Manchester United's slow start could be about to improve when a key player returns from injury for their opening Champions League match at Sporting Lisbon today.
While Arsenal could again be without injured defender William Gallas against Sevilla in another of today's eight matches, United will have Wayne Rooney back for their first Group F game.
United have begun the defense of their Premier League title with just four goals in the opening six matches, although a tight defense means they are fourth in the standings.
PHOTO: AP
Rooney's early return from a foot injury should boost the attack and help United in their bid to pick up points that could be crucial. United still have to contend with tough trips to AS Roma and Dynamo Kiev, who also meet today.
United manager Alex Ferguson rested Rooney for Saturday's 1-0 Premier League win over Everton to keep the striker fresh for the trip to Portugal.
"We took medical advice on Wayne and as he had only started training on Monday, we felt that five days' training was maybe a bit short," Ferguson said. "He'll train right through until Wednesday [today]. By that point he will definitely be available for the match."
Rooney could link up with or replace Carlos Tevez up front.
Roma are hungry for revenge against United after being routed at Old Trafford 7-1 last season, but will have to wait until the next set of matches on Oct. 2. Instead, they starts the Champions League season against visiting Dynamo Kiev.
Roma took sole possession of the Italian league lead on Sunday with a 2-0 win at Reggina, with Brazil defender Juan and captain Francesco Totti scoring the goals.
Inter Milan, the defending Italian champions, are in second place in the standings after their 2-0 win over Catania. Inter starts in Europe at Fenerbahce.
Inter could be without Patrick Vieira after the midfielder played in France's European Championship qualifiers against Scotland and Italy over the past two weeks despite a hamstring strain.
"He was not able to play two matches in four days," Inter coach Roberto Mancini said. "It is clear he could have been a little more careful. Now I don't know how long he will be out. He hasn't trained since Wednesday. For the Champions League, I believe it is pretty difficult for him to recover."
Also in Group G, 1988 European champions PSV Eindhoven host CSKA Moscow.
Arsenal warmed up for their Group H meeting with UEFA Cup champions Sevilla with a 3-1 win at local rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in the process of rebuilding the side that lost the Champions League final to FC Barcelona in May last year, with Cesc Fabregas now the key playmaker and Emmanuel Adebayor increasingly influential in attack.
Both scored against Spurs, and Wenger is confident of another good display against a Sevilla side that is coming off a 4-1 victory over Recreativo Huelva.
"They're ahead of schedule," Wenger said of his young players. "They have a certain tactical and technical maturity because they played at the top level very early."
Sevilla, led up front by former Tottenham striker Frederic Kanoute, come to north London with a perfect record in the Spanish league.
Barcelona are a point further behind and open their Champions League campaign against Lyon. Barcelona drew 0-0 with Osasuna, but should field Lionel Messi against the French champions and have Thierry Henry looking for his first goal for the club.
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