Manchester United travel to Greece in good spirits for the first leg of their last-16 UEFA Champions League tie on Tuesday but they face a tricky assignment as they face the runaway Greek leaders in an intriguing tie. Olympiacos are having the best of seasons with 23 wins in their 25 league games putting them 20 points clear at the top.
It was always going to be a tough season for the three-times champions of Europe, with David Moyes facing the unenviable task of replacing Alex Ferguson.
United's Premier League form may be inconsistent, but Moyes' men have looked convincing in the Champions League, topping Group A, remaining unbeaten and conceding just three goals in six games.
Last Friday's news that striker Wayne Rooney had signed a new deal until 2019 was well received by the club's supporters and the United and England striker scored 24 hours later in a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace.
Just as encouraging for Moyes is the return of Robin van Persie after a campaign that has been blighted by injury. The Dutchman has still managed to score 14 goals in all competitions this term, with four coming in his last five league games.
Moyes will check on the fitness of Phil Jones, Rafael da Silva and Jonny Evans, who all missed Saturday's win at Selhurst Park, while Danny Welbeck's knee injury looks set to keep him sidelined.
January signing Juan Mata is ineligible, having played for Chelsea earlier in the competition and is therefore cup tied.This will mean the return of either Antonio Valencia or Ashley Young and the former is likely to be favoured for his defensive capabilities in what appears to be a gritty away European night. In midfield, Fellaini was bright enough against Palace and will most likely retain his place alongside Carrick while Rooney and Van Persie will resume their partnership upfront. Darren Fletcher is also available having been added to United's Champions League squad.
United face an Olympiacos side that are coasting the Super League in Greece. Michel's men are unbeaten in the league since February last year and have this season amassed an astonishing goal difference of plus 69, conceding just nine goals and seem certain to win yet another Greek title.
Olympiacos made it to the last 16 in dramatic circumstances, finishing second in Group C behind Paris Saint-Germain to progress at the expense of Benfica thanks to a superior head-to-head record.
Michel's team could not be going into Tuesday's first leg in better form after demolishing OFI Crete 4-0 at the weekend, a game that included a hat-trick for Serbian striker Marko Scepovic. Like Mata, though, he is ineligible.
But the victory came at a price. Scepovic got his chance because of a thigh injury to forward Javier Saviola, who will now miss the match with United.
January additions Hernan Perez and Ivan Marcano are both available for Tuesday's clash, while Nelson Valdez also joined last month, but an ankle injury means he is a doubt.
The omens are not good for the Greek side. In four Champions League meetings with Manchester United, Olympiacos have been defeated four times, scoring just twice.
Match Facts and Stats
• David Moyes is the first manager to take charge of United in Europe other than Sir Alex Ferguson since Ron Atkinson guided them to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 1984/85.
• Wayne Rooney is Britain's all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League, moving past Ryan Giggs to 29 on matchday one. Robin van Persie has now scored in ten consecutive UEFA Champions League seasons.
• Rooney was credited with six assists in the group stage, more than any other player in the competition. Four of them came in the 5-0 matchday five victory at Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
• United have scored 548 goals in UEFA competition and conceded 297.
• Rooney, who agreed a new contract until 2019 on 21 February, made his 300th top-flight appearance for United in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace FC, marking the occasion by becoming only the second player after Frank Lampard to score ten or more Premier League goals in ten consecutive seasons.
• Rooney has scored 209 competitive goals for United and is fourth in the club's all-time rankings behind Jack Rowley (211), Denis Law (237) and Sir Bobby Charlton (249).
• Van Persie has registered four goals in five appearances since returning from a thigh problem.
• Olympiacos were eight points clear of second-placed PAOK FC going into matchday six; their lead is now more than double that. They are also through to the two-legged Greek Cup semi-finals, where PAOK await.
• Javier Saviola went off with a quadriceps problem in Saturday's 4-0 win at OFI Crete FC. His replacement, Marko Šćepović, scored his first professional hat-trick.
• The Piraeus outfit are 19 matches unbeaten in all competitions (W16 D3), dating back to November.
• Olympiacos are 34 away league games unbeaten, breaking their own Greek record of 29 set from 1972 to 1974.
• Paris Saint-Germain are the only team to beat Míchel's side in all competitions this term, doing so twice.
• Marcano and Valdez scored their first goals for Olympiacos in a 4-2 win against Platanias FC on 15 February – the Piraeus club's 13th victory in as many home league games this term.
• Olympiacos have not lost a domestic game since Míchel took the reins last February, winning 41 and drawing six.
Recent FormOlympiacos: WWWDWW
Manchester Utd: LWLDDW
Probable starting lineups
Olympiacos: Jimenez; Salino, Papadopoulos, Manolas, Holebas; Campbell, Samaris, Ibagaza, Machado, Fuster; Scepovic
Man Utd: De Gea; Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia,Fellaini Carrick, Januzaj, ; Rooney, Van Persie
Manchester United Live predicts: 3-2 win for United
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