Manchester United's possible line up against Real Madrid

With the clash that the world is watching imminent, it is time that we attempt the near impossible – second guess Sir Alex’s starting line up.

The clash against Everton on Sunday provided a very different view of what Sir Alex might have in mind. For one, he could just have put out that squad to make sure that Jose, who was in the stands, took something out of the game and had something else to think about. Perhaps, it was a feeler for tonight’s game.

First off, predicting Real Madrid’s line up for the game is much simpler than predicting United’s; well, in shape at least. Jose will, almost certainly, go for his 4-2-3-1. Now, who he employs where will be an interesting question. In all likelihood, the goalkeeper and the defence pick themselves. Jose will, it seems, play with Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira in front of the back four, with Xabi quarterbacking and Sami joining in with the attacks. The three in front of those two is where Jose must think about his selection. Barring a last minute travesty, Ronaldo will play on the right and Ozil at the center of this three. Perhaps, Di Maria or Callejon will fill the final spot. Perhaps Jose will turn to Modric for this one. Benzema should start, one presumes.

Now, given that this team and this shape is almost a given, Sir Alex has two choices in front of him: does he try and second guess Jose and put out a team accordingly? Or does he pay scant regard to what Jose is going to do and put out a team that he thinks will do the job? Also on his mind would be the question of how much he really wants to go for it, considering that this is the first leg and that it is an away tie.

For the following discussion, I assume a back 5 of De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra.

The options:

4-2-3-1 : Carrick, Jones; Cleverley, Valencia, Rooney; van Persie.

Prior to Sunday, a starting berth for Jones in the middle of midfield would’ve given you excellent odds, but Jones’ performance while marking Fellaini on Sunday might just slash those odds by a long way. However, marking Fellaini is one thing; marking Ronaldo – an entirely different thing. Also, given his recent struggle with illness, it would be a big ask for him to last the whole ninety. However, it is an option that Sir Alex will consider. Cleverley might be there to provide assistance to Evra, or to cover Ozil as the case may be. Valencia could be picked for his defensive capabilities as well.

4-4-2 : Carrick, Jones/Cleverley, Kagawa, Welbeck; Rooney, van Persie

Seeing that Welbeck did an excellent job for the English national team from the left, he might be handed a starting berth by Sir Alex for this big game. Despite his relative inexperience, he has shown a great temperament and an appetite for the big matches, and Sir Alex tends to trust him in games of this nature. Kagawa could be used to counter Real’s slick passing with some slick give-n’-gos of his own. Carrick is almost a given in midfield, and perhaps Jones or Cleverley could be the foil for Carrick, playing as box to box midfielders.

4-5-1: Carrick, Cleverley, Young, Nani, Rooney; van Persie

Sir Alex might just decide to fight fire with fire, so to speak, and pack his team with attacking intent, electing to go all out in search of that most coveted away win. Somehow, this does not seem at all likely, but then again, if it did happen, it would make for compelling viewing.

4-2-4: Carrick, Jones, Young, Rooney, Hernandez/Welbeck, van Persie

Now this would be the bomb, wouldn’t it? Wishful thinking? Perhaps it is. Then again, Sir Alex has been known to catch everyone off guard, and perhaps he will go for the jugular, so to speak. If this does happen, though, one of two things will happen: United might get trounced, going a couple of goals down in 10 minutes, or United could just make the return leg at Old Trafford a dead rubber.

That, is my take on what the possible line ups could be. What do you think?