Manchester United will look to continue their climb up the Group C table by claiming a second victory against Oţelul Galaţi.
United got their first win of this campaign by beating the tournament newcomers 2-0 in Bucharest on matchday three, Wayne Rooney scoring both goals from the penalty spot. It was a result that lifted the Red Devils into second place and left Oţelul rooted to the foot of the table and still seeking their first UEFA Champions League point.
After needing a late equaliser to salvage a point against FC Basel 1893 in their opening home fixture, United will look to get back to winning ways at Old Trafford against Oţelul. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have a formidable home record in the UEFA Champions League, with just one defeat in their last 33 outings at Old Trafford dating back to 2005.
Including UEFA Intertoto Cup ties and UEFA Cup qualifying rounds, Oţelul have played 11 away matches in Europe and their record reads: W2 D2 L7. Their only previous visit to a European Cup-winning side brought a 5-0 defeat at Juventus in the 1988/89 UEFA Cup first round.
While the two fixtures against United are Oţelul’s first encounters with a team from England, United have faced Romanian opposition once before, beating FC Dinamo Bucureşti in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round in 2004/05.
Ryan Giggs scored United’s opening goal in a 2-1 first-leg win on 11 August 2004 at Bucharest’s old National Stadium. Darren Fletcher also played and, unlike Giggs, also featured in the return at Old Trafford where Alan Smith (2) and David Bellion’s goals secured a 3-1 victory.