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MANCHESTER - Sporting Lisbon should not expect an easy ride at Old Trafford on Wednesday (NZ time), even though Manchester United has already advanced to the Champions League knockout phase.
The Portuguese side needs a victory to pressure AS Roma for second spot. A win for United would
put the Red Devils through as Group F winners.
Man United is coming off a 1-0 loss to Bolton on Sunday, which ended a 10-match unbeaten streak in the Premier League.
"We're obviously disappointed, but we have to move on now," United winger Ryan Giggs said. "We need to get back on track as soon as possible. We've done it before and we have to do it again."
United leads the group with 12 points, Roma has 7 and Sporting is third with 4 points.
United manager Alex Ferguson is seeking another European Cup to add to his 1999 triumph, with this season's campaign also marking the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash. Eight United players died in February 1958 on the team's return from a European Cup match.
Ferguson may again use fringe players like Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson, who helped to demolish Dynamo Kiev 4-0 earlier this month.
But Ferguson may be more wary about fielding Gerard Pique, who was at fault for Bolton's winner. Pique was standing in for Nemanja Vidic who, along with Cristiano Ronaldo, returned to training on Monday after injuries on international duty.
Sporting also stumbled over the weekend, being held 1-1 by lowly Leixoes and slipping to third place in the Portuguese first division - 10 points behind leader Porto.
Brazilian forward Liedson bruised his right thigh but is expected to play Tuesday. Goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic has recovered from a hip injury but 19-year-old Rui Patricio will likely keep his place.
"We have quality players but we're just not clicking at the moment," Sporting striker Milan Purovic said.
Sporting's ambitions in the Champions League could be wrecked by two former players - Ronaldo and Nani - with former Sporting coach Carlos Queiroz now Ferguson's assistant.
Giggs has been acting as a mentor to Ronaldo and Nani since they moved from Portugal.
"It's important to help them develop and it's something I benefited from as a young player," Giggs said.
Nani has scored twice in 17 appearances for United since his summer move, while Ronaldo has become one of the most feared players in England since arriving in 2003.
"We've always had a great tradition at this club with wingers and hopefully Nani can develop in the way Cristiano has and learn about the game and keep getting better," Giggs said. "He's got great quality and energy and he can score and make goals, so he's got the makings of becoming a really good player."
- AP