Soccer: Ferguson - Real the team to beat

Real Madrid are Sir Alex Ferguson's favourites to win the Champions League this season.

Real Madrid are Sir Alex Ferguson's favourites to win the Champions League this season.

Not even Manchester United have been able to match the European form of the Spanish giants this season.

And the United boss reckons the Spanish giants are the side to beat.

Real strolled through the first phase and have taken maximum points so far in the second.

They also put United out in the quarter-finals last season.

Ferguson said: "I think Real Madrid are the favourites and they are looking very strong.

"Last year we saw the emergence of Spain again and they had three teams in the semi-finals, which was fantastic for them.

"This year they have three teams all with a chance of qualifying so they have kept their form from last year."

United could well meet Real in the semi-finals, but before then Ferguson's side must get past Valencia in their Group A match at Old Trafford tonight.

United know a win over their closest group rivals, who they beat 3-0 at Old Trafford last season, will clinch their place in the quarter-finals for the fifth successive year and that is Ferguson's goal.

"We're all looking forward to it," he said. "I think it's a big opportunity for us.

"If we do win we will qualify so it's a reason to go for it.

"It's worth the risk when the prize is big. There has to be an element of risk because we want to win the match.

"The incentive to get into the quarter-finals is something that will drive us on.

"If we can qualify early then we have to try and seize the opportunity."

Central to United's attacking plans will be Ryan Giggs, who always seems to save his best performances for Europe.

Giggs produced one or two flashes of magic in the Mestalla last week and Valencia, with just one win in their previous nine visits to England, are well aware of the threat he poses.

Coach Hector Cuper said: "For me Giggs has three main qualities.

"His speed, his skill and the fact that he can delivery quality crosses when travelling at speed.

"Oh, and there is a fourth quality - he fights hard for the ball as well."

Valencia tried to contain Giggs through Jocelyn Angloma and Miguel Angel Angulo last week and Cuper will probably have something in mind for him and David Beckham tonight.

However the wily Cuper refused to give too much away and he said: "I think you can try and create a system or give a player, not just Beckham, special treatment to make sure he has a quiet game.

"There's no certainty that it will work and it depends on the player doing the marking if he has a good day or a bad day.

"It also depends on who you mark and does he have a good game or a bad game?

"Although you try, you can never be assured of results."

Both sides have no fresh injury worries and are expected to be unchanged from last Wednesday.

Manchester United (probable): Barthez; G Neville, Stam, Brown, Silvestre; Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs; Cole, Sheringham.

Valencia (probable): Canizares; Angloma, Pellegrino, Carboni; Angulo, Ayala, Baraja, Mendieta, Gonzalez; Carew, Aimar.

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