• by Sabrina Blanks, writing from Charlotte, NC

Champions League, by his own admission more exciting to Sir Alex Ferguson than the Premier League, started off with the draw for the group stage matchups in Monaco on August 26, 2010. Manchester United, as an automatic qualifier due to their standing in the previous season of the English Premier League, drew into Group C, along with the Scottish Premier League's Rangers, La Liga Primera's Valencia, and the Turkish Super League's Bursaspor.

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The main thing many viewers and United fans will remember most about this match is Antonio Valencia's broken ankle after a challenge by Broadfoot. Other notables include Rio Ferdinand's return to the first squad after the knee injury that sidelined him for the World Cup and the opening of the Premier League season, Wayne Rooney's personal life troubles being aired in the press, and Rangers' manager William Smith reuniting on the sidelines with his former boss, Sir Alex Ferguson.

This United squad, heavy with reserves players, differed by 10 players from the squad that played in the EPL match against Everton from the previous weekend, a match which ended in a disappointing 3-3 result. Squad selection likely also had to do with the upcoming PL match with rival side Liverpool the following weekend. The first half was fairly uneventful, with Rangers playing a solid defense and United unable to make any shots connect with the goal. Chicharito made an early header and Gibson made a couple of long-range shots, but none found the back of the net. Fletcher provided a little midfield spark. Toward the end of the half, Rooney turned his ankle, but he appeared to be fully mobile for the second half. The first half ended scoreless.

No changes were made to either side's lineup for the second half. Tempo of play picked up a bit, but the Rangers defence held up to United's slightly increased attacking pressure and the 0-0 scoreline held. In the 60th minute, Broadfoot tackled Valencia and United's winger stayed down, the injury obviously serious. Valencia was stretchered off and Giggs replaced him in the 63rd minute. Giggs' entrance provided a bit of sorely needed midfield creativity, and the 76th minute substitutions of J. Evans and Owen on for Fabio and Park provided fresh legs. There were a few more shots from both sides before stoppage time, and a corner and free kick awarded to United in stoppage both failed to get any result. After a couple of late-match bookings, including Giggs, ostensibly for complaining, time was up and the frustrating 0-0 draw was at an end, with both sides earning a single point in the league table.

Update: Recent reports have speculated that Antonio Valencia could be ready to return 
to training as early as February.

Group C table results after Matchday 1:

1. Valencia: 3 points (4 goals)
2. Man Utd: 1 point (0 goals)
3. Rangers: 1 point (0 goals)
4. Bursaspor: 0 points (0 goals)

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Before this match, United had only won one out of the last 18 matches against a Spanish side in a Spanish venue. Rooney, Giggs, and Scholes were all out due to injury. Valencia were at the top spot in the La Liga table at the time of the match, and United had just come out of a 2-2 draw with Bolton. This was Carrick's first start since August, and the first Ferdinand/Vidić defensive pairing of the season. Berbatov would be acting as the lone striker up front.

There were early chances from both sides, and defensive errors and sloppy passing meant that United were 0-0 at the half. Berbatov had several shots but nothing on target with enough force to get past the Valencia keeper. The second half saw some chances to score, none of which connected, for Berbatov and some of the Valencia players, and a well-timed interception by Ferdinand helped keep the United clean sheet. Valencia's Navarro managed to avoid a booking after leaving his stud marks in Vidić's chest during a tussle. Hernández and Macheda came on as subs for Anderson and Berbatov during the final 15 minutes of regular play. Moments after Nani sent in a cross to Hernández that hit the woodwork, a superb cross from Macheda in to Hernández resulted in a clinical finish left-footed United goal. Valencia were not able to equalize and United won the three points and a very rare victory in Spain.

Group C table results after Matchday 2:

1. Man Utd: 4 points (1 goal)
2. Rangers: 4 points (1 goal)
3. Valencia: 3 points (4 goals)
4. Bursaspor: 0 points (0 goals)

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Wayne Rooney's announcement just hours before this match that he didn't want to sign a new contract with United, along with the days of speculation prior to that, understandably overshadowed the match proper. The match just prior to this was yet another draw, this one 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion. The international break also fell between the previous Champions League match and this one. Macheda started as the lone striker.

The match started with early shots from each side, and a bookend pair of early fouls gave a free kick to each team, but the first goal came from a Fletcher cross in to Nani in the 7th minute. Play progressed in a fairly evenly matched manner, United appearing to have a slight advantage with regards to both defense and attacking, with some chances from both sides but no more goals. Nani and İpek were both shown yellow cards near the end of the half, and the scoreline held at 1-0 at halftime.

The second half began with 2 substitutions for the Turkish side but no changes to the United lineup. Beyond a couple of handy defensive moves by United players, play was mostly uneventful until the 63rd minute when Tandoğan was issued a yellow card for unsporting behavior. United's first substitution, Obertan on for Park, came in the 71st minute, followed in the 78th by Hernández coming on for Anderson, an indication of the desire to increase our attack. United did step up the attacking pace for the remainder of the second half, unfortunately with no additional goals as a result, and managed to defend or save the Bursaspor attacking efforts in stoppage time. The score remained 1-0 for a straightforward win when it was very much needed.

Group C table results after Matchday 3:

1. Man Utd: 7 points (2 goals)
2. Rangers: 5 points (2 goals)
3. Valencia: 4 points (5 goals)
4. Bursaspor: 0 points (0 goals)

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For Bursaspor, with zero points in the league table, this home match was a must-win, and their lively supporters were ready to cheer the squad on through the entire game. For United, a win would almost guarantee advancement to the knockout stage. Giggs and Rooney were out due to injury, and Ferdinand didn't make the trip, presumably to rest him and to avoid aggravating his back on the long plane flight. United was coming off an EPL win, 2-0 over Spurs, before the peak of the media furor regarding Gareth Bale's performance against reigning Champions League champions Inter Milan in Group A.

A couple of early shots from Berbatov that didn't connect showed the striker's growing frustration over his recent lack of goals after a brilliant start to the season. Nani sustained a groin injury in the 23rd minute and was replaced by Park. Obertan and Berbatov had trouble connecting on the attacking end, Van der Sar made a couple of crucial saves and got lucky when a shot from Bursaspor's Svensson went high. Scholes' goal was disallowed for his handball offense, and the scoreline was clear at the half.

The start of the second half saw no changes in the United lineup. A cross from Carrick that showed glimpses of him returning to form gave Fletcher a goal early in the second half. Bébé came on for Fletcher in the 60th minute, and United continued to dominate possession. Bursaspor's striker Şen took some shots on goal but they didn't result in goals. Scholes had another close chance, and then a cross from Park gave Obertan the opportunity for an absolute rocket of a goal that increased United's lead. Scholes made a cross to Bébé and Tandoğan went in for a tackle as Bébé made the shot on goal, which led to the decision to credit the resulting goal as a Tandoğan own goal. Berbatov was caught offsides a couple of times, and the comfortable lead found United playing a bit sloppily, allowing several more chances for Bursaspor, but at full time, the 3-0 United lead was intact. The Bursaspor fans continued to cheer for their home side even though the loss meant they would not advance to the knockout stage.

Update: UEFA has now attributed the third goal to Bébé.

Group C table results after Matchday 3:

1. Man Utd: 10 points (5 goals)
2. Valencia: 7 points (8 goals)
3. Rangers: 5 points (2 goals)
4. Bursaspor: 0 points (0 goals)

Looking Ahead
Two matches remain for United in the group stage, away at Rangers on November 24th and hosting Valencia at Old Trafford on December 12th. A gain of only one point in the table from either of those matches assures us a spot in the knockout stage, which begins mid-February.

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