Played
December 5, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: D. Orsato
Attendance: 71521
December 5, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: D. Orsato
Attendance: 71521
Champions League Preview: Manchester United - CFR Cluj
Sir Alex Ferguson's side is assured of top spot in the group and face the reigning Romanian champion, which still stands an outside chance of qualification for the knockout stages
By James McManus
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
|
MANCHESTER UNITED
 Lindegaard Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Buttner Cleverley, Giggs, Fletcher, Young Welbeck, Hernandez |
CFR CLUJ
 Felgueiras Pinto, Maftei, Cadu, Sepsi Bastos, Camora, Muresan, Sougou Pedro, Kapetanos |
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will likely use the game as an opportunity to rest several key players having already assured of qualification to the next round and with the Manchester derby against rival City to look forward to on Sunday.
The 70-year-old Scot also faces something of an injury crisis in midfield, with Anderson (hamstring), Shinji Kagawa (knee), Nani (hamstring), Antonio Valencia (thigh) and center back Nemanja Vidic (knee) all certain to miss out.
CFR Cluj boss Paulo Sergio, meanwhile, will be without the injured Bakary Sare (broken leg) and star striker Ronny (ligaments), who are both long-term casualties.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Manchester United has conceded the first goal in 14 of its 22 games this season across all competitions.
- The Red Devils lost their 100 percent European record in its last outing, a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray.
- In the reverse fixture in Romania, United won 2-1 courtesy of a Robin van Persie double after Pantelis Kapetanos had opened the scoring.
- Ryan Giggs [pictured right] has scored in a record 16 Champions League seasons. He is also the competition's oldest scorer, at 37 years and 289 days.
- CFR Cluj still stands a chance of qualifying if Galatasaray fails to beat Braga in Portugal and it picks up a positive result, with both teams separated only by goal difference.
- The reigning Romanian champion currently sits in sixth place in its domestic league, 15 points off leader Steaua Bucaresti.
- The visitor is unbeaten away from home in Europe this term over four games, having won three and drawn once.
- Cadu is the sole survivor in the squad from Cluj's only previous trip to England, a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea in the 2008-09 group stage on Dec. 9, 2008.
- The Romanians have committed 89 fouls in the competition so far this campaign, more than any other side.
- Cluj manager Paulo Sergio has previously tasted success in Britain having won the Scottish Cup while in charge of Hearts.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Manchester United 3-0 CFR Cluj
- 17.58 %
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Manchester United 3-1 CFR Cluj
- 15.61 %
-
Manchester United 2-0 CFR Cluj
- 13.4 %
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Dec 5, 2012 | Manchester United 0 - CFR Cluj 1 |
|
| UEFA Champions League (UCL) | Oct 2, 2012 | CFR Cluj 1 - Manchester United 2 |
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Manchester United
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| May 19, 2013 | West Bromwich 5 - Manchester United 5 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Manchester United 2 - Swansea City 1 | EPL |
| May 5, 2013 | Manchester United 0 - Chelsea 1 | EPL |
| Apr 28, 2013 | Arsenal 1 - Manchester United 1 | EPL |
| Apr 22, 2013 | Manchester United 3 - Aston Villa 0 | EPL |
CFR Cluj
 |
||
| Feb 21, 2013 | CFR Cluj 0 - Inter 3 | EL |
| Feb 14, 2013 | Inter 2 - CFR Cluj 0 | EL |
| Dec 5, 2012 | Manchester United 0 - CFR Cluj 1 | UCL |
| Nov 20, 2012 | CFR Cluj 3 - Braga 1 | UCL |
| Nov 7, 2012 | CFR Cluj 1 - Galatasaray 3 | UCL |
| 1 | David de Gea | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Phil Jones | Defender |
| 12 | Chris Smalling | Defender |
| 28 | Alexander Büttner | Defender |
| 6 | Scott Wootton | Defender |
| 11 | Ryan Giggs | Midfielder |
| 23 | Tom Cleverley | Midfielder |
| 25 | Nick Powell | Midfielder |
| 10 | Wayne Rooney | Striker |
| 14 | Chicharito | Striker |
| 19 | Danny Welbeck | Striker |
| 13 | Anders Lindegaard | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Rafael | Defender |
| - | Marnick Vermijl | Defender |
| 18 | Ashley Young | Midfielder |
| 22 | Paul Scholes | Midfielder |
| 24 | Darren Fletcher | Midfielder |
| 27 | Federico Macheda | Striker |
| 1 | Mário Felgueiras | Goalkeeper |
| - | Ivo Pinto | Defender |
| 13 | Felice Piccolo | Defender |
| 20 | Cadu | Defender |
| 24 | Ionut Rada | Defender |
| 6 | Gabriel Muresan | Midfielder |
| 16 | Rafael Bastos | Midfielder |
| - | Luis Alberto | Midfielder |
| - | Camora | Midfielder |
| - | Rui Pedro | Striker |
| 99 | Modou Sougou | Striker |
| 44 | Eduard Stăncioiu | Goalkeeper |
| 8 | Laszlo Sepsi | Defender |
| - | Vasile Maftei | Goalkeeper |
| 13 | M. Aguirregaray | Defender |
| - | Nicolas Godemèche | Midfielder |
| 9 | Pantelis Kapetanos | Striker |
| 32 | Sasa Bjelanovic | Striker |
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
12 | 0 |
|
Robert Lewandowski Striker Borussia Dortmund |
10 | 1 |
|
Thomas Müller Striker FC Bayern München |
8 | 1 |
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
8 | 0 |
|
Burak Yılmaz Striker Galatasaray |
8 | 0 |
