Lee Dixons Champions League: United and Chelsea can earn away wins

Are Rio's best days behind him?
The Betfair Ambassador explains why he's backing both English clubs to take maximum points on potentially awkward Tuesday night trips abroad...
CFR Cluj v Manchester United
Greetings from Transylvania where I've come to see if Manchester United can put their most recent defensive horror show behind them. Even though they attacked with purpose in the second-half against Tottenham on Saturday, Sir Alex Ferguson will be seething at the goals his team conceded in their 3-2 defeat.
There's been much discussion about whether Rio Ferdinand will return to the England squad but Roy Hodgson was at Old Trafford and he won't have been impressed. Rio was out of position for Spurs' opener and he has to adapt to his waning pace. When you've been around the block, you can draw on your experience to compensate for diminishing fitness. But sometimes the body is too eager and you get drawn in to positions you can no longer recover from.
United must tighten up if they're to take anything here. They lost their last away game in the Champions League and Cluj are a decent side. They're buoyant following an away win against Braga. The Portuguese were awful but the Romanian champions attack with impetus and Brazilian striker Rafael Bastos has the pace to trouble United's defenders.
But you know the rule: never underestimate United's bouncebackability. Good players recover confidence in a flash and the return of Wayne Rooney is a huge fillip. Sir Alex will probably ask him to play wide, with Shinji Kagawa supporting Robin van Persie through the middle.
I don't expect United to play for a draw. According to Opta, they have kept seven clean sheets in their last nine Champions League away ties. That's an awesome record but their current problems make me think Cluj can score. United's attack will have the final say though.
Recommended Bet
Back Manchester United @ 1.684/6
Back 1-2 @ 9.417/2
FC Nordsjaelland v Chelsea
Champions of Europe when other clubs boast superior squads and top of the Premier League without playing particularly well: are Chelsea the world's luckiest club? They beat Arsenal at the Emirates and I know that to win the league you need to be able to win when you're not at your best, but Chelsea have, in my view, been bitty.
They remain in transition and yet they have papered over the cracks and won matches. I think they can do that again here. The Norwegian side are known for their attacking approach and Chelsea may have to soak up pressure early on. Opta tell me that the Blues have drawn their last three in Europe but, if they remain patient, they should have enough to assert their superiority.
Fernando Torres scored again on Sunday and he will lead the line again here. But I also hear that Frank Lampard is going to return to the starting line-up for the first time in three matches. He always performs well when he has a point to prove so I'm going to back him to score in a 2-1 Chelsea victory.
Recommended Bets
Back 1-2 @ 9.417/2
Back Frank Lampard to score @ 3.259/4