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Ronaldo in spotlight at home away from home

Manchester United look to rein in Portuguese star
Last Updated 04 March 2013, 18:43 IST

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo can expect a rousing Old Trafford welcome on Tuesday before his former Manchester United team-mates use a newfound defensive solidity to try to make those the last Champions League cheers he hears this season

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The last-16 tie between the two European giants is balanced on a knife edge after last month's 1-1 draw in the first leg and with United holding the tiniest of advantages in the shape of an away goal, and this week's glamour match could be a tight affair.

United go into the game looking a lot more secure at the back than earlier this season with four successive league clean sheets coming at just the right time before being faced with the all-too-familiar talents of fan favourite Ronaldo.

"Early on in the season we were conceding too many goals," said United striker Wayne Rooney. "We seemed to have coped with that, we're not conceding and we're scoring goals so we're in a great position at the minute. So, hopefully we can continue for Tuesday.
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United warmed up with a 4-0 victory over Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday to go 15 points clear at the top of the table. The trouble for them is that Real are enjoying their own good run after two morale-boosting results against arch-rivals Barcelona last week, a 3-1 win in the King's Cup and 2-1 victory in La Liga.

United manager Alex Ferguson said his team's focus had been on trying to stifle Real's threat on the break. "We know that Madrid are one of the best counter-attacking teams in Europe," he told reporters. "That is what we will be up against on Tuesday and that is why our preparations are centred around making sure their counter-attack doesn't kill us."

Real's preparations for the big game have been taking place a stone's throw away from United's with Jose Mourinho's side using Manchester City's training facilities after arriving in England a day earlier than usual for a European game. Mourinho, who enjoys sharing a bottle of wine with Ferguson, will be without goalkeeper Iker Casillas who has fractured his hand but otherwise has a full squad to chose from and one that is bursting with confidence.

Ferguson will miss defender Phil Jones due to an ankle injury while he has been presented with a selection headache after midfielder Shinji Kagawa presented a good case with his hat-trick against Norwich, while Ryan Giggs is on the verge of a 1,000th professional appearance. Whoever he picks, he might have a moment of nostalgia when Ronaldo - who scored Real's equaliser in the first leg - makes his first Old Trafford return.

"He'll get a good reception," Ferguson said "All our former players who come back, who have been great players, get a good reception. I've seen that all the time. I think, at the start of the game, he'll get that."

Tough task for Dortmund

Meanwhile, German champions Borussia Dortmund hope to rescue their season when they take on Shakhtar Donetsk in a Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday having lost out on all the other titles so far.

After winning back-to-back league titles in 2011 and 2012, as well as the German Cup last year, Dortmund are now left with only Europe's premier club competition to fight for. Rivals Bayern Munich have all but secured the Bundesliga title with a huge lead and eliminated Dortmund from the German Cup last eight last Wednesday.

Dortmund carved out a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Ukraine last month and look to have an advantage going into Tuesday's game. Coach Juergen Klopp's team bounced back in style after their defeat to Bayern as they cruised past Europa League hopefuls Hanover 96 3-1 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

Shakhtar kicked off their season on Friday after a three-month break by demolishing FC Volyn 4-1. Oleksandr Kucher, who was suspended in the first leg, is likely to pair up with Yaroslav Rakytsky in the central defence, replacing Dmytro Chygrynsky who has been struggling to get back into shape.

Brazilian attacking midfielder Douglas Costa, who also scored against FC Volyn, might be another starter on Tuesday.

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(Published 04 March 2013, 18:43 IST)

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