Manchester United will be looking to put their Champions League exit to Real Madrid behind them when they host holders Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals tomorrow.
The Red Devils were irate after their 2-1 defeat to Real at Old Trafford on Tuesday after Portuguese winger Nani was harshly dismissed by Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir early in the second half.
Manager Alex Ferguson will demand a strong response from his players against Chelsea as they turn their sights on completing a domestic league and cup double.
United reached the quarter-finals after eliminating three Premier League sides – Reading (2-1), Fulham (4-1) and West Ham (1-0).
United and Chelsea have already met twice this season.
In October, the Red Devils beat the Blues 3-2 (Luiz og, Van Persie, Hernandez − Mata, Ramirez) in the Premier League but Chelsea avenged that defeat after ousting United from the League Cup 5-4 (Luiz pen, Cahill, Hazard pen, Sturride, Ramires − Giggs 2, 1 pen, Hernandez, Nani).
Chelsea progressed to the last eight of the FA Cup after seeing off Middlesbrough 2-0 at the River-side Stadium.
On Thursday, Raul Rusescu won and converted a first-half penalty to give Steaua Bucharest a 1-0 win over Chelsea in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.
Thus, the FA Cup holds huge importance for Chelsea this season as they look to retain the trophy they won last year after beating Liverpool in the final.
On the ten occasions the two teams met in the FA Cup, United enjoy a staggering lead of 8-2 over Chelsea.
2007-08 (final)
Chelsea-Manchester United1-0
1998-99 (quarter-final)
Chelsea-Manchester United0-2
Manchester United-Chelsea0-0
1997-98 (third round)
Chelsea-Manchester United3-5
1995-96 (semi-final)
Manchester United-Chelsea2-1
1993-94 (final)
Manchester United-Chelsea4-0
1987-88 (fourth round)
Manchester United-Chelsea2-0
1978-79 (third round)
Manchester United-Chelsea3-0
1962-63 (fifth round)
Manchester United-Chelsea2-1
1949-50 (quarter-final)
Chelsea-Manchester United2-0
1907-08 (second round)
Manchester United-Chelsea1-0
Another all-Premier League FA Cup clash in programme this weekend will see Everton host Wigan at Goodison Park.
The Toffees are seen by many as the dark horses in this competition and they will fancy their chances of reaching the semi-finals for a second successive year at the expense of Wigan who are currently struggling at the bottom end of the standings.
Everton are unbeaten against Wigan in the Premier League this season after a 2-2 draw at the DW Stadium before a 2-1 victory on home soil.
So precarious is Wigan’s position in the league that this week manager Roberto Martinez revealed that he is tempted to rest some key players as the Latics’ main focus is to keep their status in the top flight.
Manchester City, still 12 points adrift of league leaders Manchester United, will be looking to remain on course for a second FA Cup triumph in three years when they host Barnsley at the Etihad Stadium this evening.
Barnsley are battling it out to escape the dreaded drop in the Championship but will be hopeful of maintaining their giant-killing run in this competition.
Blackburn, who shocked Arsenal in the previous round, take on fellow Championship club Millwall at the Den tomorrow.
In the only league match played so far this season, Millwall beat Blackburn 2-0 away at Ewood Park.
Millwall have signed Chelsea midfielder George Saville on loan until the end of the season. Alan Dunne is the only Millwall player who was part of the squad that played in the 2004 FA Cup final.
On that occasion, Millwall were beaten 3-0 by Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Fixtures and forecast
Fa Cup – Quarter-Finals
Everton-Wigan (13:45) 1
Man. City-Barnsley (18:30) 1
Tomorrow:
Man. United-Chelsea (17:30) 1
Millwall-Blackburn (15:00) X
Premier League
Norwich-Southampton 1
Qpr-Sunderland 1
Reading-Aston Villa X
West Brom-Swansea X
Tomorrow:
Liverpool-Tottenham (17:00) 1
Newcastle-Stoke (16:00) X
Standings: Man. United 71; Man. City 59; Tottenham 54; Chelsea 52; Arsenal 47; Everton 45; Liverpool 42; Swansea, West Brom 40; Fulham, Stoke, West Ham 33; Norwich 32; Sunder-Land, Newcastle 30; South-Ampton 27; Wigan, Aston Villa 24; Reading 23; Qpr 20.
The Championship
Birmingham-Derby X
Bolton-Brighton X
Bristol City-Middlesbrough X
Crystal Palace-Leeds 1
Huddersfield-Charlton 1
Leicester-Sheffield Wed. 1
Nottm Forest-Wolves 1
Peterborough-Ipswich X
Watford-Blackpool 1
Monday:
Burnley-Hull (20.45)X
League One
Bournemouth-Doncaster 1
Carlisle-Brentford 2
Colchester-Crewe X
Crawley-Notts County X
Hartlepool-Yeovil X
Portsmouth-Bury X
Reston-Stevenage 1
Scunthorpe-Coventry X
Sheffield Utd-Mk Dons 1
Shrewsbury-Leyton Orient 1
Swindon-Walsall 1
Tranmere-Oldham 1
League Two
Afc Wimbledon-York 1
Barnet-Morecambe 1
Bradford City-Aldershot 1
Burton-Cheltenham 1
Chesterfield-Bristol Rovers X
Fleetwood-Exeter X
Gillingham-Plymouth 1
Northampton-Accrington 1
Port Vale-Southend 1
Rochdale-Wycombe X
Rotherham-Dagenham1
Torquay-Oxfordx
Hot Four: Everton, Man. City, C. Palace, Nottm Forest.