FC Basel vs Manchester United - Match Preview

A huge night for Manchester United tonight as their Champions League future for this season hangs in the balance in Switzerland knowing if they lose tonight to FC Basel they will crash out of the competition. A draw is minimal for them tonight at St Jakob Park for progression to the Champions League knock-out stages and it could turn out to be a particularly nervy night for Manchester United if they try and hold out for the draw. Sir Alex Ferguson's men certainly haven't left it easy for themselves this season and they needed a last gasp goal from Ashley Young just to get a point from the reverse fixture at Old Trafford. The Red Devils don't usually make this much work of the group stages but if they aren't professional tonight, last season's Runners-up and the English champions could crash out prematurely.

Team News

There is something of a striker shortage tonight for the away side. Dimitar Berbatov is ruled out with an ankle injury. Javier Hernandez is also suffering from an ankle injury he picked up against Aston Villa on Saturday and won't play for the rest of the year. Michael Owen is also out so Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck will be the senior strikers on display tonight. Welbeck has only made one substitute appearance since suffering a muscular problem on duty for England last month. Federico Macheda has made the squad but he has only played four minutes of Premier League action as a sub this season and Mame Biram Diouf has only appeared in the League Cup. Tom Cleverly is also on the sidelines and fellow midfielder Michael Carrick is suspended for tonight's match. Brazilian twins Fabio and Rafael are also ruled out with injury.

Line-ups from;

United squad (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Evans, Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Jones, Fryers, Cole, Fletcher, Young, Valencia, Park, Gibson, Nani, Giggs, Macheda, Rooney, Welbeck, Diouf.