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REDS RETURN TO GERMANY
There’s room for improvement in United’s away record against German clubs – with just three wins in ten games. Here’s a reminder of the Reds’ previous encounters…
Bayer Leverkusen (Played 2, Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 0)
United have never lost to Leverkusen - but that doesn’t stop us turning grey at the mention of the name. Despite Keano’s strike, the Reds bowed out of the '02 semi’s on away goals after drawing 1-1. A 2-1 group-stage win in 02/03 - Ruud scoring two, Berba netting for Bayer - hardly made up for it.
Bayern Munich (P 3, W 0, D 2, L 1)
Although United unforgettably beat Bayern at the Nou Camp, there’s been no success in Germany. A quarter-final exit in 2000/01 (1-2, Giggs scored) was sandwiched between two group-stage draws when Bayern levelled in the final minutes. How ironic. The first visit in ‘98/99 ended 2-2 (Yorke, Scholes) and United’s last trip in ‘01/02 finished 1-1 (Van Nistelrooy).
Borussia Dortmund (P 2, W 0, D 1, L 1)
United’s first-ever German opponents were genial hosts; they didn’t score against Matt Busby’s pioneering side, who duly went through on aggregate in ‘56/57 after drawing 0-0. Forty years passed before the clubs met again and this time Dortmund had the last laugh, inflicting shock 0-1 defeats in both legs of the ‘96/97 semi.
VfB Stuttgart (P 1, W 0, D 0, L 1)
Only a group-stage stumble in '03/04 – United conceded two goals in two minutes, early in the second half, and lost 1-2 despite Ruud pulling a goal back from the penalty spot.
ASK Vorwaerts (P 1, W 1, D 0, L 0)
The ‘65/66 campaign was best remembered for Best’s performance away to Benfica, but in the first round, the Reds won 2-0 in East Berlin, courtesy of Denis Law and John Connelly.
Wolfsburg (P 1, W 1, D 0, L 0)
We’ve saved the best until last, or are we just being alphabetical? Whatever, December’s 3-1 win was United’s biggest victory in Germany to date. Shame Michael Owen won’t be fit for Tuesday – his hat-trick against Wolfsburg was his second in Deutschland, following England’s famous 5-1 win there in 2001.