UEFA Champions League Preview, Group B

Club	Points	Diff

Grafite during happier times. The recently-troubled Brazilian is suspended for Wolfsburg's Tuesday trip to Istanbul.
Manchester United	9	+3
Wolfsburg	4	+1
CSKA Moscow	3	-1
Besiktas	1	-2
Through three rounds.

Group B

Manchester United's group has turned into one of the easiest in the competition, which is saying something considering that groups D, G and H are frustratingly uncompetitive. Seeing how this season's Champions League has seen a marked disparity between weak groups and strong (A, E, and F being the strong), UEFA should consider other ways to create these groups. I have my thoughts but would like to hear ideas.

That's for the future (if ever). In the present, Sevilla, Arsenal and Manchester United can sleep-walk through this stage of the advertised greatest club competition in the world. Do you feel the majesty?

The Red Devils can clinch a knock-out phase birth with a win over CSKA Moscow, and if Wolfsburg doesn't get three in Turkey, they can clinch the group outright. They can be a perfect twelve points by Wednesday morning, and it is still unclear how much Manchester United is actually trying to win these matches.

Two weeks ago, Alex Ferguson's conservative squad selection in Russia was given Istanbul-like present with a late, game-winning goal from Antonio Valencia. Having all-but-sealed-up this group, expect United to start another conservative (euphemism for weakened) XI, using injury as the rationale. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are out. Ryan Giggs will rest his ankle. Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney are also said to have knocks. There is little reason for any of them to play.

CSKA Moscow still has a strong chance of advancing in this group (even if they do not get a result in England), but the turmoil their club is in after the departure of head coach Juande Ramos threatens to undermine both domestic and continental campaigns. New coach Leonid Slutsky got three points in his first match at the helm, but Manchester United on the road is a different monster than Terek Grozny in Moscow, B-side or not. Manchester United's memories of Anfield should remind them of what a wounded side can do.

In the group's other match, Wolfsburg goes to Besiktas days after allowing three goals in the Bundesliga to recently promoted Mainz. Sitting mid-table with the worst defensive record in the league amongst Germany's contenders, the defending German champions are in a bit of turmoil. Grafite, last year's leading scorer in Germany, and new coach Armin Veh continue to knock heads, the conflict originating with Veh's substitution patterns.

Part of the conflict revolves around the red card Grafite received against Besiktas two weeks ago. With Besiktas having already lost in Moscow to CSKA - Wolfsburg's competition for second place in the group - VfL needed a win. After dominating seventy minutes but failing to break through, Grafite earned a dismissal. The match would end nil-nil, with the coach and star at odds ever since.

With Grafite out for the reverse fixture in Istanbul, Obafemi Martins gets the start, a good thing for Wolfsburg (as he is out-scoring Grafite this season). Martins' firepower will be needed against a Black Knights-squad that has shaken off early problems to win five consecutive Turkcell Super Lïg matches . Along the way, Besiktas has allowed only one goal thanks to a defense which, combined with the Turkish crowd and Wolfsburg's lack of experience at this level, makes this a tough get for Veh's side.

Besiktas head coach Mustafa Denizli seems to have found a place in his formation for Nihat Kavechi, who had trouble settling in on his return to Turkey from Villareal this summer. Kavechi is now playing on the right side of attack and is teaming well with Yusuf Simsek and Fabian Ernst. Matteo Ferrari is also starting to settle, helping to get Besiktas playing more like the club that won last year's Lïg.

Having essentially lost two points to CSKA by only drawing against Besiktas in Germany, Wolfsburg needs to pick up points somewhere. That could be in Istanbul or it could be in Moscow on Matchday 6. If it's not at the Inonu Stadium on Tuesday, Wolfsburg will let Besiktas back into the race for second place, with the Black Knights hosting CSKA and traveling to Manchester United (in a meaningless match for United) to close out group play.

Their disappointing opening to Champions League have us overlooking Besiktas, but they still have a route to the knock-out stage.