UCL: Valencia V Manchester United

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    Valencia

    Group C Position: 1st
    Group C Form: W (0-4 Buraspor – A)

    So often just the third-best team in Spain’s Primera division, Valencia have began the season like a house on fire and will be buoyed by their magnificent start despite facing their toughest game of the season thus far on Wednesday, with Los Che coming face to face with the team most likely to challenge them for group supremacy.

    It has been a topsy turvy last couple of years for Valencia FC, with their well publicised debts and their failure to land more than one trophy in the last six years contributing to two of their biggest stars at the club departing for pastures new over the summer, with David Villa, the club’s top goalscorer for the last five years running, sealing a dream move to Barcelona while compatriot David Silva signed on the dotted line with the ambitious Manchester City. If ever there were two players more poignant to a club than these were it, but the club has so far coped well without their talismanic duo and they arrive in match day 2 of the Champions League fixtures full of confidence and certainly not downbeat about their chances of turning over one of Europe’s elite at this moment in time.

    Unai Emery’s side started their European adventure in emphatic style, comprehensively beating the champions of Turkey, Buraspor, 4-0 away from home as Los Che sailed to the top of Group C, possibly even sending a bold message out to Wednesday’s opponents that despite their formidable reputation around the world, Group C is by no means Man Utd’s for the taking, not if the Spanish hotshots have anything to say about it. Tino Costa, Aritz Aduriz, Pablo Hernandez and Roberto Soldado with the goals on Match Day 1 in what was an outstanding display of team continuity from the Spanish contenders.

    If the hosts needed some inspiration on Tuesday then they need look no further than their odds on winning Wednesday’s enticing encounter, with Emery’s men 2/1 underdogs despite boasting an unbeaten start in all competitions – Five games unbeaten in La Liga, of which four were victories and thus putting the team top of the standings above arch rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona – A sizeable feat in itself, while the other was, of course, their demolition job of Turkish champs Buraspor. Moreover, Los Che haven’t lost a European encounter on home soil, inside a hot, humid and atmospheric Mestalla stadium, in eleven games.

    Manchester United

    Group C Position: 2nd
    Group C Form: D (0-0 Rangers – H)

    Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that the club should have notched up more than just their two UEFA Champions League titles, with the Scot of the firm opinion that his team in recent term’s were good enough to go all the way only to bottle it in the big games. A manager with high standards clearly, as Man Utd have reached the semi-final of better in three of their last four attempts, while their exit at the quarter-final stage to eventual finalists Bayern Munich last season ended a run of two successive appearances in the final.

    Furthermore, Ferguson believes he possess one of the competition’s most equipped sides this time around. You would find it hard to disagree when you look through their ranks and see so many quality individuals in the crucial areas. Edwin Van Der Sar is about as reliable as they come in goal, boasting so much European experience at nearly 40 years-of-age, while the core of the team is incredibly strong: Vidic & Ferdinand at centre-half, Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes in the centre of midfield and two contrasting forwards; one of the world’s most exciting players in the electric Wayne Rooney while Dimitar Berbatov, despite his laid-back approach to matches, just oozes class. It’s been an effective set up in the English Premier League, with United clinching the league title in three of the last four seasons, but they’re eager to get their European crown back after a two-year drought – A short time for most but far too long for a club of Manchester United’s stature.

    While the Red Devils may boast a greater array of riches than most sides competing in Europe’s elite club competition this season, they still had no answer to Rangers’ defensive barricade in their Group C opener at Old Trafford. Despite being overwhelming favourites beforehand, United lacked any guile or craft in the midfield as Ferguson decided to leave out a number of his big names, much to the dismay and disgust of pundits across the continent. A lack of respect was the general consenus, while even the United supporters left Old Trafford disgruntled after paying good money to see what was effectively a reserve side take to the field in an important fixture. The 0-0 draw at home to SPL champions Rangers has left United needing to make up lost ground elsewhere, with the pressure now on Ferguson and United to deliver and make amends to the fans who felt they were short-changed, by plotting the current La Liga leaders downfall in their own backyard.

    If the United team were in need of some momentum heading into this game, what does appear their trickiest Group C encounter on paper, then they didn’t get it at the weekend. Bolton Wanderers were Manchester United’s opponents on Sunday in a Premier League encounter which, had they won, would have closed the gap on leaders Chelsea. Instead, United slipped up as well, but it was Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney who made the headlines after the game. Both players limped off the pitch midway through the match casting doubts over their involvements on Wednesday night. Sir Alex claims Giggs won’t travel to Spain and will face several weeks on the sidelines, although goal-shy Rooney should recover in time to start at the Mestalla stadium.

    Match Prediction: Valencia to WIN – 3.00 PaddyPower

    The La Liga outfit have made a blistering start to the season, sitting atop of the Spanish Primera standings after five games but also top of Group C, after Unai Emery’s side routed Turkish champs Buraspor 4-0 in Turkey a fortnight ago. To put it into perspective, Valencia are the in form team in Europe right now, bar Mainz of Germany in the Bundesliga, although it is fair to say that Wednesday’s encounter with United is by far and away their biggest test thus far.

    In front of a packed out Mestalla crowd, one baying for United blood, Valencia will look to play on the front foot and if they establish some early rhythm, perhaps even sprint into an early lead, then it could be curtains for a Manchester United team who’s only win away from home thus far has come against Championship opposition in the form of Scunthorpe United in the Carling Cup. Not only have they failed to win either of their opening three away league games but they’ve been leaking goals on their travels too, conceding nine in their opening four away encounters of the season, something Valencia will be looking to capitalise on in Spain on Wednesday.

    Soccer-Betting Value Bet: Valencia to Score First – 2.20 Bet365

    Match Odds:

    Valencia – 3.00 PaddyPower
    Draw – 3.40 Ladbrokes
    Manchester United – 2.63 Boylesports