city of Terni, and at 39 years of age is an experienced Serie A referee. The Mediterranean official qualified to become a UEFA Champions League ref in 2010, after he did the same for the UEFA Europa League in 2007. He oversaw Arsenal’s game with FK Partizan Belgrade last year.

United Latest‘s Prediction: United 4-0 FC Basel
– Dimitar Berbatov hat-trick & Danny Welbeck too ?

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