Champions League Final Four

So four of the semi-finalists are English and the odd man out is not getting a lot of respect as the pundits are calling it an all England final. Kind of sounds familiar. Last year AC Milan weren’t given much of a shot at making the finals let alone win it all. This year Barcelona face the exact same task and that makes the semis interesting.

 Barcelona

The Catalan club has the big guns to spoil the Anglo final in Moscow. Lionel Messi is back and should have enough playing time by April 23rd rolls around. Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho are all spectacular players and will be a sincere threat to the scoresheet. Although they had trouble scoring against Schalke. Their defense has some strength, but they have not faced a club that can score in big chunks in the tournament. They have the history and won’t back down from anyone. The side is unsettled though and their La Lega form has been shameful. This team is not on the same level as AC Milan last year, but beating them will be a task.

 Manchester United

The Red Devils are leading the Premiership and have not lost to the three other English sides this season. They are strong in all areas of the pitch especially in the attack. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the Premiership and the Champions League in scoring and has matured since his no show in Milan last year. The addition of Carlos Tevez gives them two bulldogs up front with him and Wayne Rooney tormenting defenders. United have the ability to score, but they only averaged 1.25 goals in last two rounds. The defense is strong even without Nemanja Vidic. If he’s back for April 23rd they will be tough to beat.

 Liverpool

The Reds have a lot of experience at this level of the Champions League. Last year they made the finals only to watch the cup go back to Milan. Steven Gerrard is the talisman for Liverpool in the CL, but this season he got a big boost when Rafa Benitez brought in Fernando Torres in the attack. Between Gerrard and Torres Liverpool have two of the top four scorers in the Champions League this season. However, if clubs shut down these two, there rarely seems to be anyone who steps up. They have a strong midfield that can make it tough going for opposing attacks. Rafa’s boys are hitting stride lately so they are going to make things hard on the opposition.

 Chelsea

The Blues are a hard team to figure out this season. They’ve lost some head scratchers this year, but they are slowly creeping up the domestic table to challenge. Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are each super strikers, but their midfield is the star of the club. Between Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard they can play with any team. The big question is going to be between the posts. With Petr Cech out with a facial injury and Carlo Cudicini’s hamstring injury putting Henrique Hilario in goal, there is some question about the last line of defense. They have been at this stage before so we’ll see if they can make it to the final stage for the first time.

Predictions… As badly as I do predicting I’m going with

 

Manchester United v Liverpool

 

What a Sunday

The top four clubs went at it today in two battles for supremacy. All four are in the Champions League quarter-finals, so this is a good indicator of what is to come in the fight for the European title.

Game One:

 Manchester United 3 - 0 Liverpool

United came into the match three points ahead of Arsenal and coming off of a solid outing against Bolton on Wednesday. For their part Liverpool had newly regained fourth position in the league and have played some decent football of their own. The hosts opened up the game with Wayne Rooney making a statement of intent by beating Jamie Carragher and forcing Pepe Reina to make a save. Javier Mascherano got into referee Steve Bennett’s book in the 11th minute with a hard tackle on Paul Scholes, setting the tone for the Reds.

Wes Brown surprised the Old Trafford faithful in the 34th by deflecting Rooney’s cross into the net for his first goal in a dog’s age. The match remained close until just before the half. Fernando Torres took exception to some questionable tackles by Manchester United players and started an argument with Bennett. The referee showed Torres a yellow card for dissent prompting Mascherano to join the conversation. To be fair, by booking Torres already Bennett had no choice but to book the Argentinian. If there had been no previous booking in the incident Mascherano would probably have stayed in the game. His second card of the match meant that he had to hit the showers. Not that he was willing to go and brought him an escort off of the pitch.

Liverpool’s chances in the match left the pitch with their midfielder and in the 79th minute Cristiano Ronaldo headed Nani’s cross home to give the home side some breathing room. Ronaldo looked like he was destined to score throughout the match, coming close on more than a couple of shots. Nani closed the door for good on the Reds two minutes later with a beautiful move to create space and a powerful shot to dent the twine. The Red Devils gave Liverpool a lot of trouble with high balls into the area (Hmmm… that might come in handy to remember).

Game Two:

  Chelsea 2 - 1 Arsenal 

A month ago Arsenal had one hand on the Premiership trophy, but that’s why they play all of the games. Chelsea knew that with a win they would leapfrog the Gunners into second. Both sides went on the attack early getting the keepers into the flow quickly. Robin van Persie has been out with injury for most of the season. He got back into the swing of the game early and tested Carlo Cudicini a couple of times with nicely taken shots. Not to be out done Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba each put pressure on Manuel Almunia.

Each side had their own plan of attack with Arsenal opting for moving the ball forward with short passes and Chelsea utalizing the longer more direct approach. There was plenty of excitement at both ends of the pitch, but the Gunners drew first blood through Bacary Sagna’s header from Cesc Fabregas’ corner in the 59th minute. Cudicini was left out in the cold as Frank Lampard failed to close down on Sagna (or move for that matter). After going down at home Avram Grant made an overdue substitution by bringing on Nicolas Anelka and Juliano Belletti. The move payed off quickly as Didier Drogba scored the equalizer three minutes later. The ball rebounded off of Lampard and into the path of Drogba who made no mistake and powered the ball past the outstretched Almunia.

The Ivornian striker was on the receiving end of Anelka’s header and he flicked it past the Arsenal keeper for the win. Arsenal were unable to put any real pressure on Chelsea down the stretch. The Blues pulled to within five points of Manchester United and they will host the leaders  at Stamford Bridge April 26th in what may be a title game.

             

Super Sunday!!!!!!!!!!! (again?)

December 16th these clubs all met for the first time this season. This Sunday is round two:

  Manchester Utd  v  Liverpool 

When these two met at Anfield, Manchester United came away with a 1-0 win courtesy of Carlos Tevez’s goal late in the first half. The Red Devils are currently top of the league and can’t afford to drop any points at home. Liverpool are back in the top four with a very slim chance at reaching third. Both clubs are still in the hunt for the Champions League title and would love to make a statement. Liverpool are a fantastic tournament side, but this is a league match. United are looking to show the world that they are truely a world power. It will be close. Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool.

  Chelsea  v  Arsenal 

Chelsea lost to Arsenal at the Emirates 1-0 earlier. The Gunners have had to scrap out draws in their last four Premier League matches and it has cost them dearly. The Blues have played well enough, but they have been iffy in a couple of matches that they should have won. Some questions have come up as to whether Avram Grant has any clue how to manage in the big game. Sunday will be a huge test and could be a make or break match for him. Arsene Wenger’s side seem to have lost their focus lately. Without a talisman like Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera or Dennis Berkamp to lead them they seem to be losing direction. Bad timing for the Gunners. Chelsea will probably take a lead, but Arsenal will draw late. Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal.

Saturday Wrap Up March 15, 2008

  Derby 0 - 1 Man United 

Ronaldo stars at Pride Park. Rams supporters have to be very proud of their club today as they almost took a point from the champions, and deservedly so. Robbie Savage did exactly what he was brought in for by shutting down United players all over the park. The Red Devils came out firing in the first half and should have gone up by a couple, but yet again they would have been more successful on a rugby pitch. When they were on target Roy Carroll was there. Carroll had a great day in the net and was surely the star of the show for Derby.

On the other end of the pitch Ben Foster made his first start for Manchester United and put in his claim for the future starters job. Derby only had a few chances but they could have scored twice through Kenny Miller before the half. Foster was up to the task though and kept his side from being even more embarrassed at the break. The Red Devil attack kept coming with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs working the home defense. Ronaldo came through in the 76th minute with a super volley just out of Carroll’s reach for the winning goal. Manchester United have made the last few matches much more difficult than they needed to and they had better get their heads out or the season will be circling the drain soon.

  Liverpool 2 - 1 Reading 

Torres continues tear at Anfield. Liverpool reasserted their claim as a top four Premiership club by coming back from an early deficit and putting in a solid performance. In a perfect execution of a free kick with an amazing finish by Marek Matejovsk in the 5th minute. Javier Mascherano matched the performance with a power shot of his own in the 19th to even the score. Just after the break Fernando Torres slid unmarked around the crowd and headed in the winner.

I have been impressed with Torres this season and his almost effortless ability of finding the goal. Not impressed however with Steven Gerrard. Watching him dive with minimal contact from Andre Bikey then give the Reading defender a bollocking showed me that he is not only a world class diver, but a whinging prat.

 Arsenal 1 - 1Middlesbrough

Gunners escape at the Emirates. Arsenal again pulled a late escape as Kolo Toure scored from a deflected ball with his noggin in the 86th minute to save major blushes for the hosts. Middlesbrough had gone ahead early through Jeremie Aliadiere’s finish of a controversial play. Mark Schwarzer booted a long kick into the Boro offensive half that was met by an apparently offside Tuncay Sanli. The flag stayed down and the Turk found Aliadiere who calmly slotted home. Arsenal had the best of the possession throughout the match, they just could not crack the Boro defense until deep into the match.

The Gunners seemed to have joined Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea in the petulant club with their oh so professional performance after the final whistle. Watching Emmanuel Eboue verbally assault referee Mark Halsey after the match is indicative of the top four mentality that they deserve to be treated differently than everyone else.

Other action- Portsmouth 2-0 Aston Villa; Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea; West Ham 2-1 Blackburn