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Not even the most optimistic CSKA Moskva supporter would admit the portents are overly positive for their visit to Old Trafford on Matchday 4 - after all the Russian team's most recent group-stage away win came in the same 2004/05 season that United last suffered a home defeat in the UEFA Champions League. That record, and a 1-0 home reverse against United on Matchday 3 thanks to Antonio Valencia's late goal, means new CSKA coach Leonid Slutski and his players may feel they have something to prove as they look to better their first Group B away performance, a 3-1 reverse at VfL Wolfsburg.

CSKA parted company with coach Juande Ramos by mutual consent on Monday 26 October, the day after a 3-1 Premier-Liga loss against FC Moskva. Ramos had been at the club for just 47 days, appointed on 10 September as a replacement to Brazilian legend Zico, but could not put his side into contention fo r the Russian title, picking up ten points from six league games. Krylya Sovetov Samara coach Slutski was immediately named as Ramos's successor. The 38-year-old former goalkeeper previously coached FC Olimpia Volgograd, FC Uralan Elista and Moskva, joining Krylya Sovetov before the 2008 season and leading them to a sixth-placed finish in his only full campaign. Slutski made his UEFA club competition debut this season with Krylya. The expedition was short-lived, though, as Slutski's side were eliminated by the Republic of Ireland's Saint Patrick's Athletic FC in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.

Slutski started his career at CSKA in positive fashion, with a 1-0 win at home against FC Terek Grozny thanks to an early strike from Tomas Necid. Necid's winner was the striker's second goal in as many games. He will, however, truly have his work cut out for him as CSKA makes the long trip to Old Trafford in just his second game in-charge.

Though this is CSKA's first appearance at the 'Theatre of Dreams' they will arrive with positive memories of their most recent trip to England when they drew 1-1 at Aston Villa FC in the round of 32 of last season's UEFA Cup. The now departed Vágner Love scored their goal and they went on to eliminate Villa 3-1 on aggregate. CSKA are still seeking a first victory on English soil and have won just once in 13 away outings in the UEFA Champions League group stage - 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain FC in December 2004. The 2004/05 UEFA Cup winners succumbed 3-1 to United's great rivals Liverpool FC in the 2005 UEFA Super Cup.

United, whose victory in Moscow was their first against Russian opposition at the sixth attempt, are unbeaten in 22 UEFA Champions League home games dating back to February 2005 but failed to win on the two previous occasions they welcomed Russian visitors to Old Trafford. A goalless draw with FC Torpedo Moskva was the precursor to a penalty shoot-out defeat after a second stalemate with the same opponents in Moscow in the 1992/93 UEFA Cup first round. There was further disappointment for United when SC Rotor Volgograd came to Old Trafford in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup first round. Although Paul Scholes and goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel scored to undo a two-goal half-time deficit, the 2-2 draw sent United out on the away-goals rule. United suffered at the hands of another Russian club, FC Zenit St. Petersburg, when going down 2-1 in last season's UEFA Super Cup in Monaco.

Man United's form coming into this game is pretty decent. They were on a seven-match Premier League unbeaten run, before being brought down to earth by Liverpool on 25 October. Their 2-0 defeat at Anfield was incidentally their third successive loss against their Merseyside rivals. They however bounced back to beat Blackburn Rovers at home this weekend with superstar strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney both finding the back of the net. Berbatov has been in excellent form, scoring six times for club and country in October, while the goal for Rooney was a welcome relief having not scored since 20th September. Sir Alex Ferguson's side have nevertheless recorded 12 wins, one defeat and one draw in their last 14 matches in all competitions.

Both sides have some injury worries heading into this game with CSKA travelling to Old Trafford without Mark Gonzalez, Guilherme and Sekou Oliseh. Left-winger González has been ruled out for the rest of the year, having suffered an ankle injury while on international duty with Chile. Oliseh meanwhile sprained his hip in the pre-match warm-up last weekend. United were without first choice center-backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić against Blackburn, with Wes Brown and Jonny Evans putting in a good performace, the former making his first league appearance since August. They are also likely to be without veteran Ryan Giggs and fellow winger Ji-Sung Park. It is possible Darren Fletcher might just make a return from an ankle injury though we don't really see the need for Sir Alex to risk him from the start.

United are likely to have too much power and pace for CSKA, and the Moscow outfit's ability to stay in the game may rest strongly on the shoulders of Russian international Igor Akinfeev. The CSKA keeper is reportedly on the winter shopping list of Sir Alex, and a good performance at Old Trafford might just help the Scotsman make up his mind. CSKA are bringing a very young side to Manchester and there may be a lot of players hoping to impress, they are however very likely to be over run in this game, and there is a serious threat of a major rout.

Did you know: United duo Michael Owen (2) and Rio Ferdinand were on target when England earned a 3-0 Wembley victory against a Russia side featuring CSKA's Aleksei Berezutski, Vasili Berezutski and Sergei Ignashevich in a UEFA EURO 2008^TM
qualifier in September 2007.That CSKA trio subsequently gained revenge as they helped Russia beat England 2-1 in the return fixture in Moscow the following month, despite United's Wayne Rooney hitting the opening goal.

Likely line-ups:

Manchester United: Van der Saar; O'Shea, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani; Berbatov, Rooney.

CSKA Moskva: Akinfeev; Ignashevich, A Berezutski, V Berezutski, Schennikov; Šemberas, Mamaev, Carvalho, Krasić, Dzagoev; Necid.

File Photograph Copyright: Gordon Flood