Date: 15th March 2012 at 12:48am
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Will Giggsy be celebrating another title win?

Will Giggsy be beating Maldini?

It’s nigh on impossible to predict who will play for United in tomorrow’s fixture against Bilbao. Will Ferguson really go for it and select a team who’ll go and chase the game or will he rest Rooney and co. in an attempt to keep them fit and fresh for the assault on the league?

Team News

De Gea has travelled back to his homeland and looks likely to start and attempt to repeat his heroics from the first leg where, let’s face it, if it wasn’t for him we’d stand even less of a chance of progress than we do at the moment!

In defence Evans should partner Ferdinand at the back although Smalling may be given the opportunity for a run out. Vidic, obviously, is still out injured and Phil Jones didn’t travel with the squad. Evra is favourite to start at left back and retain his captaincy although both da Silva twins travel and could feature on either flank.

The midfield is going to be shorn of Nani but boosted by the return of Antonio Valencia. Giggs is fit and ready to break records and will likely partner Carrick or Cleverley in midfield. Scholes, whilst fit, started against West Brom so may be rested as Ferguson keeps him ready for the league. Paul Pogba appears to have signed a new contract or, at least, appears on the brink of doing so and may get some game time too – probably from the bench though.

Up front will likely see Rooney partner one of Hernandez or Welbeck. Berbatov is likely to be left skulking on the sidelines again making us all love him a little more.

United: (from) De Gea, Amos, Rafael, Fabio, Evra, Smalling, Evans, Ferdinand, Carrick, Scholes, Cleverley, Giggs, Park, Pogba, Valencia, Young, Rooney, Welbeck, Hernandez, Berbatov

Match Facts

Ryan Giggs, if selected, will break Paolo Maldini’s appearance for one club record of 902.

Giggs could also score his thirtieth goal in European competition as could Wayne Rooney.

United’s record in 42 games against Spanish opponents reads W11 D17 L14 (W8 D9 L3 at Old Trafford – W2 D8 L9 in Spain). That total includes a win and two defeats against FC Barcelona in major European finals held at neutral venues.

Athletic’s 15 games against English sides ended W4 D4 L7 (W3 D3 L1 at home – W1 D1 L6 in England).

Should United win the Europa League they will be only the fourth side to have taken all three of UEFA’s major club trophies, joining Juventus, AFC Ajax and FC Bayern München

If United win the Europa League, Ferguson will be the third coach to have won all three of UEFA’s major club competitions, after Giovanni Trapattoni and Udo Lattek.

My Prediction

I think it’s going to be a classic case of ‘blessing in disguise’ and an opportunity to ‘focus on the league’ after tomorrow’s fixture. I can see United giving it a real go but after seeing the manner in which Bilbao approached the first leg and the quality the possess I can’t see us going through. I think I’m one of the few fans who want United to progress in this tournament but I can’t claim that I’d be crying myself to sleep if they failed to progress. What is more worrying is the manner in which they’ve found themselves in this position. Will this year prove to be the year we had to take a step back in order to take two steps forward? I’m talking as much, here, about the Premier League as United for it can’t be denied that the Spanish La Liga has really upped their game in recent years and we’re in danger of being left behind.

Follow me on Twitter @Matthew_James7 and Red Flag Flying High @RFFH

 

2 responses to “Match Preview: Manchester United vs Bilbao (Away)”

  1. Yunata yuna says:

    I dnt knw how u call urself a united fan yet u dnt seem to hv a united spirit of never say die.u raise the surrender flag when the war is half fought.am sorry to say bt u fit arsenals fans approach to pre matches bt ur r vry far frm manus pedigree

  2. Matt says:

    I’m sorry but that comment is very difficult to decipher. I think you’re suggesting that I’m not a true United fan because I’m not going to be overly upset if they’re knocked out tonight?

    Quite honestly, I won’t! Obviously, it goes without saying, I hope they win. However, if they leave the competition I can see the huge benefit of just having the league to focus on.

    Given the choice between the two trophies I’d take the league every single day of the week. Offer me both and, obviously, I’d want both.

    Finally, I know plenty of Arsenal fans too and they take supporting their club very seriously.