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Manchester United

United are level with Benfica on eight points, but should finish top of Group B if they win this match and probably avoid the big Spanish teams in the last 16. The club is W8-D2-L0 at home to Portuguese opponents, while Benfica have lost 9/12 on English soil, so Sir Alex Ferguson's team will be strong favourites to go clear at the summit of the group.

Nemanja Vidic is suspended. Eleven of the 12 goals United have conceded in the Premier League this season have come in his absence, but six of them came in one match - a match that embarrassed Ferguson, who has presumably been working his players extra hard on their defensive drills ever since.

Benfica

Three points at Old Trafford would make Benfica the group winners, but Jorge Jesus would probably think a draw highly satisfactory. After all, United have lost only one of their last 34 Champions League home games.

United's fans - perhaps their players too - should look out for Nicolas Gaitan, the attacking midfielder who Ferguson has been scouting recently.

Bolton Wanderers fans might look out for Rodrigo, who has scored Benfica's last five goals in all competitions.

Match Odds

United are 1.53 to earn the best possible result. They have kept five clean sheets in a row in all competitions since being taught a lesson by their city rivals and one goal might be enough against a team that looks worryingly reliant on a striker who managed only one goal in 17 appearances for Bolton. Despite Vidic's absence, the Man Utd Win to Nil has some appeal at 2.7.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

Benfica's four group-stage games so far this season have all stayed Under 2.5 Goals, which is a 1.94 shot for this match. Three of United's four matches have been similarly low-scoring and the one that didn't - a 3-3 draw at home to Basle - came before Manchester City had exposed their defensive frailties.

Last season, three group-stage games at Old Trafford produced only three goals in total. If you fancy this match to be another low-scorer, the 1-0 and 2-0 home wins will stand out in the Correct Score market at around 8.0 apiece.

Recommended Bet: Back Man Utd Win to Nil @ 2.7

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