MANCHESTER UNITED VS CSKA MOSCOW CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TIPS

Sir Alex Ferguson has quashed the notion that the synthetic surface in Moscow could detract from his side's performance in their widely-anticipated Champions League match today. The Scot has declared that he expects his team to excel and that they are fully expecting all three points from the fixture. Shorn of Wayne Rooney, their talisman, this is a United team with lots to prove. Surely the team will have an eye firmly fixed on the weekend's engagement at Anfield with beleaguered Liverpool, and that may play to Moscow's favour. Russian sides are difficult to play (just ask Barcelona) and I expect the atmosphere to be an intimidating one. United remain fairly strong favourites for the match, with the current Betfair odds trading at around 2.42 for the United victory. CSKA Moscow is also at 3.45 for the home win while a draw pays out at an enticing 3.3. If United are to draw any of their fixtures in the group stages, this will likely be it. Will they be willing to go gung-ho and risk life and limb with an important league fixture this weekend? You never really know with Fergie. Dimitar Berbatov is favoured to score for Manchester United with an anytime price of 3.0. Michael Owen is listed at around 4.5 while Paul Scholes carries an enticing price of 8.0. I think this is the type of game where Scholesy makes a difference and if he gets the start, I think he could be the pivotal factor if the CSKA Moscow defenders can nullify the threat of Owen and the guile of Berbatov. This match is a great opportunity for half-time/full-time betting. I like Draw/Man Utd at 6.2. I can see this one being a bit dull and a 1-0 scoreline in United's favour wouldn't really surprise me. You can back that result at 7.6. Yesterday's Champions League matches proved why the competition isn't just a chance for the big names to beat up on lower quality teams in exchange for massive TV payouts and extra gate receipts. Anybody is in with a shout in these matches and seeing Barcelona stuffed by Rubin Kazan reaffirms my faith in this European football lark. I'll be backing United here, but I think it could be a nervy match with a low-rate of scoring. As much as I'd like to see a goalfest, I think this could be a war of attrition- the type of match where Paul Scholes excels.