With European qualification finalized the Red Devils can now concentrate on the small matter of the Derby! It's the game that splits families and friends, reds and blues. All the same, someone in Manchester will be celebrating on Saturday. With Chelsea not playing until Sunday, there's an added incentive for United to go nine points clear at the top of the Premiership.
Manchester United came back from a goal down to beat Benfica 3-1 to qualify for the next phase of the Champions League as winners of Group F.
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Sir Alex Ferguson had assured his side would get through, he also reflected on their enduring capacity never to achieve anything without first putting their supporters through purgatory.
In this instance, Ferguson had actually been talking about back-to-back defeats to FC Copenhagen and Celtic which left United in the position of having to avoid defeat in order to prevent Benfica bundling them out at the group stage for the second successive season.
Yet, as if the Red Devils had not generated enough anxiety already, they also allowed their opponents to grab the opening goal. Thankfully, after a bit of a false start, Nemanja Vidic leveled right on half-time, providing the platform for Ryan Giggs and Louis Saha to seal victory in the second period.
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This Saturday they receive in-town rival Manchester City. The Blues of Manchester City head to Old Trafford looking for their first win at United since 1974, yet the Blues are in confident mood after a run of good results of late fired them to the top ten in The Premiership.
"Any time you move up the league it is a good day, so at least we can go into the derby with no fear," Dunne told the club's official website. "If we could just get the breaks up front, our season would be a lot better.
"But we have shown our spirit because at the end of last year, that was a game we could easily have lost. But we are a lot more solid at the back now and we are still full of confidence."
The truth is Sir Alex Ferguson is desperate for another Champions League trophy to add to the 1999 title the Red Devils won along with the Premier League championship and FA Cup that year.
The team is also chasing its first Premier League title since 2003, hoping to stop Chelsea from repeating United's feat of winning three straight championships from 1999 to 2001.
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With a break of almost three months before the resumption of Champions League action, United can focus on maintaining its domestic lead. United faces local rival Manchester City on Saturday while Chelsea hosts Arsenal on Sunday.
English footballers of heart love to watch these games. It's a culture shock to any newbie, since they are passionate about their soccer. Pinnaclesports.com uses a spread line with no draw where United is favorite -1½ goals +111, if you believe in dog City +1½ -121 I say it is not a bad pick. Pinny also has a total of 2½ over 119/ under +109. Go over this game is always high scoring (if that can be applied in soccer).
If you have big bucks at Bodog.com United is -315 while city is +780 with a +335 draw. I like the draw at Bodog. Good luck!
