Soccer/ Uefa Champions League: Progression beyond the group stage of the Champions League has proved to be far from straightforward for Manchester United in recent seasons but there need not be any tension to accompany their passage into the last 16 this year.

That was the message Alex Ferguson was preaching ahead of tonight's fixture against Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine, where another United win would bring qualification for the knock-out stage within touching distance. It is a position Ferguson would welcome at such an early stage of the season, especially as United have gone into the final group match in the past two campaigns still needing a result to ease through.

United have won both their opening matches in contrast to the Ukrainian title holders, who have still to collect a point. Another victory tonight would take United on to nine points from three matches, mirroring their standing at this time last year. Then, United faced two tricky away matches that brought defeat against Copenhagen and Celtic but with successive home fixtures to follow this time, the finish line appears closer.

"We expect Dynamo to be really positive about the game," said Ferguson. "But we see it as an opportunity for us, with the double header against Kiev. We want to get some points from the two games that would put us in a great position. Obviously you get selfish and you want to win here, with Roma and Sporting Lisbon drawing. It doesn't always work that way. The best thing to do is approach your own game with the right attitude and win it. Hopefully we'll do that here."

Ferguson certainly seemed relaxed. Much to the amusement of the locals he enjoyed a laugh at the expense of the Ukrainian interpreter who struggled to get to grips with his Glaswegian accent. In between those moments of humour Ferguson talked up the burgeoning partnership between Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, with the duo set to start together for the first time in European competition.

"This is a team that is coming together and in Tevez and Rooney we have two exceptionally good players," he said. "We've had some fantastic partnerships at the club over the years and most of them took time to develop, apart from Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, who were terrific in their first season together. Wayne is only 22, Carlos is 23.

"Hopefully in three or four years' time we will see something really special from them. Both have got great attributes as strikers. They have got courage, speed, ability to beat men, all the things are there. But it's maturity. Once you see that, you see greater authority, better timing."

Although Dynamo's recent European record ought to offer encouragement to United their performances against English opposition at home in Europe are far more impressive. Only Liverpool, in 2001, have emerged victorious in Kiev, with Dynamo registering three wins and three draws from the other six matches.

One of those fixtures included a 0-0 draw with United in Kiev in 2000. Of the United team that evening - which included Roy Keane and David Beckham - only Ryan Giggs will start tonight. Nemanja Vidic has recovered from concussion and will play.

• AC Milan goalkeeper Dida's two-match Champions League ban for feigning injury against Celtic was reduced to one game yesterday. The Brazilian will miss tomorrow's home fixture with Shakhtar Donetsk, with the second match suspended for a one-year probationary period.

• Guardian Service

Dynamo Kiev v Manchester Utd Venue: Olympiyskiy Stadium Kick-off: 7.45pm On TV: RTÉ2, UTV