First of all, congrats to FC Basel. Moving on...

Gutted. Embarrassed. Deserved -- these are my raw and incredibly simple thoughts on this shocking day for Manchester United. The Reds have looked completely unconvincing since the derby disaster and perhaps manager Sir Alex Ferguson should have been given more credit for his side's recent propensity to grind out dull 1-0 victories. United have been ravaged by injury but the supposed quality of their squad depth should have been enough to see them through to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. There simply are no excuses for these god awful performances. This is not a very good side right now.

We will have plenty of time now to look at what is ahead (Europa League... UGH) but feel free to vent here. Share your anger, frustrations, thoughts, or solutions here. Take it out here rather than on your loved ones or pets.

P.S. I f****** hate those white kits.

United starting XI: David de Gea; Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic (c), Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra; Phil Jones, Park Ji-sung, Ryan Giggs; Nani, Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young

United bench: Anders Lindegaard, Jonny Evans, Antonio Valencia, Darren Fletcher, Darron Gibson, Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda

Basel starting XI: Yann Sommer; Markus Steinhofer, Aleksandar Dragovic, David Abraham, Park Joo-Ho; Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Cabral, Fabian Frei; Alexander Frei, Marco Streller

Basel bench: Scott Chipperfield, Massimo Colomba, Radoslav Kovac, Valentin Stocker, Jacques Zoua, Pak Kwang-Ryong, Genseric Kusunga

Manchester United are set to depart from Manchester in minutes for Switzerland and the squad that will get on the plane has been announced. The Reds are faced with a plethora of injuries at the moment but it is important to remind that midfielder Michael Carrick will not travel with the squad due to suspension after picking up a third booking in the previous five group stage matches. United need a result if they hope to advance to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson will also be without Javier Hernandez (Chicharito), Dimitar Berbatov, Anderson, Michael Owen, Rafael, and Fabio due to injury. However, there is a bit of good news as Rio Ferdinand is expected to board the plane after being substituted off this past weekend versus Aston Villa after receiving a knock in that match. In other news, there is no confirmation to the rumor that omnipotent Phil Jones will fly the plane to Basel. Here is a list of the full 22-player squad travelling to Basel:

Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Anders Lindegaard, Ben Amos

Defenders: Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Zeki Fryers

Midfielders: Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Ji-Sung Park, Nani, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Larnell Cole, Darron Gibson

Forwards: Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda, Mame Biram Diouf

After Manchester United's disappointing 2-2 draw with Benfica at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, I became curious about their potential draw for the first round of the knockout stages in the UEFA Champions League. First though, the Reds will need a result in Switzerland on December 7 when they face FC Basel on Matchday 6 -- a win or draw will be enough to send them through. A defeat by Basel would eliminate United from the competition. Benfica are level on points with United but they are guaranteed the top spot in Group C due to a tiebreaker if they defeat Otelul Galati on December 7 in Lisbon -- a result that appears likely. A few possible outcomes exist in Group C but the most likely scenario is Benfica top of the group with United finishing second.

Keep in mind that United could not face another English side nor a Group C side in the first round of the knockout stages. Without further ado, here's an examination of the other seven groups and who from these groups might advance.

GROUP A

* Winner: Bayern Munich - The German giants are unbeaten in group play and are five points clear of their nearest competitor. They have been in fine form this season as they currently top the Bundesliga table. This is certainly a side that United will hope to avoid if they finish second in Group C. Bayern is one of the few teams in Europe where United may not be a favorite against over a two-legged tie.

* Runner-up: Undetermined - Napoli's 2-1 defeat on Manchester City in Naples on Tuesday night propelled them ahead of United's rival. The Italian side currently have 8 points and a victory over Villarreal on Matchday 6 would be enough to send them through as the group's runner-up. It should be noted that last season, during this exact same fixture in Spain while in the Europa League, Villarreal defeated Napoli. City will host Bayern -- who may field a depleted side having already won the group -- and will need all three points, along with Napoli to either lose or draw, if they are to advance.

GROUP B

* Winner: Inter Milan - The Italian side have already earned top spot in Group B after earning 10 points from 5 matches. They have struggled mightily in Serie A thus far this season but they certainly are a side United would also prefer to avoid if possible. They have both the talent and pedigree to compete but United would likely still be the favorite for this hypothetical match-up.

* Runner-up: Undetermined - It is a wide open race amongst the other three teams for the last qualification spot. Turkish side Trabzonspor currently sit on 6 points while both Lille and CSKA Moscow both have 5 points. French champions Lille will host Trabzonspor on Matchday 6 while Inter -- who like Bayern will likely deploy a weakened side while focusing on their domestic troubles -- host CSKA Moscow. If both Lille and CSKA Moscow were to win, Lille hold the tiebreaker between the two. Trabzonspor simplifies it if they earn all three points at Lille. CSKA Moscow need victory and a Trabzonspor loss or draw. Confused yet?

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It was far from convincing, nonetheless, Manchester United went top of Group C -- on goal differential -- after a 2-0 win over Otelul Galati at Old Trafford on Wednesday night. Antonio Valencia opened the scoring after a marauding Phil Jones whipped in a cross in the 8th minute. 79 minutes later, Wayne Rooney sealed the victory when his shot from distance was deflected in. The Reds failed to convince the doubters from their recent form but they currently top their group on goal differential after Benfica's draw with FC Basel. Here are the highlights from the match:

For United States' viewers:

For worldwide viewers:

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It was not the most convincing of victories but it was a vital three points. With Benfica playing to a draw with FC Basel, Manchester United go top in Group C. A win at Old Trafford versus Benfica in the next UEFA Champions League tie will guarantee United the top spot in their group. Early on, a marauding Phil Jones whipped in a cross that found Antonio Valencia for the opening goal in the 8th minute. It appeared the route was on. It wasn't. A nervous Old Trafford crowd had to endure another 79 minutes before Wayne Rooney scored from distance on a deflected shot. Jones and Rooney were superb. Anderson not so much. Everyone else was somewhere in between.

Overall, it has been fairly lackluster for United thus far in their four European ties. However, they do top the group now and the common belief is that United will find their form for the knock-out stages. I sure hope they find it for Benfica.

How did you feel about the match? Who was your United man of the match?

Well, that didn't go as expected. Manchester United struggled for a breakthrough but finally got it after a handball by Otelul Galati's captain Sergiu Costin -- Wayne Rooney converted the penalty for the opening goal in the 64th minute. Just two minutes later, United captain Nemanja Vidic was harshly sent off after a rash challenge -- it could be argued that Vida deserved a booking but being sent-off was quite ridiculous. In stoppage time, Rooney drew a penalty and then converted it for his brace. The Reds dominated possession in this match but they could never quite break down a well organized Galati. If United want to win Group C -- and avoid drawing a group winner in the first round of the knock-out stages -- then three points were likely a must in Bucharest. It wasn't pretty. But it was three valuable points. 

SL Benfica earned a 2-0 away victory over FC Basel in the other Group C match. Benfica now have 7 points from three matches while United now have 5 points from the same number of matches. Basel sit on 4 points. United next play Galati again in another group stage tie at Old Trafford in two weeks. Domestically, the Reds face their noisy neighbors on Sunday. The derby will be a hugely important affair. 

Share your thoughts on the match below!