Manchester United can wrap up their spot in the Champions League knockout phase today if they can take maximum points off Portugese side Braga. However, United will have it all to do to take the three points as Braga have beaten English opposition at home in their last four outlings. The hosts also showed they were no pushovers in the two sides meeting last month when they led United 2-0 before losing 3-2 at Old Trafford. Three straight wins has put Alex Ferguson's three-time champions five points clear at the top of Group H with Romanian outfit CFR Cluj on four points, Braga on three and Turkish giants Galatasaray bringing up the rear with just one point from three matches.While automatic qualification is the principal objective, winning the group is also a key factor and will mean United play a second-placed team in the second round and also have the return leg at home. However over the past five years, Braga have yet concede a goal against English opponents and have chalked up an impressive list of scalps that include Liverpool, Arsenal, Birmingham City and Portsmouth. United come into the game on a high after a dominant performance in a 2-1 win over Arsenal in their last Premier League outing which saw the 19-time English champions return to their familiar perch at the top of the domestic table. Ferguson has also been boosted by the return of Scotland international Darren Fletcher who has been able to play despite taking heavy medication for the bowel disease that threatened to end his career.
"The condition never goes away and that's the thing I have to live with," Fletcher told UEFA.com. "Every day is a battle for me. I have to watch my diet and take certain medication or it could come back again." Braga's defence will be crucial with United's menacing strike force of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney already clicking into gear. The Dutchman's early strike against his former club on Saturday was his eighth goal of the League campaign. Coach Jose Peseiro is in his first season in charge after the club's run to the 2011 Europa League when they were beaten 1-0 by Porto under the leadership of Domingos Paciencia. They are also in good form and are coming off a 3-1 home win over Gil Vicente which leaves them third in the table and three points off the lead.
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