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Climbing the Milan mountain

Arsenal go to the San Siro in need of a goal, while Man U hold an away goal advantage against Lyon

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Arsenal go to the San Siro in need of a goal, while Man U hold an away goal advantage against Lyon

PARIS: Arsenal and Manchester United, separated by just a point in the Premiership title race, return to European battle on Tuesday with the Gunners needing to fire in Milan if they are to reach the quarter-finals.


While United have the comfort blanket of an away goal in Lyon to give them as good as a goal start at Old Trafford, Arsene Wenger’s men have no such room for manoeuvre as they head to the San Siro to face holders AC Milan.

A goalless draw at the Emirates had the benefit of ensuring the Italians did not return home with a priceless away goal in their pockets and two Champions League wins in nine attempts on their travels is not a statistic that makes happy reading in North London. In addition, no English side has defeated Milan at the San Siro. 

Both sides will be missing key personnel with Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admitting he is concerned about having to do without centre-back Alessandro Nesta, as well as midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Kaka for the weekend draw with Lazio — though the latter pair are set to return Tuesday.  Arsenal have lost Croatian forward Eduardo after his horrific injury and will be doubly hoping that Dutch flyer Robin Van Persie can make it.

Meanwhile, as it was virtually Sir Alex Ferguson’s reserve side which strolled past Fulham on Saturday. Lyon, who must attack to cancel out the Carlos Tevez’s first-leg strike, can at least do so in the knowledge that central defender Cris will be back in harness having come through Saturday’s win for the French table-toppers in the 1-0 win over Lille after six months on the sidelines.

Jean-Alain Boumsong, who generally shackled Rooney well in the first leg, was left out for the Lille match and faces competition from Sebastien Squillaci to partner Cris while fellow defender Anthony Reveillere is suspended.

Tuesday’s other two matches are similarly poised, although Barcelona will expect to progress having come away from Glasgow with a 3-2 win over Celtic. With Real Madrid fighting to get back on terms Wednesday in their tie with Roma,
Sevilla will try to keep alive a Spanish dream of three sides in the last eight by overturning a 3-2 deficit against Turkey’s Fenerbache.

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