Economic crunch

Tonight we'll be playing against Benfica without back up midfielders in Carrick and Fletcher with Cleverley and Anderson still out - these injuries are starting to mount and hopefully will not disrupt our momentum.

We need to win this game to finish top coz Benfica will play Otelul in their final game while we'll be away to Basel...don't need strong opposition in the knockout stages when we're not 100%...but then again, this is the CL.

While I like the way Napoli have been playing, I'd prefer that City stay in the CL just a bit longer - keep them distracted. The entire team is healthy!

Thursday night soccer will be more distractive to them than CL.

Actually hadn't thought about that @Mwenza...that would definitely offer the best distraction with games on Thursday though Man City can cope with the depth.

@Taz, Thursday night football for Man Utd would be a stretch, am certain Otelul will go down fighting today, am more worried about Benfica's strategy for today - we have not been convincing but at least we have gone back to the basics i.e. a good defense

@Safariant, the Arsenal group would have been very competetive had Dortmund been strong from the beginnning as they were last season in the Bundesliga when they won, right now they're playing catch up without Sahin who left for Real and Barios who is just coming from a long lay off otherwise it would have been a pretty tricky group for Arsenal. It can still be if Dortmund come away with a point (or all 3)

Tomorrow's match between AC and Barca should be a cracker as well

By the way I forgot Vidic is suspended for this game - that is quite worrying considering we have kept a clean sheet in all 5 games following the drubbing by City precisely because of his assured presence - in fact Fergie's attempt to punish Vidic following his red card against Otelul away led to that walloping. Unfortunately Smalling is not ready for today's match but Rafael is available - if I was Fergie I'd start with Fabio, Jones, Rio and Evra at the back, can't trust Evans in such a game and Rafael won't be much fit...if he was I'd start the twins on either wing since Evra keeps getting caught out of position

Anyway,hopeful we'll get a win

Man United already 1 goal down......Man Citeh under siege!!

Nasri on for Mancs.......i wonder why he went to warm benches but am sure his pockets got warmer too, only thing is he might start warming the bench for the country too due to inaction for the club

Wrong! Milan and Barca are already through to the knockout stages and tonight's match will be a battle for 1st spot - while both teams can handle themselves with any opposition, who wants to meet Bayern or real this early?

What a night of European football!!!

Man Utd had already made their work difficult when they drew against Basel at OT when they were leading 2-0 at the half, that was the worst performance by an overconfident team I've ever seen. Benfica yesterday pressed for every ball and had more intent from the beginning.It is even good that they scored early because Man Utd have this way of playing football where there's no intensity unless they're a goal down or unless it is 10 minutes to play and they have not scored. Frankly it is very annoying and once they score they immediately switch off. I have noticed it on numerous occassions and it has cost us many games along the way. We're definitely NOT getting first position, unless Otelul pull off some unlikely magic in Benfica, in fact, the game against Basel away is a final for us - what a way to end what on paper seemed like the easiest group for the EPL teams!

City can take heart in the fact that Bayern will definitely play a weak side at Etihad and Villareal will want to finish with at least one point in their group. They would have been beaten at least 5-1 if it wasn't for Joe Hart and the upright

Bayern and Real continue to show their formidability, easily dispatching teams without Schweinsteiger and Ronaldo &Di Maria respectively - I would take AC MIlan any day to avoid meeting any of the two in the knockout stage (assuming AC Milan beat Barca and finish top of the group)

The thing most players seem to forget about CL is that any mistake is always punished Hard and fast and when it comes to knockout stages, away goals have been the bane of many.

I eagerly await Arsenal vs Dortmund and AC vs Barca

Its becoming harder and harder to watch United games after the City thrashing. SAF is calling it "back to basics" but i don't buy it. It reminds me of the 2003-2004 season that led to the purchase of Rooney. By then Ronaldo hadn't come of age and the strike force was just as blunt and the team was playing "horrible" football. The problem with SAF is that he has taken Man-u to such great heights that criticizing him and his methods is almost laughable. Anyway fingers crossed as I hope that he actually knows what he is doing.

Is there a chance Man-u can top the group if they win away at Basel?