UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS

Manchester United looks to make history in Portugal against FC Porto

After being held to a draw at home, Manchester United is trying to achieve what no other English team has managed to do - getting a win at FC Porto.

Porto scored a late equalizer to salvage a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford last week in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, meaning the Red Devils have to aim for a victory in Wednesday's return match at the Stadium of the Dragon.

That's a tough task though, as United has not won in three visits to Porto. The Portuguese club eliminated United in the 2004 quarter-finals after winning the first leg 2-1 at home under coach Jose Mourinho, going on to win the title.

In 11 home games against English opposition, Porto has won five and drawn six. United would also advance by scoring more than two goals in a draw.

"It's a big game, and there's no doubt it's going to be difficult," midfielder Paul Scholes said. "But all we have to do is win a football match. And with the players we've got, we're capable of doing that."

Porto produced a confident, disciplined performance in the first leg, while defensive errors undermined the English champion's efforts to take control of the game.

United manager Alex Ferguson is hoping to sharpen his attack with Dimitar Berbatov, who has recovered from an ankle injury, and plug a leaky defence with Rio Ferdinand, who was included in the squad after being sidelined with a groin injury.

With Cristiano Ronaldo having found the target just once in the tournament, a trump card for Ferguson could be 17-year-old striker Federico Macheda. The Italian teenager has yet to play in the Champions League, but has scored the winning goal as a substitute in United's last two Premier League games to keep its title defence on track.

"We're English and European champions and we don't want to let either trophy go," United midfielder Michael Carrick said. "This is the stage when you need to go out and get the job done and we're determined to do that."

Porto is on an unbeaten 20-match run in all competitions. It is closing in on its fourth domestic title in a row and is also in the semifinals of the Portuguese Cup. Argentine forward Lisandro Lopez is the Champions League's fourth best scorer with six goals.

Coach Jesualdo Ferreira, who will watch the game from the stands after UEFA on Tuesday gave him a one-game touchline ban, has all his players available except for defender Jorge Fucile.

Brazilian striker Givanildo "Hulk" Vieira is still looking for his first goal in European play but is undeterred by Manchester United's reputation.

"All I know is that we have quality players in our team and we can stand up to them," he said. Canadian Press


After drawing 1-1 in first leg, Arsenal won't rely on defence against Villarreal

Playing for a 0-0 draw against Villarreal in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday won't be good enough for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal will advance to the semifinals if they can keep the match at Emirates Stadium scoreless because they earned a 1-1 draw last week in the first leg at Villarreal.

"Our approach is to win the game, we have to be as simple as that," Wenger said Tuesday. "I don't feel that we are used to going into games trying to play 0-0. Of course we will be organized and disciplined but, when we have the ball, we want to score goals."

The London club will be helped by the absence of Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna, who scored the Spanish team's goal in the first leg but then picked up a hamstring injury in Saturday's 2-0 loss at Malaga.

Arsenal, however, beat Wigan 4-1 Saturday in the Premier League, so the team's best chance of reaching the last four may be to attack.

"We have turned the season in a very positive way and put ourselves in a great position to qualify and we want to take advantage of that," said Wenger, whose team next meets Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday. "I believe the determination, the hunger and the quality are there and we now face test after test."

Despite the absence of Senna, who was one of Spain's best players when it won last year's European Championship, Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini still believes his team is as good as Arsenal.

"I don't think Arsenal are a better side than us," Pellegrini said before training at the Emirates Stadium. "What we want to do is play our game and control the ball on the ground."

The winner of Wednesday's game will face either defending champion Manchester United or FC Porto in the semifinals. United and Porto drew 2-2 in the first leg and next play Wednesday in Portugal. The final is in Rome on May 27.

Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin is ineligible for Wednesday's match because he played for Zenit St. Petersburg in the competition before his transfer to the Gunners, but the team has most of its forwards back after injury.

Robin van Persie and Eduardo da Silva are close to starting while Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott both played in Saturday's victory at Wigan, which strengthened Arsenal's grip on fourth place in the Premier League.

Wenger's problems are at the back with first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, central defender Johan Djourou and left back Gael Clichy injured and centre back William Gallas out for the rest of the season.

Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla is also out with a broken leg and, although Matias Fernandez and Ruben "Cani" Garcia missed the loss to Malaga, Pellegrini recalled them to the squad and said they were fit.

"If we have to play extra time I am happy with that," Pellegrini said. "We have prepared for extra time but we will try to win in the first 90 minutes.

"We know that Arsenal have a few players who aren't going to be playing and, if they don't have them, we are going to try and profit from that." Canadian Press