Manchester United will have to overcome the loss of Wayne Rooney and the excellent form of its opponent if it is to improve its terrible record in Spain in Wednesday's Champions League match against Valencia.

Rooney has been ruled out with an ankle injury, as is team-mate Antonio Valencia, who will miss most of the season after breaking his ankle two weeks ago. Winger Ryan Giggs is also out due to a hamstring strain and Paul Scholes will be rested.

Rio Ferdinand is set to partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence for the first time this season, and Ferguson will be happy to have his first-choice pairing back after watching his team concede nine goals in the past five Premier League games.

In Spain, Valencia leads the standings after five rounds and United manager Alex Ferguson was concerned enough about the good form of coach Unai Emery's players that he travelled last week to watch them, leaving assistant coach Mike Phelan in charge.

United has only won once in Spain in 18 previous visits and is coming off a 2-2 draw with Bolton in the Premier League.

Valencia has only dropped two points in the Spanish league and won 2-0 at Sporting Gijón on Saturday. While noting United's player depth, winger Juan Mata said the absence of Giggs in particular could have a large bearing on the result.

"Ever since I was a kid, I've always liked and admired Ryan Giggs because of his technical characteristics and because I think he is, and has been, one of the best wingers in the European game," Mata said. "His absence will be important, especially with the experience he brings to matches."

Emery praised the contribution of Ferguson at United but said his own team expects to do well at Mestalla stadium.

"At a coaching level, I have great respect for him. He's like a mirror to watch, to learn all the things he contributes to the game," Emery said. "We have high expectations, with our sights set high, and we are confident things will go well."

With Rooney missing, Dimitar Berbatov is likely to lead the attack after scoring six goals in six Premier League matches.

Midfielder Michael Carrick could return to the United team for the first time since early August after recovering from an Achilles' tendon injury.

"It is going to be a difficult match," midfielder Darren Fletcher said. "People might say it is not the same Valencia because they have lost (David) Villa and (David) Silva. But as we have seen at Manchester United, when you lose good players, others step up to the mark and take on more responsibility."

Key battles
Mehmet Topal v Darren Fletcher: Topal is Valencia's midfield enforcer and proved what a threat he can be by scoring the opener in last weekend's win over Sporting Gijón. Darren Fletcher will doubtless try to do a similar job for United. The victor could go a long way to ensuring their team ends up on top too.

Roberto Soldado v Rio Ferdinand: Valencia's in-form striker will have a point to prove at the highest level after failing to make it at Real Madrid. Ferdinand will want to stop him after having his appearances limited since returning from the knee injury that ruined his World Cup and the gaps in United's leaky defence need to be filled.

David Navarro v Dimitar Berbatov: An experienced central defender, Navarro sparked an infamous brawl in a Champions League tie with Inter Milan during which he broke the nose of an opponent and for which he was eventually banned from all football for six months. Berbatov will be looking to avoid the 30-year-old's attentions and put some gloss on United's performance, especially with Wayne Rooney missing.

Match

Glory glory united. Am scared though.

I pray may man u non 4ck us up dis nite ooh

sori folks its valencia 3 manunt 1 up valencia

don blacky:

sori folks its valencia 3 manunt 1 up valencia

Man utd has just won only one away game to any spainish side

we hav 2 win dis match if we lose dis match we may find it difficult 2 qualify 4 d nxt round

united lineup
Utd: vdS, Rafa, Vidic, Rio, Evra, Nani, Fletch, Carrick, Ando, Park, Berba.

Subs: Kusz, O'Shea, Owen, Gibson, Smalling, Macheda, Chicharito

no winger on d bench wit ando,carrick and rafael all lacking match fitness

Na wa oh, with all these injury wahala, I hope man u gets something from this match.

Valencia 4-2 Man Utd

Lets go . . .

5-0

TKB's prayer has been answered. Rafael starts!

I knew Carrick was going to play . . . he's trained for the past week.
The team looks strong still.


                 VDS

       Rafael  Rio  Vida  Evra

Nani  Fletcher Carrick  ANdo  PArk

                Berba

valencia 1 man u 3. Sit back and relax. valencia have never beaten united before. We beat them 2-0 last season.

Ando is the one playing closest to Berba

Carrick cant even control the flipping ball.

hehehe. . .manure fans dey fear!

FBS:

hehehe. . .manure fans dey fear!

Fear for wetin?
We are winning this.

Berbatov was close dere

i don happen

I need a win OR

Mathieu looks like the weakest link in that defence . . .Nani should have another go at him ASAP.

chamotex:

Mathieu looks like the weakest link in that defence . . .Nani should have another go at him ASAP.

He did well checking Nani but he will soon breeze past him.

fear dey catch me cos valencia has been in good form

but im happy at the backline

the addition of rafael and Rio would ensure some stability

lets go there

presido1:

He did well checking Nani but he will soon breeze past him.

Yea . . .Nani shoulda cut across him and get a FK or better still a PEN.

Not a bad start

presido1:

I need a win OR

probably u need a huge lost

Go VALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLencia

Ando is not doing badly considering his long absence, am seeing a United win.
carrick never again pls.

What a sloppy play by carrick

presido1:

Ando is not doing badly considering his long absence, am seeing a United win.
carrick never again pls.

We've missed Ando in our midfield I swear.

Not the best of pass from Nani though.

Vds got away with murder there. . . I sense a valencia goal sooner than later