Oct 22
United and Chelsea stroll towards qualification
Manchester United equalled Ajax’s record of 14 successive unbeaten away matches in the Champions League last night after beating CSKA Moscow 1-0 to move within touching distance of the knockout stages.
Sir Alex Ferguson hailed a thoroughly professional performance as Antonio Valencia’s second goal in as many matches, four minutes from time, saw off Juande Ramos’s side and ensured United matched the record set by the Dutch club between 1994 and 1997.
United and Ajax both lost Champions League finals in Italy during these 14-game runs, but let’s not be pedantic…
Like Chelsea, 4-0 winners over Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge, a point from their next fixture — against CSKA at Old Trafford on November 3 — should be enough to secure qualification with two games to spare.
With Liverpool to play at Anfield on Sunday, it was the perfect run-out and result for United, who also avoided any further injuries on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium.
