Manchester United seized the initiative in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final as the reds won 1-0 against English rival Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Both sides have injury woes ahead of the return match on Tuesday.
FC Barcelona will also be missing two crucial squad members as they prepare to face Chelsea in London in the other semi-final second leg.
Both Barcelona and Chelsea failed to find the back of the net in the first leg, with goal keeping heroics at both ends.
Arsenal (0) vs Manchester United (1) – second leg
Rio Ferdinand could be fit to face Arsenal in the away leg of Manchester United Champions League semi-final tomorrow (Tuesday morning, Melbourne time) after tests revealed that the defender did not suffer broken ribs during the 1-0 defeat of the Gunners at Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old England centre-back was unable to complete last Wednesday’s first leg after a blow to his torso and although he missed Saturday’s Premier League encounter at Middlesbrough, Ferdinand has not been ruled out for as long as first feared.
That is a boost to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson considering the absence of right-back Gary Neville while fellow defender Wes Brown has only just recovered from a foot problem and is yet to make a competitive comeback.
“Rio’s scan revealed no crack or break to his ribs,” Sir Alex said on Friday.
“There was some bruising to his lung, which is why he coughed up blood on the night. He is definitely out of Saturday’s game against Boro, but we’re hopeful for Tuesday against Arsenal. We should be able to get him training again on Sunday, but he didn’t train today.”
Arsenal meanwhile are facing a mounting injury crisis ahead of the decisive leg with left-back Gael Clichy certainly ruled out and several others doubtful for Tuesday’s decider.
Manager Arsene Wenger was hopeful Clichy might recover from his back injury in time for the match at Arsenal Stadium, but confirmed today that he would miss out and also said forward Robin van Persie was touch-and-go.
“Robin van Persie is out for the weekend and we will only know very, very late if he could be available for Tuesday or not,” Wenger said. “We may not know until Tuesday. Gael Clichy is definitely out.”
Nineteen-year-old full-back Kieran Gibbs deputised for Clichy at Old Trafford as Arsenal lost 1-0.
In addition, striker Eduardo da Silva and former United defender Mikael Silvestre were both unavailable for the club’s Premier League visit to Portsmouth FC with groin problems and will undergo tests to determine the extent of their injuries. “We have not scanned them yet [so we don’t know about Tuesday] but they both miss Saturday for sure,” said Wenger.
Centre-back William Gallas and long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky have already been ruled out for the season.
Chelsea (0) vs Barcelona (0) – second leg
Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola lost two key defenders for Tuesday’s other semi-final.
Rafael Marquez sustained a serious knee injury in the first leg at home and Carles Puyol collected a booking that rules him out of the Stamford Bridge return.
Marquez fell to the turf in agony after going down unchallenged in the 52nd minute.
The Mexican international left the field on a stretcher and was taken immediately to hospital.
Barcelona have since confirmed that he will miss the remainder of the season after initial tests showed he had suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee.
“Rafa’s loss is the worst thing about today, and we have to make sure we overcome it,” said Guardiola.
The 30-year-old was replaced by club captain Puyol, who had started the game on the bench as Guardiola opted for a centre-half pairing of Marquez and Gerard Pique, with Eric Abidal deployed at left-back.
The Spanish international put in a commanding display following his introduction, his only mistake a mistimed challenge on Michael Essien which earned him a third yellow card in the competition and an automatic one-match suspension.
Guardiola could field Pique and Martin Caceres in the heart of his defence in London, providing the Uruguayan international has recovered from a bout of tonsillitis which sidelined him for the first leg.
Otherwise he may decide on a Pique-Abidal partnership with Sylvinho deputising for the Frenchman at left-back. “There’ll be no excuse for not reaching the final,” added Guardiola. “We must find a way to do it.”