Man Utd v AC Milan preview

Ferguson aiming to place Beckham razzmatazz in the shadows

Last updated: 10th March 2010  

Man Utd v AC Milan preview

Fergie and Becks: Ready for battle

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David Beckham's return to Old Trafford will grab the headlines, but there is also a vitally-important UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg clash set to take place between Manchester United and AC Milan on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils' former No.7 makes his way back to the ground he once called home for the first time at club level since his £25million move to Real Madrid in 2003 and the on-loan Milan ace is set to hog the limelight.

Beckham, principally of LA Galaxy, and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson have rebuilt the broken relationship that caused the former's departure and there is a mutual respect between both parties, although the player has been far more willing to publicly voice his admiration.

Ferguson has preferred to concentrate on the match and the fact that his side hold a 3-2 advantage following an engrossing first leg in northern Italy and he has even suggested that an out-of-form Beckham may not start in Manchester.

The ex-England captain may well begin the encounter among Milan's substitutes, but this is unlikely to detract from what promises to be a fascinating European night under the floodlights between two continental powerhouses.

Ferguson has said that his side struggle when attempting to defend a lead and that they will therefore attack Leonardo's side, who themselves know that they need goals if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.

Renaissance

But Milan are not as strong as the side that won two Champions League trophies in the last decade and their summer-appointed manager's inexperience has been exposed at times this season as city rivals Inter Milan are comfortable leaders in Serie A.

Another concern for the men from Lombardy is that Wayne Rooney has recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out of last Saturday's Premier League victory over Wolves and the 28-goal striker will offer United's main threat.

Defender Wes Brown has broken a bone in his foot and is facing up to six weeks of rehabilitation and so the England player could well be replaced by veteran right-back Gary Neville, who is a best friend of Beckham.

Antonio Valencia, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes and Park Ji-Sung are expected to complete United's midfield, while Edwin van der Sar should start in goal and Dimitar Berbatov may well accompany Rooney.

Milan will look to Ronaldinho for their potency after the Brazilian, who is having somewhat of a renaissance, displayed touches of his old brilliance in the first leg at the San Siro.

Alexandre Pato has been included in Leonardo's 22-man squad, despite the star striker missing his club's 0-0 draw at Roma last weekend due to a hamstring injury.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will start if his team-mate is not ready for kick-off, while Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini and Alessandro Nesta will offer a wealth of experience along Milan's spine.