United set to share unwanted record

Win or lose, Manchester United are almost certain to be part of an unwanted piece of Champions League history tomorrow.

With one round of fixtures remaining, Group D is on course to register by far the worst goals tally of any four-team group since the tournament began.

Between them, United, Benfica, Villarreal and Lille have mustered just eight goals so far.

Incredibly, that is 13 fewer than the previous worst tally achieved by Monaco, Liverpool, Olympiacos and Deportivo La Coruna last season.

Here are the six Champions League groups which are more Group of Dearth than Death.

**2005-06: Group D, 8 – Villarreal (2), Lille (1), Manchester United (2), Benfica (3).

2004-05: Group A, 21 – Monaco (10), Liverpool (6), Olympiacos (5), Deportivo La Coruna (0).

2001-02: Group B, second stage, 22 – Barcelona (7), Liverpool (4), Roma (6), Galatasaray (5).

1994-95: Group D, 22 – Ajax (9), AC Milan (6), Salzburg (4), AEK Athens (3).

1996-97: Group C, 22 – Juventus (11), Manchester United (6), Fenerbahce (3), Rapid Vienna (2).

2003-04: Group H, 22 – AC Milan (4), Celta Vigo (7), Club Brugge (5), Ajax (6).

2004-05: Group H, 22 – Chelsea (10), Porto (4), CSKA Moscow (5), Paris St Germain (3).

**after five of six rounds of matches.