The two teams have quickly become fierce rivals having met four times last season in a series of games full of incident and drama.

The Spaniards took the early advantage with two wins in the first group stage but United performed when it mattered most, winning home and away in the quarter-finals.

United began the second phase of this year's competition with a 3-1 win at Basel but Deportivo were held to a 2-2 home draw by Juventus after leading 2-0.

United, European champions in 1999, are enjoying a terrific run of form despite still missing the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane, Nicky Butt and Rio Ferdinand.

In the last eight days they have beaten title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal to get right back into the premier league mix and manager Alex Ferguson would love to able to enjoy his Christmas with maximum points under his belt after the first two Group D games.

Deportivo are currently sixth in the Spanish league but like the three other Spanish sides in the Champions League, they have reserved their best performances for Europe.

Having beaten Bayern Munich home and away to knock the Germans out of the first stage they will not be short of confidence at Old Trafford.

TRISTAN RETURN

While there could be a return for Diego Tristan, the home fans should be more concerned about fellow striker Roy Makaay.

The Dutchman has notched 18 goals in 19 games this season to lead the way in the Champions League and in Spain and his power and pace will severely test United's somewhat makeshift defence.

The other Group D game sees Juventus take on Basel in Turin on the back of their first Serie A defeat of the season -- 2-0 at Brescia.

Group B also features a mouth-watering England v Spain clash as Arsenal take on Valencia at Highbury on Tuesday in a battle between the two countries' reigning champions which is also a repeat of a 2000 quarter-final won by the Spaniards.

A superb Thierry Henry hat-trick gave Arsenal an impressive 3-1 win at AS Roma two weeks ago while Valencia needed an injury-time equaliser by Miguel Angel Angulo for a 1-1 draw at Ajax Amsterdam, despite dominating the match.

Arsenal's run of scoring in 55 consecutive league games ended with their defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday while Valencia had a workmanlike 2-0 home win over Racing Santander.

Ajax, with several first choice players rested before their game at home to Roma, were held to a 1-1 draw at bottom club Graafschap Doetinchem while the Italians went down 1-0 at AC Milan.

MILAN FLYING

Milan are the form team of the moment, top of Serie A and still on a high from beating Real Madrid 1-0 in their opening Group C game.

On Wednesday they travel to Borussia Dortmund, 2-1 winners over Lokomotiv Moscow in their opening second phase game, while Real host the Russians.

The defending champions have not won in Europe since the second game of the first phase -- five matches -- but will expect to end that run at The Bernabeu.

Things began to look up on Sunday with a 5-1 away thrashing of Real Mallorca, helped by two goals for Ronaldo.

Across the country at Barcelona, Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson is set for an emotional return to the club he managed in 1996-97.

However, his chances of shocking the Spaniards in Group A have been made almost impossible by the absence of key strikers Craig Bellamy and Alan Shearer, both suspended after violent indiscretions in the 4-1 home defeat by Inter Milan last month.

All is not well at Barcelona either.

Their 1-0 defeat at lowly Rayo Vallecano on Saturday leaves them 13 points behind leaders Real Sociedad with criticism raining down on coach Louis van Gaal and president Joan Gaspart.

Only in Europe, where they have won nine successive games to move within one of AC Milan's 10-year-old Champions League record, have they delivered the sort of performances the fans demand.

Inter Milan, who fought back from 3-0 down for a 3-3 draw at Lazio on Saturday, complete the week's lineup with their home match against Bayer Leverkusen.