Manchester United host VfL Wolfsburg in their 2008/09 Champions League home opener in what should be a very wide-open, highly-entertaining match.
United have a Champions League record 21-match unbeaten streak at Old Trafford, and Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to keep it the fortress that it is has become over the past few seasons. The last time that United were beaten at home was 1-0 loss in February of 2005 against AC Milan.
Wolfsburg secured the top spot in the group following a convincing 3-1 win over CSKA Moscow. A hat trick by Brazilian international Grafite gave all three points to the home side that are on top of the group on goal differential.
United are in second spot in the group, after a scoring a rare 1-0 victory in Turkey against reigning Turkish Champions’ Besiktas. The only difference between the two sides was a 77th minute headed-goal from Paul Scholes.
Attack
VfL Wolfsburg has showed while they can score with the best of them, they are suspect at the back, which is going to have the mouths of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov watering.
The United fullbacks - Patrice Evra and John O’Shea - hold the key to the game for the Reds. They will have a big say in the start of counterattacks and with helping defend against Dzeko and Grafite.
Over lapping runs along with crosses being whipped into the Wolfsburg box, United will surely cause problems and undo the Wolfsburg culpable defense, which has conceded 14 goals in just seven league matches.
About
VfL Wolfsburg are led by first-year coach Armin Veh, and qualified for the Champions League this season by shocking the footballing world winning the German Bundesliga title last season.
Wolfsburg was a team that was in relative obscurity in the second division of German football, but they have quickly progressed in their first two seasons in topflight finishing 5th and 1st, respectively.
The club was founded in 1945, and is completely owned by Volkswagen AG.
Who
Edin Dzeko and Grafite combined for a total of 54 goals in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal (German Football-Federation Cup) in the 2008/09 season (30 and 32 goals, respectively).
Both Dzeko and Grafite are continuing their fine form from last season, having both tallied six goals apiece.
That deadly strike force has been reinforced with the addition of former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins. The little Nigerian has already registered two goals for his new club in five appearances. Last season, he scored the opening goal in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford the Magpies.
Another very attack-minded player is Serbian midfielder, Zvjezdan Misimovic. Misimovic has already scored an impressive four goals this season, so it goes to show that he is not afraid to get forward.
With two teams capable of playing some of the most enthralling, attack-minded football in Europe, this has the billing to be a very memorable night at Old Trafford for all football fans!
Treatment
Out: E. van der Sar, Rafael, G. Obertan, O. Hargreaves; Doubtful: J.S. Park
Projected
B. Foster; J. O’Shea, R. Ferdinand, N. Vidic, P. Evra; A. Valencia, Anderson, D. Fletcher, R. Giggs; W. Rooney, D. Berbatov
Prediction
Manchester United 5, VfL Wolfsburg 3
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