Champions League matches in Group D
Team news and probable line-ups for Wednesday's Group D matches in the second phase of the Champions League:
Team news and probable line-ups for Wednesday's Group D matches in the second phase of the Champions League:
MANCHESTER UNITED vs. BASEL
With United already assured of top spot in the group, manager Alex Ferguson is likely to rest several of his leading players.
Captain Roy Keane is definitely out with a hamstring strain and joins Juan Sebastian Veron (knee) and Laurent Blanc (calf) on the sidelines. Wes Brown's hamstring problem and Quinton Fortune's groin injury makes them doubtful starters while Mikael Silvestre could be rested to help him recover from a damaged knee.
Diego Forlan is hoping to be included after an ankle injury and may be used in place of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Basel coach Christian Gross has a near fully-fit squad to choose from as he seeks to return to winning ways after the Swiss side's 1-0 defeat at Deportivo Coruna.
Defender Murat Yakin returns to Champions League action after missing out against the Spaniards because of flu. Alexandre Quennoz is the man to drop to the bench.
Sebastien Barberis will start in midfield after being rested against Servette at the weekend, as will forward Julio Hernan Rossi as he resumes his all-Argentine partnership with Christian Gimenez.
Midfielders Antonio Esposito and Ivan Ergic are the only absentees as they remain on the sidelines with calf and knee injuries respectively.
Probable teams:
Manchester United: 1-Fabien Barthez, 2-Gary Neville, 6-Rio Ferdinand, 22-John O'Shea, 3-Phil Neville, 7-David Beckham, 8-Nicky Butt, 11-Ryan Giggs, 18-Paul Scholes, 20-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, 10-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 21-Diego Forlan.
Basel: 1-Pascal Zuberbuehler, 20-Bernt Haas, 15-Murat Yakin, 5-Marco Zwyssig, 24-Thimothee Atouba, 17-Mario Cantaluppi, 26-Scott Chipperfield, 12-Sebastien Barberis, 10-Hakan Yakin, 33-Julio Hernan Rossi, 13-Christian Gimenez.
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark)
JUVENTUS vs. DEPORTIVO CORUNA
Juventus's influential playmaker Pavel Nedved returns to the team for the fixture which could decide second place.
The Czech international coughed up blood after inspiring Juve's 3-0 win over Serie A rivals Inter Milan 10 days ago, but is ready to start.
David Trezeguet's spectacular winning goal against Udinese at the weekend suggested he is coming back to form after a long lay-off for a knee injury.
The Frenchman should partner Marco Di Vaio in attack.
A win for Deportivo will ensure the Galician side progresses to the quarter-finals for the third year running.
Coach Javier Irureta has decided to take all his available players for the trip to Turin in an attempt to build team morale.
Goalkeeper Jose Molina has been included in the squad after a five-month absence during which he underwent treatment for testicular cancer, although the former Spanish international will not play.
Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet and midfield powerhouse Mauro Silva return after being rested at the weekend, while Victor came through the 2-1 victory over Villarreal unscathed after a six-week injury lay-off and should start on the right wing.
Leading scorer Roy Makaay and strike partner Diego Tristan are likely to start up front, although "super-sub" Albert Luque is almost certain to be used at some time during the game.
Probable teams:
Juventus: 1-Gianluca Buffon, 15-Alessandro Birindelli, 21-Lilian Thuram, 13-Mark Iuliano, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 16-Mauro Camoranesi, 3-Alessio Tacchinardi, 26-Edgar Davids, 11-Pavel Nedved, 18-Marco Di Vaio, 17-David Trezeguet.
Deportivo Coruna: 25-Juanmi, 24-Hector, 5-Cesar, 4-Noureddine Naybet, 3-Enrique Romero, 18-Victor, 16-Sergio, 6-Mauro Silva, 10-Fran, 7-Roy Makaay, 9-Diego Tristan.
Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).