UEFA Champions League: Manchester United vs Schalke Live Reaction and Updates

One could be forgiven for thinking that this tie is all but over. Indeed, taking a 2-0 away leg lead back to a venue in which they have yet to lose this season makes United almost overwhelming favourites to reach their fourth Champions League final in 12 years.

Football, though, has a penchant for producing the unexpected. Who, for example, would have predicted Schalke to inflict a crushing 5-2 away leg win on Inter just last month?

All the noise coming out of OT eludes to the fact that Sir Alex, mindful of Sunday's season-defining league fixture against Chelsea, will rest a number of key players. Expect, therefore, to see a number of the fringe players get their chance against Schalke, with Michael Owen, Rabio, Anders Lindergaard and the returning Darren Fletcher in the frame for a start.

Dimitar Berbatov, the team's top goal-scorer this season is almost certain to start as well, after losing his place in the side to the dynamic duo that Rooney and Chicarito have become in recent weeks.

In terms of the match, I am not going to be as naive as to dismiss Schalke's threat out of hand, but I do not think it is brash to claim that it would quite probably be the most humiliating loss of United's history if they failed to make the final from such a favourable position.

If they play anything like they did in the first leg, there really is little point in even playing the tie, such was the dominance the Red Devils exhibited in the opening leg. It was men against boys. Oh and Manuel Neur; Fergie, sign him up?

So here we are, just under an hour and a half to go and I will return, just before kick off to guide you through the nuances of what promises to be an enthralling encounter.

Just to get you started, my prediction: 2-0, relatively comfortable victory for United. Berbatov and Nani to score. Agree? Let me know.