Lille appear to be the weakest of the last 16 sides in the Champions League following the group stages. However, having been beaten by the Ligue 1 outfit in this competition last season, Manchester United will not be approaching this match, which is to be held in Lens, expecting a walk in the park.
 
Les Dogues are like plankton in stature in European footballing terms compared to a whale of a club like United. But the club from northern France have made giant strides since making their debut in this tournament in 2001, and Claude Puel's charges possess plenty of attacking flair.
 
Indeed, despite the absence of key striker Kader Keita, Peter Odemwingie has been leading the front line with distinction. The fact that the Nigerian hitman has had more shots on target than any other player in the competition this season with the exception of Kaka, is indicative of the positive football Lille are playing.  
 
And it was Kaka's club, AC Milan, that Lille beat 2-0 in their last group match which secured their ticket in the knockout stages. Admittedly, the Italian club did rest some key players in that match, but Lille had earlier held AC Milan to a draw on French terrain, a performance which proves that they can mix it with the best, thus they merit respect.
 
Sir Alex Ferguson's men have been sublime this season. Firmly in the driving seat in the Premiership, the Red Devils are second favourites the FA Cup and, in a year when this competition looks wide open, the best priced 8/1 about them triumphing - that's double the price of one of their main domestic rivals, Chelsea - looks pretty generous.
 
If you want to pick holes - and there isn't many you can refer to without appearing as though you're clutching at straws - it's the fact that their three away performances in the group stages of this tournament were far from impressive. A laboured 1-0 win over Benfica was followed by reverses at the hands of both Celtic and, believe it or not, FC Copenhagen.
 
It's probably unwise to read too much into these defeats, but there does have to be a question mark over their form on overseas travels at present, given how poor they were, by their own exalted standards, in that trio of matches. They failed to create many chances in Lisbon and Copenhagen, while their visit to Parkhead was one of those nights when things just don't go your way.
 
It is evident, though, that United find it hard to score away from Old Trafford in Europe. Last season, like this term, they scored just one goal in three group matches, relying heavily on the home ties to gain the upper hand. Sir Alex has a full-strength squad to choose from, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Lille frustrate them in the way Benfica, Celtic and Copenhagen did in the early exchanges.
 
While Lille will realise that United will be a far tougher nut to crack when they head to the Theatre of Dreams for the second leg, they'll be equally keen to ensure that damage limitation is kept to the bare minimum, as if United grab a couple of crucial away goals, the French side's task in Manchester on March 6 will be akin to climbing Mount Everest.
 
Of course, both teams will want to win this match. A ready win for Man Utd would mean that they could rest some key players in the home leg, while a result for Lille would offer them a ray of light in a tie in which they are not expected to emerge victorious from. But my feeling is that Lille and Man Utd would accept a draw before this game, and it's even Steven's that I feel this game will end.
 
But there is always a chance that, towards the end of the match, one of the sides will slip up and forfeit a goal. A such, to err on the side of caution, my advice is to have a decent punt on 0-1 in the total goals market at 13/8 with Blue Square. It's not a whopping price, I know, but I am pretty confident that this will be a low-goalscoring affair and that one goal will be the maximum.
 
Verdict - 2pts 0-1 in the total goals market @ 13/8 (Blue Square)