Champs League: Wednesday Match Analysis & Picks
By LARRY O'CONNOR
Can Manchester United find the back of the net without a fit Wayne Rooney? We dish previews and predictions for Wednesday's Champions League matches.
Bordeaux vs. Lyon
Bordeaux is feeling mighty low having vacated the Ligue 1 top perch to Champions League nemesis Lyon this weekend. Laurent Blanc's side is reeling from three-straight losses, including Saturday's 2-1 home setback to AS Nancy.
Last season's French double trophy winners are relying on an unblemished 4-0 record in Champions League play this season at Stade Chaban Delmas and in-form Morocco forward Marouane Chamakh (four goals in eight CL games) to balance the ledger.
Meanwhile, Lyon is fresh off a 2-1 away victory at State Fennais FC and holds a persuasive 3-1 lead going into the return leg Wednesday. The seven-time French champions have a few reasons to be wary, though.
Lyon goal poacher Lisandro, who scored twice in the pair's previous CL encounter, is out due to yellow card accumulation as is winger Sidney Covou. Cameroon international midfielder Jean II Makoun is also doubtful for the seven-time French champions due to a reoccurring groin injury.
Lyon possess an impressive 3-1-1 away form in European action, having beaten Anderlecht, Debrecen and Liverpool while drawing to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.
Lyon's visit to a domestic foe's stomping ground is not likely to cause any trepidation. Lyon is poised to reach the Champion League semifinals for the first time in club history.
Prediction: Bordeaux 2, Lyon 1
Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich
In their last encounter, Bayern exposed Man United's Achilles heel at the back while snagging a 2-1 home victory in injury time. The Red Devils' bid for a third-consecutive semifinal appearance was placed further in doubt with the loss of strole Wayne Rooney, who rolled his ankle in the first encounter.
Rooney was officially ruled out for Wednesday's return leg at Old Trafford, squashing earlier reports he might make a miraculous recovery in time for Wednesday's tilt.
Rooney's loss is huge as the England international was on a torrid pace with 18 goals in 13 matches as part of his 34-goal assault this season. His likely replacement, Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov, has yet to score in Champions League play and often seems out of sync with the rest of United's playmakers.
With Michael Owens also injured, the team's striking options are limited as evidenced in Saturday's 2-1 pivotal home loss to Premier League-leaders Chelsea. Alex Ferguson's side will be forced to rely on mercurial midfielders Paul Scholes (three goals in seven CL matches) and Antonio Valencia (two goals in eight CL matches).
Bayern Munich's fortunes were only expected to increase as dynamic Dutch winger Arjen Robben (14 goals in all competitions) trained this week in hope of returning from a calf injury while French international Franck Ribery is riding a modest two-game goalscoring streak.
Belgian defender Daniel van Buyten was doubtful after sustaining a knee injury in the Bavarian side's 2-1 win over Schalke on Saturday.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 1, Manchester United 1