Wayne Rooney scored against Arsenal and will lead the United attack tonight
Expect an inspired performance from Wayne Rooney tonight. Reuters

After one of the most lackluster performances by both teams all season in the first leg, Manchester United host Marseille at Old Trafford in the second leg of the Round of 16 in Champions League.

The second leg will not be a repeat of the first leg.

Expect an energized Old Trafford to inspire Sir Alex Ferguson's attackers. Needing an offensive catalyst, Ferguson opted to only use one substitution in the first leg, and that sub was not Javier El Chicharito Hernandez.

The Mexican striker has a flare for the majestic, and with the stakes so high in this match, Ferguson will certainly not hesitate to put Hernandez in the second half, if he doesn't start him in the first place.

Hernandez is joined by Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, who is itching to score after an 18-game scoreless drought. There has been solid chemistry between the players in recent games.

What the Red Devils need to be wary of is a counter-attack from Marseille, who certainly have the weapons to do it.

That can very well happen, and perhaps a two-goal cushion may cause Manchester United's right and left backs to have a lapse in concentration.

Marseille have a more dangerous team than many think, and should Manchester United jump out to a one-goal advantage, they should worry about attacking players like Andre-Pierre Gignac or Loic Remy, who are capable of giving Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling, and Patrice Evra fits.

Playmaker Mathieu Valbuena is crafty and probably wants to impress Ferguson, his potential suitor this summer.

But more than likely, Manchester United will be pressuring solid goalkeeper Steve Mandanda for much of the evening, and a concession of a pair of goals is in the cards as the Red Devils should prevail in front of their boisterous crowd.

PREDICTION: Rooney and Antonio Valencia's pressure leads to two goals, but Marseille catches the Red Devils flat footed in the dying minutes. Manchester United 2, Marseille 1.

See you in the quarter-finals, Fergie.

Wayne rooney