Celtic star Wanyama relishing the prospect of facing Manchester United in Champions League

Dec 19, 2012 3:25:00 PM

The Kenya international says it will be a "special feeling" to line up opposite the Premier League side, if they are drawn together in the next round of the competition on Thursday

EXCLUSIVE
By David Kwalimwa

Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama is relishing the prospect of his side squaring up against Manchester United in the next round of the Champions League.

The Scottish side sealed a spot in the round of 16 of the prestigious European competition at the expense of Benfica and Spartak Moscow from Group G, and are destined to face a team that finished first in any of the other seven groups.

Neil Lennon's possible opponents include PSG, Schalke, Malaga, Borrussia Dortmund, Juventus, Bayern Munich or Manchester United. The round of 16 draw is set to be conducted at the Swiss city of Nyon on Thursday.

	STRIKING FIRST
6/1	Victor Wanyama is 6/1 with William Hill to score first when Celtic face Ross County this weekend

"I don't believe it will be proper talking about which team to avoid or face at this stage of the competition. We need to be prepared for any eventuality, and bring up impressive performances like the [2-1 win over Barcelona]," Wanyama told Goal.com.

"Facing Manchester United will be a special feeling. I have watched them for some time and heard several good things about the team and I am also told there is a special rivalry. They are certainly amongst favorites to win the Champions League and it will be amazing to face them."

Wanyama has continuously been linked with a move to Old Trafford ahead of the January transfer window amidst reports that Sir Alex Ferguson has had the defensive midfielder watched on several occasions in the last few months.

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Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

4:54 PM BST

But what do the fans think? Well, yesterday Goal’s roving reporter Kris Voakes went along to the Uefa Champions Festival, which is being staged at the Olympic Park in Stretford, and he spoke with supporters from both sides.

Johannes, Munich, told Goal: "We haven't lost to Dortmund this season, and though we lost two finals [in 2010 and 2012], we are hoping the third time is a charm.

"Last year the English stole our trophy," interrupted his friend Benjamin, "but we are going to take in back to Munich where it belongs."

But Dortmund fan Nicolas says the loss of Mario Gotze to injury is not too much of a concern for Jurgen Klopp's side: “We have Marco Reus and Robert Lewandowski, and yes, we will be fine without Gotze. We will win 2-0.”

4:44 PM BST

However, Dortmund simply cannot be discounted. They relish the role of underdogs and are not in the least bit afraid of their illustrious rivals, having now gone six Bundesliga games without defeat against die Roten. The last time these two met in a final, in last season’s DFB Pokal, Dortmund ran out 5-2 winners. As coach Jurgen Klopp pointed out this week: “We’re not the best team in the world, but we can beat the best team in the world."

4:43 PM BST

Bayern, of course, start as overwhelming favourites to prevail this evening, and understandably so. Not only did they mercilessly batter Barcelona into a shockingly tame capitulation at Camp Nou, they are also coming off the back of a record-breaking Bundesliga campaign which they finished a staggering 25 points clear of runners-up Dortmund, whom they are unbeaten against in four meetings this season.

4:40 PM BST

So, what do you think? Who will prevail this evening? Are Bayern going to banish the memory of last year’s devastating and inexplicable loss to Chelsea at the Allianz Arena? Or are Dortmund going to defy the odds once again and go from the brink of bankruptcy to Champions League winners in just eight years? Get in touch via Facebook and Twitter and I’ll be sure to post the best comments in here.

4:39 PM BST

Finals do not get much more appetising either. What we have here tonight is a game between the two best sides in Europe this season. There is just simply no disputing that. Dortmund have been beaten just once on their remarkable run to the final (quite the feat when you consider they were grouped with Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax), while Bayern have sparked giddy talk of a new era of die Roten dominance akin that enjoyed by the Bavarians in the 1970s by dismantling the likes of Juventus and, in particular, Barcelona on their way to Wembley.

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