United renew Juve rivalry

Manchester United FC and Juventus FC renew an old rivalry when the UEFA Champions League second group stage resumes on February 18 with Matchday Nine.

Eventual group winners
The English Premiership side and the Italian champions occupy the two qualifying positions in Group D and their meeting on 19 February at Old Trafford, followed by the return in Turin on 25 February, will go a long way to determining the eventual group winners.

Old rivalry
The two sides have met six times in the Champions League, the last time being in the 1998/99 semi-finals when United recorded a 4-3 aggregate win.

Busy winter programme
United currently hold a two point lead over Juve, having convincingly won their opening two games and go into the encounter on the back of a FA Cup tie against domestic rivals Arsenal FC. The busy winter programme in England has taken its toll on a number of Sir Alex Ferguson players, with goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, winger Ryan Giggs and midfield player Paul Scholes all suffering injury complaints.

Del Piero sidelined
Juve will be without their influential striker Alessandro Del Piero who had been in impressive form. The Italian international had scored 12 goals in Serie A and four times in seven games in Europe until he pulled a thigh muscle, sidelining him until mid-March.

One point so far
RC Deportivo La Coruña occupy third place, having taken one point so far, and travel to bottom side FC Basel who have no points. The Swiss side will be without the injured Antonio Esposito.

Joint leaders meet
On Tuesday, Group A’s joint leaders Internazionale FC and FC Barcelona meet at Camp Nou. Coach Héctor Cúper will be without defenders Daniele Adani, Francesco Coco, midfielders Emre Belözoglu and Nicola Beati, along with striker Hernán Crespo while new signing Gabriel Batistuta is ineligible for the competition, having already played for AS Roma.

Sorín ineligible
Barcelona may hold a competition record of ten consecutive wins this season, but the Catalans have struggled to replicate that form in the Primera División and are currently just two points off relegation in 15th position. New coach Radomir Antic, who replaced Louis van Gaal at the end of January, cannot call upon the new signing Juan Pablo Sorín who is ineligible for the remainder of the competition, having played for S.S. Lazio in the UEFA Cup.

First points
Meanwhile, Newcastle United FC travel to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, with both teams looking to gather their first points in the group. Newcastle coach Bobby Robson will once again be without suspended strikers Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy while left-sided midfielders Hugo Viana and Gary Speed are both injured.

Open group
Group B is shaping up to be the most open of the second stage. Joint-leaders Arsenal FC, who are still without midfield player Fredrik Ljungberg, and AFC Ajax meet at Highbury while third place Valencia CF, missing right-back Curro Torres for the rest of the season, travel to bottom side AS Roma, who are without a point from two games.

Redondo return
In Group C, AC Milan can further strengthen their hold at the top when they entertain FC Lokomotiv Moskva. The Italians have maximum points from two games and have reinforced their squad with the return of midfield player Fernando Redondo who has recovered from a long-term knee injury.

Positive result
Real Madrid CF’s defence of their crown could come to an untimely end if they fail to gain a positive result at home to second-placed BV Borussia Dortmund. The Spanish giants are bottom of the group with only one point from their opening two games while the 1. Bundesliga side have three points.