UEFA Champions League 2011: Predicting Man United's Starting XI vs. Marseille

After the morale-boosting victory over Man City at the weekend won by Wayne Rooney’s wonder-goal, Man United reverts their attention to Europe a week on Wednesday and the trip to the Stade Veledrome, home of reigning Ligue 1 champions Maseille. Marseille, who looked convincing in their qualification for the knock out stage, will undoubtedly prove a test for Alex Ferguson’s men. All being said though, if you were to subjectively analyse the relative merits of either side, United would certainly fancy their chances against the French.

Wednesday sees the first leg in the French City, a game in which Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking for his team to gain an advantage to take to Old Trafford on March 15th. With this in mind, I could see United employing a more attacking formation than the 4-5-1 they employed against Man City, possibly dropping a central midfielder and returning to a traditional 4-4-2.

Below is the team I expect United to line up with a week on Wednesday, bereft of key players Rio Ferdinand and Ji Sung Park who this week added to United’s injury woes.

Goalkeeper

United’s aging custodian Edwin Van Der Sar had a solid game this weekend and would be expected to keep his place in the side. Van Der Sar has been a mainstay in the United rear-guard for the last few years and, when fit, is essentially guaranteed his position.

With Van der Sar retiring at the end of the current campaign and United’s search for a replacement well publicised, expect the big Dutchman to set a high precedent over the coming months for the new man to live up to.

Defenders

Again this could potentially line up as the same starting four that began the match at Old Trafford on Saturday. Chris Smalling, who performed so competently this weekend—shackling City captain Carlos Tevez and winning a staggering 92 percent of all his challenges (the most of any player)—may, however, be rested from this game.

I would expect Rafael, who did not feature against City, to be introduced into the side to face Marseille at right back to counteract Didier Deschamps’s side’s counterattacking pace. This would then push John O’Shea into a more central role alongside the Serbian beast that is Nemanja Vidic.

Patrice Evra is essentially a cert to continue in the left-back berth. England captain Rio Ferdinand was injured in the warm-up at the weekend and will be unavailable for the match, otherwise he would have taken O’Shea’s position. Jonny Evans is also injured and therefore unavailable.

Midfield

In my opinion the midfield will change from the side that faced City. Anderson, who looked distinctly out of his depth against Man City is unlikely to keep his place in the centre.

In addition I feel that Paul Scholes looked far from his commanding best on Saturday, and he too may well be rested. In Scholes’ stead England international Michael Carrick is likely to be brought in to create a partnership with the impressive Daren Fletcher.

On the wings both Nani and Ryan Giggs looked impressive in the derby, with Gigg’s consummate performance belying his 37 years. Nani himself has developed into a world class player in the absence of the departed Cristiano Ronaldo, if one tinged slightly by histrionics.

Park, who was injured in training today (February 15), would quite possibly have started against Marseille to provide cover for Evra on the left and to give Giggs a rest, but in the Korean’s absence expect the Welshman to be preferred from the start on Wednesday.

Forward

So that leaves two. After his amazing winner this weekend Wayne Rooney has made himself undroppable, even if the rest of his performance on Saturday was underwhelming to say the least.

Expect United’s top scorer Dimitar Berbatov to partner Rooney up front. Berbatov, who was demoted to the bench for the derby has defied his critics this season in a series of impressive performances, but has a tendency to drift out of the play in tight games.

This being taken into account, if the game in Marseille is tight coming into the last half hour, I would be unsurprised to see Berbatov removed and replaced by the more lively, poachers instincts of Javier “Chicarito” Hernadez.

Prediction:  Marseille 0 United 2

Agree? Tell me your starting line ups and/or predictions below.