Manchester United have history on their side ahead of tonight's Champions League clinker at FC Basle.

Only twice have they failed to qualify from the Champions League group stages.

In 1994-95 they finished third after losing 4-0 at Barcelona and 3-1 against eventual group winners IFK Gothenburg.

United won their final group game 4-0 against Galatasaray and needed the Swedish side to spring a surprise by beating Barca at the Nou Camp - but the game finished 1-1.

They crashed out for a second time in 2005-06 after finishing bottom of the group, notching three goalless draws, scoring only three goals and recording just one win at home against Lille.

Alex Ferguson's men needed to win their final group game away against Benfica and got the perfect start when Paul Scholes gave them the lead after only six minutes.

But a diving header from Geovanni put Benfica level 10 minutes later and Beto fired in a second from 20 yards just before half-time.

At the final whistle, Fergie cut a disconsolate figure sitting in the dugout. Villarreal won the group and Benfica finished second.