Manchester United vs. Real Madrid: Complete Start Time and TV Schedule Info

Manchester United will head into their Champions League match against Real Madrid completely aware of the daunting task that stands in front of them.

Having drawn 1-1 in Madrid in the first leg of their round of 16 clash, United now stand on the precipice of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the most prestigious tournament in the world—as well as standing just 90 minutes away from elimination in the European competition.

The Red Devils have been in excellent form this year—unbeaten in all competitions since November—but their opponents have had some good recent results in an up-and-down season.

Los Blancos netted back-to-back wins over Barcelona in the last week—including a 3-1 victory at the Nou Camp in the Copa del Rey semifinals before a 2-1 La Liga win at the Santiago Bernabeu—and will no doubt carry plenty of confidence and self-belief with them into this fixture.

Can United pull off a victory here and keep their chance at a treble in 2013 alive, or will it be further success for Jose Mourinho's side in this one?

Either way, it's shaping up to be a must-watch fixture and one that is set to provide plenty of scintillating football action. Read on for a complete preview of the match including all the necessary details and viewing information as well as a last-minute prediction.

Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Start time: 2:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. kickoff local time)

Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester, England

Live Stream and TV Info

Fox Soccer 2Go, SiriusXM FC, Fox Soccer Channel and FOX Deportes will all have coverage of the match throughout the United States (per Live Soccer TV).

ITV 1, BBC Radio 5 Live and UTV will do the same in the United Kingdom, while a live stream can be seen via Sky Sports Events Centre and Fox Soccer 2Go. 

Full Preview 

Click here for a full preview of this key Champions League clash. 

The 2013 UEFA Champions League so Far

Real Madrid qualified from the hardest group in the 2013 UEFA Champions League, having been drawn alongside three domestic champions from the year before.

However, Los Blancos managed to emerge from the "Group of Death" in second place behind Borussia Dortmund. They did not keep a clean sheet throughout any of their group stage matches, but were also never beaten at home.

Manchester United had a much simpler time in their group—qualifying in first place from a relatively weak field to set up their round of 16 clash with Madrid.

The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first leg, with Madrid dominating possession and creating more chances on the night. However, they were unable to break the deadlock against United—who probably should have grabbed the winner through Robin van Persie.

Just how big those misses will turn out to be for either side in this return leg will be telling.

Biggest Storyline to Watch

Without doubt, the biggest storyline to watch is that of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is making his return to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving Manchester United.

The Madrid winger and world football superstar has again been in clinical form for the Spanish champions and is without doubt the biggest threat for the Red Devils in this one—something that they'll definitely have prepared for for some time now.

The 28-year-old will be mentally fresh having been rested twice by Mourinho in the last two weeks, and will be looking to dominate once again in this one. He won't have the man-marking presence of Phil Jones to deal with either this time, with the defender ruled out due to injury—making for a potentially potent night from the Portuguese international.

Sir Alex Ferguson will certainly have a plan to stop Ronaldo here, but whether the Red Devils can effectively do it on the night still remains to be seen.

Last-Minute Facts to Consider

1.  Real Madrid have only won in one of their past five trips to England in the Champions League—defeating Tottenham Hotspur in April, 2011. United, by comparison, have only been beaten once in their past 14 home matches in the European competition.

7.  Real Madrid are yet to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League this year, conceding in all seven of their European matches so far. However, the Spanish champions still average less than a goal against per game through the 2012-13 season.

3.  Manchester United have conceded just three goals in their past nine matches in all competitions this season—averaging a clean sheet in over a third of the home league games this season.

All statistics provided via Eurosport. 

Prediction

With the home advantage and good recent domestic results, Manchester United will no doubt like their chances at toppling the slightly-favored Madrid heading into this one—although it certainly won't be an easy task for the English league leaders.

Los Blancos are in stellar form of late and will carry a huge amount of self-belief and momentum into this fixture. Given all that's transpired for them in the past week, that self-belief is completely understandable, and could be a real factor for the away side in this one.

They'll hold no fear in playing in front of a full house at Old Trafford and will know that their attack can get the better of United's defense if they take their chances.

The English giants will still be threatening on the counterattack and through the skill of their wingers as well, but it will be the effectiveness of Madrid's attack that proves to be the difference here as goals rain down for both teams throughout this fixture.

United won't be as defensive as they were in the first leg and will look to attack Madrid while the Spanish side certainly need no assistance when it comes to playing with an attacking mindset. As a result, lots of goals should be scored in this one—which suits Madrid as the away side here.

In the end, expect that away-goal rule to prove the difference in this one, as United fall agonizingly short of making it through to the final eight of the competition while Real Madrid continue to prove they're still one of the top teams in world football.

Final score: Manchester United 2, Real Madrid 2

(Real Madrid win 3-3 on aggregate, away-goal rule)

Who do you think will win? Manchester United or Real Madrid?

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