PARIS (AFP) - Manchester United and Barcelona complete the formalities of the Champions League group phase on Tuesday, desperately playing down their roles as favourites but also keen to get their mathematics right.
United face fellow second-round qualifiers Valencia at Old Trafford with the only issue at stake being who finishes top of Group C.
The Spanish side are three points behind but to take top spot they must become the first team to score against Sir Alex Ferguson's men in Europe this term.
Ferguson will play a competitive side as he wants to make sure United finish top and avoid the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona until the latter stages of the competition.
"We will be playing a strong side because we want to top the group," said Ferguson. "Real Madrid are top of their group, Barcelona are top, Bayern (Munich) are top.
