UEFA Champions League (Official Thread)

[jazzman]

I just also think the missed pk was a turning point. If United scored that I think the game would have been much different. Barca would have chased a little more and pressed harder. They played keep away in the United half.

Agreed......if Ronaldo had put the pk away....I would say Man U 2 Barca 0. But that's the way it goes.....I still fancy Man U overall. If I said it was a daunting task for Man U to win at the Nou Camp, the reverse is true at Old Trafford! However, the "away goal" part scares me if I were a United fan.

 

[jazzman]

My predictions for the second leg......

Honestly both these games are very very difficult to predict

I'm going with Man U 1 Barca 1, with Barca going through on away goals. My reasoning, the loss to Chelsea over the weekend.....although key players were rested for that game. Also, Vidic & Rooney are not certainties to play after picking up some knocks during that game. Overall, Man U are gonna need some inspiration in this one as they have lacked some flow over the last couple of weeks. If I were an Man U supporter, I'd be worried that the team may have peaked too early!

I predict a Chelsea v Barca final......Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1

Chelsea as always are gonna play ugly but find some inspiration from Lampard through the center to put this tie away. They will be high on confidence after jumping into the Premiership title chase.

 

[tmporter]

My predictions for the second leg......

Honestly both these games are very very difficult to predict

I'm going with Man U 1 Barca 1, with Barca going through on away goals. My reasoning, the loss to Chelsea over the weekend.....although key players were rested for that game. Also, Vidic & Rooney are not certainties to play after picking up some knocks during that game. Overall, Man U are gonna need some inspiration in this one as they have lacked some flow over the last couple of weeks. If I were an Man U supporter, I'd be worried that the team may have peaked to early!

I predict a Chelsea v Barca final......Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1

Chelsea as always are gonna play ugly but find some inspiration from Lampard through the center to put this tie away. They will be high on confidence after jumping into the Premiership title chase.

Can't dispute those predictions. I just hope someone in the United starting 11 can bring some life back into a lackluster side the last 4 or 5 games. Ferguson needs to name an attacking side that can push the pace of the game. United have to score and score early.

Liverpool puts an end to Chelsea's unbeaten home record. Don't know why, but the Derby game will wake this ream to their bad play. I see it United and Liverpool. I just don't see united losing at home, and a draw is disasterous. So we should all know in about 3 1/2 hours how part of this has played out.

 

[jazzman]

Can't dispute those predictions. I just hope someone in the United starting 11 can bring some life back into a lackluster side the last 4 or 5 games. Ferguson needs to name an attacking side that can push the pace of the game. United have to score and score early.

Liverpool puts an end to Chelsea's unbeaten home record. Don't know why, but the Derby game will wake this ream to their bad play. I see it United and Liverpool. I just don't see united losing at home, and a draw is disasterous. So we should all know in about 3 1/2 hours how part of this has played out.

I just think that Liverpool is gonna have to chase the game. That means more people going up in attack, leaving an already error-prone defense more exposed at the back. If Liverpool doesn't score early, I see Chelsea dominating this one with a slew of chances. Drogba is too good of a striker not to capitalize on the counter.

 

[PlanetFrnd]

I had the very good fortune to be at the ManU-Chelsea match on Saturday, and the Chelsea attack was playing very aggressively. Overall, Chelsea dominated the first half completely and was the better team in the 2nd half. If they can play at or near that level of intensity tomorrow, I think 2-1 could definitely happen. United looked sluggish, and Rooney was downright lazy on Saturday.

 

[jazzman]

Wow.....a thundering strike from Paul Scholes sends Man Utd to Moscow to play in the Champions League final 50 years from the Munich air disaster. This one's sure to make him a legend at Old Trafford, if he isn't already! IMO Man U deserve to be in there as they have been the best team in the competition.

The final's gonna be an all-English affair!

 

[Messi18Man]

Manchester United's backline deserves all the credit for this semi-final victory, even though the red devils were out-posessed considerably in both games Barca was never allowed to get clean looks at the goal in the attacking third of the field. Ferdinand and Evra especially played unbeleivable today at the back as well as Hargreaves who seemed to play towards the back for the most part but i was really impressed with Carlos Tevez. Barcelona needed better efforts from Iniesta and Eto'o and it was to much to expect Deco to be match fit in his 3rd game in 2 months because he flat out died in the 2nd half.

I feel Chelsea is to strong right now to lose at the Bridge tommorow to the Reds. Liverpool has history on their side but that injury time own-goal at Anfield last week was such a huge blow. I hope Liverpool can salvage something but i wouldnt be suprised to see 0-0 tommorow. Anywho i got Chelsea 1-0 and its another Manchester United Chelsea dual in Moscow on the 21st of May.

 

[tmporter]

Manchester United's backline deserves all the credit for this semi-final victory, even though the red devils were out-posessed considerably in both games Barca was never allowed to get clean looks at the goal in the attacking third of the field. Ferdinand and Evra especially played unbeleivable today at the back as well as Hargreaves who seemed to play towards the back for the most part but i was really impressed with Carlos Tevez. Barcelona needed better efforts from Iniesta and Eto'o and it was to much to expect Deco to be match fit in his 3rd game in 2 months because he flat out died in the 2nd half.

I feel Chelsea is to strong right now to lose at the Bridge tommorow to the Reds. Liverpool has history on their side but that injury time own-goal at Anfield last week was such a huge blow. I hope Liverpool can salvage something but i wouldnt be suprised to see 0-0 tommorow. Anywho i got Chelsea 1-0 and its another Manchester United Chelsea dual in Moscow on the 21st of May.

United's back 4 have to get all of the credit for staying composed and scrambling to cover each other when Barca did make a good move. Liverpool has been great in these situations in the past, and yes they will be pressing the action. I guess it all comes down to desire and smart play, something Liverpool's back line hasn't been good with all year. I guess we will see if their European magic comes through again. Torres will be the key to their attack and it will take a huge display from their back four to get it done.

 

[Messi18Man]

I agree completely with you assesment of Manchester United's back four. They stayed disciplined in both legs despite constantly being pushed into their third of the field and were able to get two scoreless sheets and now they will be in Moscow on the 21st. It just seems that Liverpool always has what it takes at this stage of the competition to somehow pull these games out. Torres will be crucial on the attack and I beleive they have to assert him more into the game if they're going to get that vital away goal they so desperately need. Lets see how Frank Lampard can come back from his mother's passing because he didnt seem his usual self in this last leg at Anfield.

 

[jazzman]

Lets see how Frank Lampard can come back from his mother's passing because he didnt seem his usual self in this last leg at Anfield.

I agree....Lampard is certainly the key to the game. He seems to help the team gel much better. I expect him to have a good game, and use his mother's passing away as additional motivation.

As some of you have said.....Liverpool are pretty good at coming back in the second leg. I don't think Benitez will miss a trick.....he's a great coach and with guys like Gerard and Torres playing like they are, Pool have every chance of getting back and winning this one!

Should be another very tactical Champions League game!

 

[Mac]

GO POOL!!!!

 

[tmporter]

I agree completely with you assesment of Manchester United's back four. They stayed disciplined in both legs despite constantly being pushed into their third of the field and were able to get two scoreless sheets and now they will be in Moscow on the 21st. It just seems that Liverpool always has what it takes at this stage of the competition to somehow pull these games out. Torres will be crucial on the attack and I beleive they have to assert him more into the game if they're going to get that vital away goal they so desperately need. Lets see how Frank Lampard can come back from his mother's passing because he didnt seem his usual self in this last leg at Anfield.

Lampard should be on his way out of the Bridge. He and Micheal Ballack are never going to be able to play in central midfield together and Chelsea have to have Essien in there as well. Claude the fraud could also be on his way out.

Lampard might not even play. I have a feeling he is not a first choice of Grant's. Grant seems to prefer Ballack. Anyway, I hate to say this as they are my mortal enemy, but Let's GO POOL.

 

[jazzman]

A surprisingly good game has Chelsea going through after winning the second leg 3-2 in extra time.

The teams were deadlocked 1-1 at full-time with goals from Drogba and the equalizer by Torres.....both people we saw as playing a crucial role.

Chelsea looked shaky towards the end of full-time, but were inspired in extra time to win it through a penalty from Lampard and another goal from Drogba.

Chelsea are through to the Champions League for the first time in their history. Believe it or not.....they have history against them, as NO team from London has ever won it!

Anyways....I think that it's gonna be a great final! Can't wait......Chelsea are currently looking the better team of the two, but IMO Man U have played the best soccer in the competition and deserve to win it!

 

[tmporter]

A surprisingly good game has Chelsea going through after winning the second leg 3-2 in extra time.

The teams were deadlocked 1-1 at full-time with goals from Drogba and the equalizer by Torres.....both people we saw as playing a crucial role.

Chelsea looked shaky towards the end of full-time, but were inspired in extra time to win it through a penalty from Lampard and another goal from Drogba.

Chelsea are through to the Champions League for the first time in their history. Believe it or not.....they have history against them, as NO team from London has ever won it!

Anyways....I think that it's gonna be a great final! Can't wait......Chelsea are currently looking the better team of the two, but IMO Man U have played the best soccer in the competition and deserve to win it!

So much can change in form before the final on May 21st. It will be a big deal. Chelsea can be the first London Club to ever win a European title, they will hand United their first loss in a European final, they will do for Avram Grant, what they couldn't do for The Special One. I have not been able to carefully watch the game yet. I was far too busy yesterday to watch. I have seen about 5 minutes of the game and I won't be able to watch extra time as my Tivo stopped at 5. So my bad luck. Can't wait for this weekend in the EPL and the Cl final.

 

[jazzman]

So much can change in form before the final on May 21st. It will be a big deal. Chelsea can be the first London Club to ever win a European title, they will hand United their first loss in a European final, they will do for Avram Grant, what they couldn't do for The Special One. I have not been able to carefully watch the game yet. I was far too busy yesterday to watch. I have seen about 5 minutes of the game and I won't be able to watch extra time as my Tivo stopped at 5. So my bad luck. Can't wait for this weekend in the EPL and the Cl final.

I just think that Man U has had the much harder path, and have played a more attacking brand of soccer....so it would be justice for them to end up winning it all.

As for the Chelsea-Liverpool game.....I am not certain, but the first goal (Chelsea goal) could possibly have been an offside which the officials missed....I'm not sure whether the Pool defender, Arbelor touched the through ball or not....which could have played Kalou on.

Chelsea were certainly very dominant through the extra time period. I think they were overall the better team by just a little bit!