Post by Taxigirl on Nov 4, 2003 10:19:09 GMT
The Premiership champions and the Scottish Premier League holders go head-to-head again as Manchester United and Rangers meet in the Champions League on Tuesday.
United won the first game 1-0 and now have home advantage, but Rangers will take hope from their spirited performance at Ibrox, where they were unlucky to lose.
The Scottish side are also boosted by the news Michael Mols has recovered from a twisted knee and will be fit to play.
Manager Alex McLeish says his players will not be intimidated by playing at Old Trafford.
"We'll have to change things around, but don't think for a minute that any of the players who'll be travelling to Manchester will be going with fear," he said.
"Every single player wants to get on that Old Trafford pitch and show what they can do."
United, who have six points, need to keep the pressure on Group E and Bundesliga leaders VfB Stuttgart, who also have six points and take on Panathinaikos, who are yet to win in the group.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is well aware how important a win would be to his side.
"It gets us to nine points, which with the fact that Rangers and Stuttgart then play in Germany, puts us in a very good position," he said.
"We're not expecting anything but a hard and open game," he added. "I know what the Scottish nature is like, and that will raise itself."
Chelsea can consolidate their lead at the top of Group G by doing the double over second-placed Lazio.
Claudio Ranieri's side came from behind to win 2-1 when the sides met a fortnight ago but could be without former Lazio star Hernan Crespo in Rome.
Ranieri, who was born in Rome, admitted that the match would be an emotional occasion for him but stressed that his main priority was to see Chelsea win.
"It is good for me to come back. I was a Roma fan, I used to go to their games when I was younger, so it's like a derby for me," he said.
"Now, however, Chelsea is important for me. Three points are very important for us and I know it will be very difficult as Lazio are a good team and are very hungry to beat us."
The other Group G match sees Sparta Prague visit bottom-of-the-table Besiktas.
Real Madrid, who are aiming to win their 10th European Cup, can book their place in the knockout stages with a win against Partizan Belgrade.
Partizan will be at home but have scored just one point in Group F so far.
The runners-up slot in the group is likely to go to either Porto or Olympique Marseille, who meet in Portugal.
Champions League holders AC Milan need to atone for a shock 1-0 defeat by Bruges with a revenge win in Belgium if they are to stay on the tails of Group H leaders Ajax, who play Celta Viga.