United aim for the top

Cristiano Ronaldo could join Michael Carrick on the sidelines for Wednesday’s match against AaB Aalborg as Manchester United aim to equal a Champions League record and qualify for the last 16 as winners of Group E.

Cristiano Ronaldo could join Michael Carrick on the sidelines for Wednesday’s match against AaB Aalborg as Manchester United aim to equal a Champions League record and qualify for the last 16 as winners of Group E. The defending champions will stretch their unbeaten run in the competition to 19 if they avoid defeat against the Danes — a record currently held by Ajax and Bayern Munich. Ronaldo is struggling to be fit for the game after injuring his hip in the league victory over Sunderland on Saturday and may not be risked with a busy schedule looming, including FIFA’s Club World Cup in Japan.

Cristiano is doubtful and Michael Carrick is out, manager Alex Ferguson said on United’s website on Tuesday. “Those are the only injury problems we have. Michael should be ready for Saturday (against Tottenham Hotspur), but we’ll have to see how Cristiano is.”

Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes is expected to be among the substitutes with the experienced Gary Neville starting at right-back in place of Brazilian teenager Rafael. Victory should ensure United top the group unless Spanish side Villarreal, who also have nine points, run riot against already eliminated Celtic.

Arsenal eye top spot

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Arsenal need just a draw in the Champions League clash at Porto’s Stadium of the Dragon on Wednesday to secure a top-place finish in Group G. A successful trip to Portugal could also provide a tonic for Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Eboue. The Ivory Coast international came on as a substitute in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Wigan at the weekend but coach Arsene Wenger took him off after he was loudly booed by home fans angered by a string of errors.

Despite Eboue’s rattled confidence, Wenger has indicated the midfielder will be in the squad for the Porto encounter as Samir Nasri’s ankle injury is likely to keep the Frenchman out.

England winger Theo Walcott is also sidelined for Arsenal.

New coach wants focus on Zenit

New coach Juande Ramos wants struggling Real Madrid to focus on Wednesday’s Champions League game against Zenit St. Petersburg instead of the Spanish league derby against Barcelona. Ramos replaced Bernd Schuster, who was fired on Tuesday after saying it was “impossible” to win the derby on Saturday against a team on a 20-game unbeaten run. Madrid have lost three of their last four league games and are fifth in the table, but have already advanced to the knockout stages of European Cup play.

But Ramos does not want his new team to look beyond Wednesday’s match. “I would like that all our effort and work focuses on the match against Zenit. We need to treat it the same as if we were going to the Camp Nou,” said Ramos.