Rio starts for United, Torres up front for Blues

Manchester United have gambled on Rio Ferdinand’s fitness for tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Chelsea.

Ferdinand makes his first appearance for more than two months following a calf injury that it had been feared could keep him out for the rest of the season.

The England defender is one of three changes for the visitors, who also recall Javier Hernandez and Rafael.

Chelsea have paired Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba in attack and also started with Yury Zhirkov, who won the controversial penalty that beat United in the Barclays Premier League last month.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Zhirkov, Drogba, Torres.

Subs: Turnbull, Benayoun, Mikel, Malouda, Ferreira, Kalou, Anelka.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Hernandez, Rooney.

Subs: Kuszczak, Berbatov, Smalling, Nani, Scholes, Evans, Gibson. Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco