MANCHESTER UNITED are in urgent need of a stake in the Champions League and the visit of Rapid Vienna to Old Trafford tonight represents a chance which Alex Ferguson's team can ill afford to miss.
A fortnight ago United lost 1-0 to Juventus, the holders, in Turin and the difference in quality which lay between the teams was almost as wide as it had been when the English champions suffered their 4-0 rout in Barcelona two seasons earlier.
Rapid are no Juventus, but the continued susceptibility of Manchester United to the sort of sucker punch which led to their defeat in the Stadio Delle Alpi reawakened uncomfortable memories of the draws at Old Trafford which have contributed to their recent failures in this tournament.
In 1993 Galatasaray, the Turkish champions, forced a 3-3 draw with United after conceding two early goals, and the following season Barcelona had the better of a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford which portended the shape of embarrassing things to come at Nou Camp. And last season United went out of the UEFA Cup after being held to 2-2 at home by Rotor Volgograd.
If Manchester United are even to approach their manager's long-standing dream of winning the European Cup tonight's game is the sort of fixture they must win. But it may not be easy. Rapid, who nearly went bust three years ago, are a club much revived.
Last season, as well as winning the Austrian championship for the 30th time, they reached the final of the Cup-winners Cup before losing 1-0 to Paris St Germain in Brussels.
Since then Rapid have lost Carsten Jancker, their leading scorer in the tournament with six goals who is now with Bayera Munich, and his departure means that even more is being asked of Christian Stumpf. Stumpf forced the 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in Vienna two weeks ago after the Bosnian Elvir Bolic had given the Turkish side a half-time lead. This evening the Austrians will also be missing Christain Prosenik from midfield because of a knee Injury.
Manchester United's fear is not so much that Rapid will end a 40-year unbeaten home record in Europe but that they will prove too hard to break down. A Viennese defence which has Bulgaria's Trifon Ivanov glowering at its heart is unlikely to be a pushover.
Had Roy Keane been fit for the Juventus match he might have prevented the counterthrust which culminated in Alen Boksic scoring what proved to be the winning goal. Keane's return to the Manchester United midfield should make a difference this evening but they are anxious about Gary Pallister, under treatment for a twisted knee.
The Juventus game offered the unusual spectacle of a United attack failing to land a proper shot or header on target throughout the 90 minutes. No doubt there will be an improvement tonight, but if Eric Cantona does not find the net goals may still be a problem.
Ole Solskjaer or Andy Cole will be alongside Cantona tonight, and the young Norwegian looks the sharper of the two. Then there is always the long shot, David Beckham.
The quality of centres Beckham and Gary Neville can provide should be important. But it is equally crucial that both players avoid adding to the bookings they received in Turin.
