[ZEUS]

Originally Posted by manutd.com

Sir Alex Ferguson has taken a strong squad to France for United's Champions League tie against Ligue 1 champions Lyon.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves all returned after sitting out Saturday's thumping FA Cup win over Arsenal, forming part of a 20-man squad that departed Manchester airport this morning.

Sir Alex and one of his players will face the international media at a press conference shortly after touching down in France, before heading over to the Stade de Gerland for a training session ahead of Wednesday's crucial first leg.

All the latest news from United's trip will appear first on ManUtd.com.

United: Van der Sar, Kuszczak; Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O'Shea, Simpson, Pique; Hargreaves, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Eagles; Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Giggs, Saha

Well Park is not on the list (can't understand why - he had a decent match against Arsenal), neither Neville (can't wait for him to return), instead SAF took Simpson an Pique with him. Also there's Eagles. What do you say, does he have a chance to play?
I think Nani should start, after his performance on Saturday, also I'd like to see Anderson and Saha on the pitch, though I don't think the Frenchman will start the match. But who knows?!

[Mark]

yes I would also like to see Nani instead of Giggs (and leave the welsh wizard for OT), the same with Anderson, but they will both probably be just reserves, and maybe catch up to half an hour. Saha the same.

[Dirtycheat]

i actually thing giggs will be a big boost because of his experience. This is his 100th game in Europe and im sure he will make sure its a performance to remember.

im a bit bewildered as to why eagles was part of the squad, perhaps park and fletcher are too nackered. Maybe he is trying to give eagles some experience in europe but im not sure lyon is the best place to do that.

[ZEUS]

A small update:

Big Match Stats

Olympique Lyon and Manchester United's only previous European meetings came in the 2004-05 Champions League group phase. The first match ended in a 2-2 draw in France and the return was a 2-1 win for United.

Six Lyon players who played in those matches are still with the club - Gregory Coupet, Anthony Reveillere, Cris, Juninho Pernambucano, Sidney Govou and Hatem Ben Arfa are the sextet.

Manchester United have 10 survivors from those two matches - Michael Silvestre, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Darren Fletcher. Cris scored in the opening leg, and Gary Neville in the return.

European history

Lyon's best European performance came in the 1963-64 Cup Winners' Cup when they reached the semi-finals. Their Champions League best is three quarter-final appearances in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06. Last season was the first time they had failed to successfully negotiate the last 16 knockout stage.

Manchester United have won three European trophies - the 1967-68 Champions Cup, 1990-91 Cup Winners' Cup and 1998-99 Champions League.

Current European form

Olympique Lyon are unbeaten in four Champions League matches.

Manchester United have not lost in six Champions League matches. They are one of three unbeaten teams in this season's Champions League. Chelsea and FC Barcelona are the others.

Player and disciplinary info

Anthony Reveillere, Juninho Pernambucano and Sidney Govou (all Lyon) will be suspended for the second leg if they receive a yellow card.

Sebastien Squillaci and Remy Vercoutre have played every minute of Lyon's CL campaign this season. Juninho Pernambucano, Hatem Ben Arfa, Sidney Govou, Kim Kallstrom and Reveillere have also played in all six of Lyon's CL matches this season.

If selected, Ryan Giggs will play his 100th Champions League match and will become the eighth person to reach the century. He made his CL debut in United's 4-2 win against IFK Gothenburg on 14 September 1994.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo is joint top scorer in this season's competition. He has five goals, the same as Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Nani is the only Manchester United player to have appeared in all six of his clubs CL matches this season.

Other miscellaneous facts

Manchester United are currently second in the Premier League, trailing leaders Arsenal by five points. They knocked the Gunners out of the FA Cup in convincing fashion (4-0) in the fifth round tie at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Olympique Lyon were defeated 1-0 by Le Mans in their Saturday encounter in the French league. They lead the Ligue 1 Orange from Girondins Bordeaux, whom they saw close in to one point.

Source

[funkdoctorspock]

Experience wins Champion's League.

Giggs and Scholes will definitely be starting.

Very surprised that Fletcher and Park were not on the squad going to Lyon. Maybe Sir Alex has plans for them this weekend.

Glad to see that Pique is finally fit.

[USAManUtd13]

Eagles had a great game against Blackburn for the Reserves recently, but there's no way he's seeing time on the pitch.

Giggs and Scholes will start and should start.

I'd love to see Saha get the start up front alongside Rooney.

[GocartMozart]

really? I'd think that Nani would take part in this match. it's so perfect for his brand of aggressiveness and directness. If this was the EPL i'd put Nani in, but SAF is always so reserved in the CL that there's no doubt that he'll be riding the bench. The french play a less physical style of play and I could really see Nani take over. Since that won't happen and Giggs will be starting, it's time that Giggsy shows something. His season has been far too quiet for me.

[macca247]

nice strong squad lets get a good result then bring lyon back to old trafford to finish the job

[torque6309]

hope the teams to win the game... or at least to score an away goal...