Manchester United isn't an unfamiliar name to see in the World Club Cup Final but no one would have predicted LDU Quito of Ecuador as their opponents. They are the first Ecuadorean club to become champions of South America.
Football in Ecuador has been on the up for the past decade; the national squad were at the last two World Cup Finals and coming through South American qualifying is never easy. LDU are the first club team to really make a mark though.
They have a core of Educadorean internationals and a sprinkling of Argentine imports. On the way to the Copa Libertadores they removed two Argentine sides in the knockout rounds before beating Fluminense in the Final.
Their campaign was something of a slow burn as they were in the groups stages with the Brazilians, Fluninese won one game and drew the other but in the knockouts LDU became very difficult to beat. United would not want to go to a penalty shootout with LDU- they had two on the way to victory, including the Final.
The Quito squad base their success around strong defence and a counter-attacking style led by Argentine forward Claudio Bieler, who scored against Pachuca in he semis. On the bench will be 34 year old Agustin Delgado who once drove Gordon Starchan to distraction at Southampton.
Manchester United have to decide how aggressive to be in this game. LDU like teams to come on to them so Sir Alex Ferguson may take a relatively cautious approach. Dimitar Berbatov is likely to be brought back for his vision and touch- Wayne Rooney might start on the bench.
The manager also has to decide whether to push teenage right back Rafael into such a high profile game or return to the tried and trusted Gary Neville. As Neville played in the semi and United have a game on Boxing Day, Rafael may well be getting the nod. Park Ji Sung and Michael Carrick may replace Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
It's just as well Ferguson respects this tournament because it woukd be a massive achivement for LDU who really want the World Champion title. This is the final game for their Argentine coach so the players will want to send him off on a high.
This match won't be high scoring like United's semi wth Gamba Osaka. LDU will set up to give little away and after their Copa Libertadores form, they have no fears about going to extra time or penalties. United have the attacking weapons to find a way through though, so they should shade it.
Prediction; 1-0 to Manchester United
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