United to play it tight

After an 8-3 aggregate win to United last time these two sides met in this competition, should we expect another goal-fest tonight at Old Trafford? There are reasons to suggest that goals might well be the order of the day again. Tomasz Kuszczak will make his Champions League debut for United after fellow goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was ruled out with a toe injury. Add to that the fact that United defenders Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic are also doubts then you could be forgiven for thinking that Sir Alex Ferguson will revert to the 'attack is the best policy of defence' tactic and go after the visiting Italians. If you are expecting goals Paddy Power are running a great offer. If there are five or more goals in the game, the Irish bookie will refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast single bets on that game. However we are of the opinion that there will be little of the attacking flair shown in the second leg last time round and we favour the under 2.5 goals market on VCBet at 10/11. The reasons for this are numerous. Firstly Ferguson will have former Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves in his line-up making his European debut. Hargreaves has made it a habit to spoil and break up opposition side's attacks and acts as a fifth defender.Roma aren't a bad side - the 7-1 defeat was a blip - remember they had won the first leg 2-1 at home when Paul Scholes was sent off - and while they have conceded heavily recently in a 4-1 defeat to Inter Milan, coach Luciano Spalletti has them well organised defensively and the loss to Inter was their only defeat this season to date. Add to this the fact that United have won their last five Premier League games to the tune of 1-0 and this game sees both teams defending an unbeaten start to the group stages and it looks likely to be a cagey affair. "It was a one-off [United's 7-1 defeat of Roma in last season's quarter-finals]," said Ferguson. "It won't happen again. European football is just not that way these days. I think it will be difficult because Roma are playing well and it's a big occasion for them after the defeat they suffered last year." United have won their last six Champions League home matches, and are undefeated in nine at Old Trafford and it was another Italian side - AC Milan - who inflicted the last defeat in the Champions League on Sir Alex Ferguson's side at the Theatre of Dreams - 1-0 in February 2005. Expect the same score, either way, this evening. Verdict: 3pts under 2.5 goals @ 10/11 (VCBet) (Editor's Note: United have a proud record in Europe, especially at Old Trafford, yet are struggling this season to finmd the net. Go to VCBet for all the game's odds)