Besiktas v Man Utd live!

Published: 15 Sep 2009 - 19:19:03

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// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} 62 Besiktas are enjoying a rare period of sustained possession. The hosts have been very impressive after the break and Man United will have to raise their game if they want to travel back to England with the three points, 61 Kas is slightly lucky to avoid a booking as he bundles Nani to the ground after a sustained spell of shirt pulling. Free-kick to Man United. 60 Yusuf shows one of his key attributes straight away as a long throw from the left is headed clear by Vidic. That could be another worry for Man United as the half goes on. 59 Besiktas make their first change with Yusuf Simsek replacing Ozkan. 58 A short corner from the right is headed away from Holosko at the far post by Vidic. This is Besiktas' best spell of the match. 57 Man United are not looking as solid in defence at the moment. Holosko has become more influential after the break and he could be a key man for Besiktas. 56 It looks like Holosko will have a chance in the Man United box but the ball fails to sit up for the Besiktas midfielder. Tabata collects possession and his driven effort is saved by Foster. 55 Nani's corner from the left is cleared by Besiktas as the home side's defence continues to hold firm. 54 Nobre becomes the second player to be booked tonight as he catches Evans with a late challenge after the Man United defender cleared the ball. 53 Nani chooses the wrong time to try a neat flick on the edge of the Besiktas box as he allows Sivok to come across and clear the danger. The Portuguese has not impressed as much as his fellow Man United winger Valencia in this match. 52 Dag's cross from the right falls to Nobre but the Besiktas striker is unable to control the ball and Neville wins possession. 51 Kas' looping cross from the right is met by a looping header from Ozkan and Foster gathers the ball with ease. 50 Holosko is seeing more of the ball in this half as his bustling run into the Man United box is halted by a decent challenge from Evans. 49 Holosko gets a bit too excited as he sends an optimistic effort from 40 yards over the top of Foster's bar. No problems for the Man United goalkeeper so far tonight. 48 Besiktas waste a corner from the left but there is no doubt that it is Man United who have been the better side at the start of this half as Valencia continues to impress. 47 Nani's looping cross from the left causes Ferrari some problems on the line and he can only turn the ball to Valencia. A chance eventually falls to Carrick but his effort is gathered with ease by Arikan. 46 The action is back under way as Valencia once again shines as his cross from the right narrowly evades an acrobatic effort from Rooney. Dave MacMillan thinks Man United should go for it and Sir Alex Ferguson tells Sky Sports just before the second-half gets under way: "I think we have had plenty of chances and a few near things. I think we have the winning of the game with Valencia, he has been a real threat to them so we need to get the ball in that area." Send your thoughts to nick.hext@bskyb.com. What are your thoughts on the first-half? Should Man United increase their attacking options by bringing on Owen or Berbatov? Can Besiktas continue their steady improvement during the game and secure victory? Let me know at nick.hext@bskyb.com. Besktas are now 13/2 to secure the three points with Sky Bet, Man United are 8/13 and you can back the draw at 17/10. Scholes looks decent value to be first goalscorer at 16/1. HT The referee blows his whistle for half-time. Man United have been the better side, with Valencia looking very dangerous, but no goals so far as Besiktas become more involved in the match as their confidence grows. 45 Ozkan races forward and sends a powerful effort well over the top of the bar from 25 yards. There will be one minute of additional time. 44 Rooney is caught offside as he looks to storm into the Besiktas box as Valencia is once again the man to put the hosts on the back foot. 43 Update from the other match in this group tonight as German champions Wolfsburg have a 2-0 lead at home to Juande Ramos' CSKA Moscow. 42 Foster does really well from Ozkan's corner from the left to claim the ball with ease on the edge of the six-yard box. 41 Ozkan's cross from the left is turned behind for a corner by Evans as Besiktas once again pose a few questions to Man United. 40 Nani takes the free-kick from the left hand side of the Besiktas box but his effort is poor and goes well over the top of the bar to leave Sir Alex Ferguson looking very disappointed. 39 Man United win a free-kick on the edge of the box as Evra is bundled to the ground by a late challenge from Tabata. The Besiktas midfielder is lucky to avoid a booking. 38 Scholes nearly finds himself with a chance but Valencia's cross narrowly evades his attempted volley on the edge of the box and Besiktas clear the danger. 37 Man United keep the ball with ease on the halfway line but Besiktas are happy to keep men behind the ball and they prevent an attacking opportunity. 36 Man United have dominated possession in this half but there have be no sustained spells when Besiktas have been under heavy pressure. No reason for Red Devils fans to panic but they will be hoping their side can find a bit more composure in the final third as the match goes on. 35 Nani's corner from the right falls to Vidic at the far post but the Man United defender can only turn the ball wide as Ferrari allows him no time to make a decision. 34 Nani's corner from the left is met by a header from Evans but the ball loops in the air and Arikan is able to gather with ease in the centre of his goal. 33 Nani's cross from the left is deflected behind for a corner by Ernst. 32 No drama for Man United as Anderson is eaily able to Ozlan's corner from the left away from danger. 31 It is still a great atmosphere in the ground tonight as Valencia creates more space on the right but sees his resulting cross cleared by Ferrari. Goal update from elsewhere as Cristiano Ronaldo bags his first Real Madrid goal to give the Spanish giants a 1-0 lead at FC Zurich. 30 Sivok is bundled to the ground by a poor challenge from Anderson. The Man United midfielder isslightly lucky to escape a booking. 29 Valencia tries to work a one-two with Carrick but he is crowded out by the Besiktas defence and possession is lost. The hosts are producing a decent display so far and they are not allowing Man United too much time on the ball. 28 Besiktas see two corners in a row put behind for another flag-kick. The third is cleared by a header from Carrick at the near post. 27 Besiktas come fairly close to taking the lead as Ozkan's effort from just outside the box is deflected narrowly over the top of the bar by Evans. 26 Rooney's cross from the left narrowly evades Valencia as the Man United winger is put under plenty of pressure by Ferrari. 25 Evra's low cross from the left is turned wide of Arikan's near post by Carrick from a tight angle. The Man United midfielder had his back to goal. 24 Valencia's dinked cross from the right is spilled by Arikan but the Besiktas goalkeeper gets lucky as the ball is headed straight back to him by Uzulmez. The Man United winger has impressed at the start of the game. 23 Man United enjoy a sustained spell of possession to try and halt Besiktas' recent spell of attacking play. 22 Evra blasts the ball away from the Man United box as he is put under pressure from Kas. Besiktas have started to impress in the last few minutes. 21 Rooney is caught offside as he fails to reach a header from Neville over the top of the Besiktas defence. 20 A good spell of possession ends for Besiktas as Uzulmex's cross from the left is deflected behind for a corner. Man United are able to easily clear the resulting flag-kick. 19 Holosko makes space on the left flank and his looping cross evades Ozkan and the ball goes out for a Man United goal-kick. Decent attacking opportunity for Besiktas. 18 A long ball from Evans leaves Nani with an impossible task and he can only watch as Besiktas win a goal-kick. Man United still look the better side but you get the feeling that there is another gear to their game tonight if they want to use it. 17 Great defensive work from Uzulmez on the right flank as he halts Valencia's run and calmly plays the ball clear of danger. 16 The ball then falls to Nani on the edge of the box and his deflected effort falls to Rooney at the far post. The Man United striker is unable to do much with the chance as Arikan gathers with ease. 15 Nani's corner from the left is turned towards goal by a deflection from Holosko at the near post. Arikan does really well to get a slight touch on the ball to allow the Besiktas defence to clear the ball off the line. 14 Evra wins a corner for Man United as his cross from the left is deflected behind by Kas. 13 Carrick finds himself in space outside the Besiktas box and his 30-yard effort is saved with ease at the first attempt by Arikan in the centre of his goal. 12 Scholes' lofted through ball is headed away from Rooney by Ferrari. Man United are the dominant side in this match and it looks like their additional attacking quality could hold the key to victory. 11 Ernst does well to win a throw-in for Besiktas as his challenge on Nani bounces off the winger and out of play. 10 Valencia again does well to create some space for himself but his cross does not test the Besiktas defence as Ferrari heads the ball clear. Man United are starting to let their quality show. 9 Valencia produces some great work as he uses a couple of bits of skill to find space on the right and his resulting cross is headed clear by Ferrari. 8 Loose pass from Ferrari evades Nobre and the ball drifts straight through to Foster. Slow tempo for the majority of the match so far but Man United look dangerous when they break at speed. 7 Nani wastes an early chance to impress on the left flank as a driven cross strikes Kas and the Besiktas right-back is able to clear. 6 Rooney falls theatrically to the ground after a clumsy challenhe from Sivok on the left flank. Poor challenge from the defender and he is booked. 5 Dag shows that he is capable of producing crunching challenges as well as he wins the ball from Evra on the left flank. Plenty of commitment from both sides so far. 4 Scholes isn't worried about his dismissal at the weekend as he produces a superb challenge to win the ball from Rodrigo Tabata and Rooney collects possession. The Man United striker fails to take advantage of the chance as he scuffs a shot well wide of Arikan's right hand post. 3 A lofted cross into the Man United box from Uzulmez is headed away from Nobre by Vidic. Besiktas are looking fairly dangerous at the start of the game. 2 Anderson fails to take control of Scholes' sharp pass and the ball is able to drift through to Arikan in the Besiktas goal. Quiet on the pitch so far but very noisy in the stands. 1 The action is under way and the crowd are already getting right behind Besiktas. The players make their way out of the tunnel to the new Champions League walk-on music. So far it doesn't seem to have quite the same impact as darts but I suppose we should give it a few games. Contrasting views from England and the US on tonight's match as Harry in Truro back Man United to win 2-1 while Andy is New York feels a 1-0 is on the cards for Besiktas. Send your predictions to nick.hext@bskyb.com. Are you surprised to see Man United starting with only one main striker? Should Dimitar Berbatov or Michael Owen be in the first XI? Let me know at nick.hext@bskyb.com. Here are the teams for tonight's match: Besiktas: Arikan, Kas, Sivok, Ferrari, Uzulmez, Dag, Ernst, Holosko, Rodrigo Tabata, Ozkan, Nobre. Subs: Recber, Koybasi, Fink, Nihat, Tello, Inceman, Yusuf Simsek. Man Utd: Foster, Neville, Jonathan Evans, Vidic, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Brown, Owen, Berbatov, Park, Fabio Da Silva, Gibson. Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy) Here is the team news for tonight's match: Rio Ferdinand's return to Manchester United's starting line-up proves short-lived as the defender is ruled out of the Red Devils' Champions League opener against Besiktas. Ferdinand is believed to have picked up a minor groin strain, having already missed a month after suffering a calf injury on international duty with England last month. Dimitar Berbatov surprisingly misses out, along with Michael Owen, although there is some experience in the form of Gary Neville for United's first encounter with the Turkish champions. Besiktas are 13/2 to win tonight's match with our friends at Sky Bet, Man United can be backed at 1/2 and the draw is available at 11/4. Team news will follow shortly. Welcome to our live coverage of Manchester United's trip to Besiktas in the Champions League. It will be interesting to see how the Red Devils perform tonight as they play their first European match since last season's final defeat against Barcelona. Send your thoughts ahead of the game to nick.hext@bskyb.com.