Manchester United FC coach Sir Alex Ferguson expects AS Roma to offer a stiff challenge when the two clubs battle in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday in Rome. Brimming with confidence after snapping Olympique Lyonnais’ 18-match home winning streak in the earlier round, AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti would like nothing better than to get the best of the legendary Scot, owner of 29 trophies.
Against the Reds , Spalletti would like his team to be more on the attack than what his club showed against Lyon knowing full well Ferguson’s Manchester United will come at them full force.
Reds veteran winger Ryan Giggs understands the importance of this match and knows his club faces a huge task. It’s a team we haven’t played since the Champions League started so it’s new territory for us. Obviously they’re a good side. Anybody that goes away from home and beats Lyon 2-0 are a force to be reckoned with, so we’ll need to play well, we know that. But if we keep playing like we know we can, everyone plays well individually and as a team we’ll have a great chance.”
According to offshore oddsmakers at BoDog.com , this is a dead even match offering +160 money line(ml) on both M-U and Roma and +200 if the game ends in a Draw. If the total (2 ½) goes OVER, it will pay +120 as opposed to -160 for an UNDER. Currently there is no line established for a side bet.
The following is the probable lineups per team. For Roma , Doni; Marco Cassetti, Cristian Chivu, Philippe Mexes, Christian Panucci; Simone Perrotta, Daniele De Rossi; Taddei, Christian Wilhelmsson, Mancini; Francesco Totti.
Manchester United is expected to play Edwin van der Sar; Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Gabriel Heinze; Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Kieran Richardson/Alan Smith; Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney.
