...but they don’t, as it happens, and Benfica supporters, and indeed fans of fairness everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief. The Portuguese side will feel hard done by here - United really had been woeful until their goal, and none moreso than the goalscorer, Ryan Giggs himself. That said, Benfica have looked shaky when United have ran at them directly - as Valencia showed when he created the opportunity for Giggs.
Benfica Vs. Manchester United Live, 2011 UEFA Champions League: 1-1 At Half Time As Giggs Spares United’s Blushes
Either side could make changes here - Benfica will want to ensure they aren’t exposed down the flanks, which have been United’s only source of joy, but equally they’ve gotten a fair bit of penetration themselves with that route, with Gaitan looking dangerous. United, meanwhile, need to take control of the game. Ferguson has Anderson on the bench to turn to, and he could replace any one of United’s midfield trio of Giggs, Carrick, and Fletcher - all three have been poor today.
For Benfica, it’ll probably be more of the same - though Nolito is an interesting option for them on the bench, and they also have the extremely dangerous Saviola. United also have no shortage of match-winners on the bench, with Hernandez, Berbatov, Rooney, Owen and Nani all available, though that won’t be their main priority just now. An absorbing game, and a promising second half to look forward to.
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