Football: Manchester clubs look to consolidate

PARIS: The Champions League group stage has reached the halfway mark but Manchester United and Manchester City are aware they have to raise their game after fluffing some of their early lines. United, second in the table two points adrift of leaders Benfica, will be looking to put minnows Otelul Galati in their place at Old Trafford tonight. Meanwhile Manchester City, who edged out Villarreal thanks to an injury-time goal to reignite their European dreams, will seek to complete the double over their Spanish rivals and hope that Bayern can send Napoli packing in Bavaria. Elsewhere, Real Madrid face Lyon at the Stade Gerland.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2011.