Eight changes for United

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson made eight changes for this Champions League semi-final against Schalke at Old Trafford tonight.

Only goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, Anderson and Nani remained from the team that started in the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal on Sunday.

Ferguson decided to mix things up with his side holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg and a vital league game against Chelsea to come on Sunday.

Van der Sar and Antonio Valencia were the only ones, in fact, who retained their places from the trip to Germany a week ago while Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand were not even on the bench.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling, Evans, O’Shea, Gibson, Scholes, Anderson, Valencia, Berbatov, Nani. Subs: Kuszczak, Evra, Owen, Giggs, Hernandez, Vidic, Fletcher.

Schalke 04: Neuer, Uchida, Howedes, Metzelder, Escudero, Papadopoulos, Jurado, Farfan, Baumjohann, Draxler, Raul. Subs: Schober, Sarpei, Edu, Schmitz, Karimi, Huntelaar, Matip.

Referee: Pedro Proenca (Portugal)