United banking on home form against Villarreal
LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Manchester United face the real prospect of not qualifying for the knockout stages of Europe's premier club competition for the first time in 10 seasons.
They are third in Champions League Group D with five points from four games, a point behind Tuesday's dangerous Spanish opponents Villarreal who top the standings.
Defeat, combined with a victory for second-placed Lille at home to Benfica, would leave twice former champions United facing the prospect of an undignified scrap for a consolation UEFA Cup place.
United responded well to the shock departure of their captain Roy Keane by winning 3-1 at Charlton Athletic on Saturday, Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring twice.
The English side have found the net only twice in four Champions League matches, however, including Van Nistelrooy's last-gasp winner against Benfica at Old Trafford.
The Dutch striker has scored 38 times in 45 Champions League matches for United and will hope to add to that tally in partnership with England's Wayne Rooney who was sent off in the first game against Villarreal.
CRUCIAL PERIOD
"This is a crucial period for us," said United manager Alex Ferguson whose side failed to score in two matches against French side Lille.
"I am depending and trusting on our home form to get us through. Our home form in the group stages over the years has been terrific and it has to be like that on Tuesday because Villarreal are a very good side.
"I can't think of a more important game for us in Europe over the last few years. We have to win this game to ensure we qualify for the next stage."
Champions League debutants Villarreal will seal their place in the last 16 with victory at Old Trafford, although they will be without Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme who is ruled out with a thigh strain picked up in training.
Riquelme, who was hugely influential in his country's 3-2 friendly defeat by England last week and scored the first goal in Argentina's 3-0 win in Qatar on Wednesday, also missed the 0-0 draw between the sides in Spain.
Former United striker Diego Forlan is also ruled out of a return to Old Trafford through injury, and defender Quique Alvarez and striker Antonio Guayre are also absent.
Probable teams:
Manchester United: 19-Edwin van der Sar; 6-Wes Brown, 5-Rio Ferdinand, 27-Mikael Silvestre, 22-John O'Shea; 24-Darren Fletcher, 18-Paul Scholes, 14-Alan Smith, 7-Cristiano Ronaldo; 8-Wayne Rooney, 10-Ruud van Nistelrooy
Villarreal: 25-Mariano Barbosa; 17-Javi Venta, 15-Jan Kromkamp, 2-Gonzalo Rodriguez, 3-Rodolfo Arruabarrena; 12-Juan Pablo Sorin, 19-Marcos Senna, 6-Josico, 10-Roger Garcia; 23 Jose Mari, 9-Luciano Figueroa.
Referee: Massimo de Santis (Italy)