Champions League preview: Real Madrid v Manchester United

Defence will be a key area in Real Madrid’s Champions League round-of-16 clash with Manchester United despite both team’s attacking strengths.

Champions League preview- Real Madrid v Manchester United

Although the focus will be on Cristiano Ronaldo taking on his former club as well as the Portuguese forward facing Manchester United’s top scorer Robin van Persie, it is likely the game will actually be decided in defence.

Real conceded nine goals in their six group stage fixtures, while Manchester United conceded six in five games as they qualified for the knockout stages.

Red Devils manager Alex Ferguson has not yet found the right formula in defence and has relied on his team’s attacking power to win matches, but against Madrid he will probably be more conservative.

We predict a 4-5-1 formation with Van Persie in front and Wayne Rooney either on the bench or in behind the Dutch striker.

The clash between two giants, Robin Van persie and Cristiano Ronaldo, here playing with their national teams but Wednesday in their respective clubs Man United and Real Madrid-

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho must win at home to have an edge on his opponent but these days Van Persie and Rooney are in top form.

Rooney has scored 10 goals in 10 games since the start of December and also scored in the win of england over Brazil in Wembley, while Van Persie has scored 23 goals in 31 matches this season.

By comparison, Ronaldo has scored 32 goals in 30 games across all competitions this season for Real.

Mourinho however faces a big problem – his star goalkeeper Iker Casillas is out with a broken hand.

Mourinho’s team have won just two of their past five matches in all competitions and have seven victories in 14 games.

In the same period, Manchester United have not lost and have won 11 times, opening up a 12-point lead in the English Premier League.