AC Milan v Man Utd previewFerguson and Leonardo test wits in mouth-watering clash
AC Milan and Manchester United are set to slug it out in a battle of two European heavyweights in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout tie.
Premier League champions United take on the Rossoneri at the San Siro ahead of the return fixture at Old Trafford in a fortnight's time, with the English side aiming to reach their third successive final.
The build-up to this mouth-watering game has surrounded the irrepressible David Beckham, who will play against his former club for the first time since 2003, if he is selected by Milan coach Leonardo.
Beckham, on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy, left the Red Devils in a big-money move to Real Madrid almost seven years ago, after his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson deteriorated following an incident in the changing room with a boot that left the midfielder needing stitches above his eye.
However, despite the furore in the build-up to the match, Beckham insists he does not have a score to settle and has described Ferguson as a 'father figure' to him.
Personal links aside, the game promises to be an exciting spectacle nonetheless, with both teams bidding to make the quarter-finals of the competition.
United will have bad memories of their last game against Milan at the San Siro, though, as they crashed to an emphatic 3-0 defeat back in the semi-finals of the 2006/07 tournament.
Having gone into the second leg 3-2 up, Ferguson's men collapsed under the pressure in Italy and were denied a place in the final against Liverpool thanks to goals from Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Alberto Gilardino.
Milan went on to win the competition and earn a remarkable seventh European Cup, although United did make amends by sealing Champions League glory a season later.
The history books do not bode well for the English champions, as Milan have beaten their opponents on their last four visits to the San Siro.
However, Leonardo's side failed to win any of their home games in the group stage and the Red Devils have not lost an away game in Europe since their last trip to Giuseppe Meazza.
Team news
While a starting place for Beckham may be written in the stars, an emotional date for the England star could be on hold for when the Italian outfit travel to Manchester on 10th March.
Indeed, it is likely that he will start on the bench for the first leg, as Brazilian Alexandre Pato is set to line up in the starting XI.
Fellow right-sided player Mancini has made the move from rivals Inter until the end of the season, although he is ineligible for the Champions League, as is Ghanaian Dominic Adiyiah.
But defender Gianluca Zambrotta is available after serving a one-game suspension against FC Zurich on matchday six.
United will have to be wary of in-form Brazilian trickster Ronaldinho, who almost made the move to Old Trafford before opting to join Barcelona in 2003.
He could be joined in attack by Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who, despite speculation linking him with a January move, scored in Milan's 3-2 win over Udinese on Friday.
Meanwhile, Massimo Oddo has been out since November with a thigh injury, while Thiago Silva and Marco Borriello are doubts.
United will be without Nemanja Vidic once more as the Serbian centre-half continues to be sidelined with a nerve injury suffered in the warm-up of the FA Cup game against Leeds in January.
Vidic has not played at all this year, and speculation has mounted regarding a bust-up with manager Ferguson.
It is not known whether Brazilian midfielder Anderson is injured or if he has merely been dropped from the squad.
Ryan Giggs also misses out with a fractured right arm, while Owen Hargreaves and John O'Shea remain long-term absentees.
One player Milan will be keen to keep quiet is Wayne Rooney - the striker has been United's talisman this season since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.
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