[retired_jesenia]

Champions League, Group F
Date: Tuesday, 2 October
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Venue: Old Trafford
Listen: BBC Radio 5live Updates: BBC Sport website and mobile

Manchester United will be without goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for the Champions League visit of Roma.

The Dutchman suffered a toe injury in the 1-0 Premier League win against Birmingham and was immediately ruled out of Tuesday's Old Trafford tie.

Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Edwin has a problem with his foot. Our medical team are taking care of the situation."

Van der Sar, who is set to undergo a series of precautionary scans, will be replaced by Poland's Tomasz Kuszczak.

Van der Sar has not conceded a goal in seven hours and 44 minutes since he was beaten by Geovanni's deflected effort off Nemanja Vidic in the derby against Manchester City.

But Kuszczak made a fine save from Gary McSheffrey's deflected shot after coming on at half-time against Birmingham and the club have every confidence in the 25-year-old.

"Tomasz made one very good save and showed why he is a Manchester United player," said Ferguson's assistant Carlos Queiroz.

"It is very hard for him behind a player as good as Edwin and he has had to wait for his opportunity, but we are very confident in his ability."

Saturday's match was the former West Brom keeper's 15th appearance for United, but this will be his first outing in the Champions League.

Tom Heaton, 21, who is yet to play for United, will cover Kuszczak on the bench.

Defenders Wes Brown and Vidic were the notable absentees from training on Monday after picking up knocks on Saturday.

Owen Hargreaves was training, with the former Bayern Munich star in line to make his European debut for the Red Devils.

Roma are missing defender Christian Panucci after he hurt his back against Inter, while winger Rodrigo Taddei and defender Marco Cassetti are also ruled out by injury.

However, World Cup-winning midfielder Simone Perrotta is in Roma's squad despite to injuring his thigh during Saturday's 4-1 league loss to Inter Milan.

"I really want to play," he said. "I felt a pain in my thigh but I will undergo further tests and I hope to be available."

BIG MATCH STATS

Head-to-heads

Manchester United inflicted on AS Roma the heaviest defeat ever in the knock-out stages of the Champions League when they won 7-1 in the quarter-finals at Old Trafford on 10 April 2007.

Roma won their only previous meeting with the Red Devils 2-1, in the home leg.

European history

Manchester United are participating in the Champions League for the 13th time, which makes them joint record holders with FC Porto. They are also competing in their 12th successive CL campaign, which is the longest streak ever.

This is AS Roma's fifth season in the Champions League. Their appearance in the last eight last season was their longest run in the competition to date.

Current European form

United have won their last six CL home matches, and are undefeated in nine at Old Trafford.

AC Milan inflicted the last defeat in the Champions League on Sir Alex Ferguson's side at the Theatre of Dreams; 1-0 on 23 February 2005.

Player and disciplinary info

Gary Neville (98), Ryan Giggs (96) and Paul Scholes (96) are three Manchester United players that are ranked among the top 10 with most CL appearances.

Christian Panucci is Roma's most experienced player in this competition with 63 matches. If he plays, AS Roma's Mirko Vucinic will have appearing on his 24th birthday.

Other miscellaneous facts

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the only goal in Manchester United's 1-0 victory at Birmingham City on Saturday, to leave them second in the Premier League table, with 17 points from eight matches.

Meanwhile, AS Roma suffered a devastating 1-4 defeat at the hands of Serie A leaders Internazionale. It was Roma's first defeat of the season, and leaves them with 11 points from six matches, three fewer than leaders Inter.

Definitions of terms used:-

Champions League (CL) - only group phase matches and beyond of this competition which began in 1992-93.
Champions Cup/Champions League - all matches played since it began in 1955-56 including qualification matches.
European matches - all matches played in the major European tournaments (Fairs Cup, Uefa Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Champions Cup, Champions League).
Uefa Super Cups, Intertoto Cups and the old Intercontinental Cup competition are excluded.

Big Match Stats source: Infostrada Sports

Really looking forward to this, praying that there's no trouble otherwise it'll be hell over there in December.

VDS definitely out so we've got Tommy K in goal (didn't even know he came on on Saturday ), team to be this plz. Vidic/Brown haven't trained today which is worrying :/

VDS

Brown
Rio
Vidic
Evra

Ronaldo
Scholes
Hargreaves
Nani

Tevez
Rooney

Sadly we all know Giggs will start despite being utter toss at Birmingham.

COME ONE YOU REDS

[retired_jean2]

7-1...

totti to score all 7 please.

[retired_linton_justin]

didnt know you had signed VDS's identical twin brother....

[retired_butterflyporsha]

I'll be there, can't wait :cool:

2-0 us.

[retired_jesenia]

Wouldn't be a BBB match thread without a mistake

[Stings]

harsh on kuszczak tbf. i think he's rubbish but still.

1-0 again btw

[retired_hvporter]

United to win by a more subdued 2-1. Roma not too convincing in Serie A of late imo so should be a three-pointer for United.

Oh, and all the more reason for a long thread title, tbh.

[retired_jjjvassnc]

2-1 to Man Utd.

TK to make some sort of howler in the first half, only for a goal from Ronaldo and sub Saha to score in the second half.

Bing bang bosh.

[retired_bball3378]

Not able to get up tomorrow which is more than a little annoying. Hopefully we won't see a repeat of the pathetic pre-match scenes from the last game.

Wouldn't be suprised if we pick up another slightly dull 1-0

[retired_hvporter]

What's up with VDS?