UEFA Champions League: United target Bayern win to focus on league

We’re more than capable of finishing the job: Ferdinand

LEVERKUSEN: Rio Ferdinand wants Manchester United to book their place in the Champions League’s knock-out stages by beating Bayer Leverkusen away on Wednesday so they can focus on the Premier League.

Ferdinand wants United to win at Leverkusen’s BayArena to confirm their progression in Europe, so they can return their focus on the Premier League until next year’s knock-out stages.

“We want to finish the job, get it done early so we can get back to the Premier League and have nothing else distracting us,” said Ferdinand.

“They're a well-equipped team and it’s not going to be easy but we’re more than capable.”

United manager David Moyes’ team top Group A with eight points, just one ahead of hosts Leverkusen, and both sides can guarantee their place in the knock-out stages with a win.

Should Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk lose at home to Real Sociedad in the section’s other game, United and Leverkusen would progress with a draw.

Ronaldo doubtful as last-16 in sight for Madrid

Real Madrid will almost certainly be without Cristiano Ronaldo as they look to mathematically seal their place in the last-16 at home to Galatasaray.

The Spanish giants are virtually already in the knockout stage as they would need to lose their remaining two games heavily having beaten Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen 6-1 and 4-0 respectively on matchday one and two.

However, they can also guarantee first place in Group B with just a point against the Turkish champions. Ronaldo is unlikely to be risked as he suffered a minor thigh injury in Madrid’s 5-0 destruction of Almeria on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has warned Viktoria Plzen there will be no let-up from his free-scoring team in their clash at Eastlands.

“We know the quality we have in the front players,” said Zabaleta.

“They can score at any time in the game. That is why we always talk about how important it is to keep clean sheets.”

Mandzukic left at home as Bayern leave for Moscow

Bayern Munich left for Moscow and their Champions League clash with CSKA on Tuesday without star striker Mario Mandzukic.

The Croatia international, who has a calf problem, joined injured first-teamers Franck Ribery (ribs) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (ankle) in remaining in the Bavarian capital.

To make up the numbers, Spanish coach Pep Guardiola called up reserve team players Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Mitchell Weiser and Julian Green.

With four wins from four, the current Champions League holders have already qualified for the knock-out stages with two Group D matches to spare.