Manchester United vs. Glasgow Rangers - Preview
The Trophy
By David Hobbs
November 4 2003
Manchester United will play host to Rangers in the greatly anticipated Battle Of Britain Part 2 in the Champions League. United have already played Rangers in the competition at Ibrox on the 22nd of October. United narrowly won the match 1-0 with a rare 5th minute strike from Phil Neville.
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Manchester United
vs. Glasgow Rangers |
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Manchester United will play host to Rangers in the greatly anticipated Battle Of Britain Part 2 in the Champions League.
United have already played Rangers in the competition at Ibrox on the 22nd of October. United narrowly won the match 1-0 with a rare 5th minute strike from Phil Neville. But United need to perform better in this game to have any chance of winning the game.
Both teams go into with gave with high moral after both teams had domestic success. Rangers beat Partick Thistle 3-1 and United beat Pompey 3-0.
As for the team news, Diego Forlan, who is on sensational form - scoring 3 goals in 3 games, is set to partner Ruud van Nistelrooy up-front. Phil Neville will start in midfield and so too will Roy Keane, who has been rested for a few games. Nicky Butt and Eric Djemba-Djemba are both set to start on the bench and so too is Brazilian midfielder Kleberson who has now recovered from a dislocated shoulder. Mikael Silvestre will face a late fitness test to see if he is fit to start the game.
Rangers' Dutch defender Ronald de Boer has traveled with the Rangers team but will not start the game due to injury. Michael Mols has recovered from illness and will start up-front and Emerson, who started on the bench for the last game, will start. Fernando Ricksen is a major doubt due to injury and United old boy Henning Berg will return to Old Trafford.
Sir Alex commented on the game, saying: "I think it will be an open game. I think the issue we’ll be faced with is making sure Rangers don’t control any tempo in the match in the way they did in the first half at Ibrox. I thought they controlled the rhythm of the game through Arteta"
United have been placed at 3/10 to win the Battle Of Britain 2nd Leg but Rangers have been placed at 7/1 by Ladbrokes. |
| One to Watch - Peter Lovenkrands |
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The Danish winger surprised United's defence
with his forward and attacking runs into the box and nearly scored for
Rangers towards the end.
He says that Rangers can 'surprise' United, saying: "I don't think many people truly believe that we can get something out of this, but I think if we can play up to the standard of the home game we can maybe surprise them," |
| ManUtdWeb Prediction - Manchester United 3 - Rangers 1 |
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I think the atmosphere at Old Trafford will blow Rangers away (not literally) and will have their confidence drained by the United faithful. I'm predicting a 3-1 home win. |
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