'Lyon, the French champions three years in succession, have made an unbeaten start in Ligue 1 and are among four teams sharing the lead. They have, though, struggled for goals after Giovane Elber's injury and Paul Le Guen will be tempted to include another Brazilian, Nilmar.
The 20-year-old is billed as "the next Ronaldo" and scored both goals in Lyon's weekend victory over Rennes. Marcelo, the former Lyon defender who is now a Brazilian agent and who helped bring both players to Europe, said: "He has the same qualities as Ronaldo when he joined PSV Eindhoven". Sylvain Wiltord, whose goal at Old Trafford clinched the 2002 Premiership title for Arsenal, is also in contention.
One other player whom United should be wary of is Juninho Pernambucano, a current Brazilian international and one of the best dead-ball specialists in Europe. Last year he beat Oliver Kahn from nearly 40 yards. Tim Howard, struggling for form himself, has presumably been warned.
Lyon (4-3-3): Coupet; Réveillière, Cris, Cacapa, Abidal; Essien, Juninho, Malouda; Govou, Frau, Wiltord or Nilmar.