Just like it happened two years ago these two teams have plenty of chances to meet again in the UEFA Champions League final after winning on the road their respective games by 2-0.
A scent of revenge is in the air. Manchester United rubs its hands as they are just one game away from another showdown against Barcelona, team that defeated them in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final by 2-0. Not only do they want to be crowned as the new king of Europe, but also finish a pending business with the Catalonians that still hurts their pride, and championship they feel they owe to their fans.
The Red Devils took a big step towards that goal this past Tuesday by defeating Schalke 04 on the road by 2-0 during the first of two games of the semifinals. The squad from Germany that is considered to be the Cinderella of the competition was unable to stun Manchester United like they did with the defending champions Inter in the quarterfinals. They found no response for two second half goals scored by Giggs and Rooney that cost them the painful defeat.
Far from being that aggressive and dangerous team that upset Inter, the semifinals version of Schalke didn’t even intimidate the goal defended by van der Sar. Raul, their reference in attack, had a very discrete game and the team resented it.
For the next game Schalke must show a different attitude if they want to stand a chance, and will also need a big dose of luck to overcome a two goal disadvantage on the road when they visit Manchester United next Wednesday.
A very similar story was lived at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium during the other semifinals showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona. The Whites didn’t make the best of their home field advantage and ended up losing to their archrival by 0-2, in a game were their scheme left much to desire from a team the has won nine Champions League titles, and did nothing but defend themselves.
Barcelona ended the game with 71% of possession, and that pretty much summarizes what the game was: a team trying to break through the Whites’ defensive wall. The Catalonians couldn’t convert that dominance into goals until Pepe got a red card product of a hard foul on Alves, which left Real Madrid with ten players and more exposed in defense. Their coach Mourinho also saw a red card for protesting.
Just 15 minutes later Affelay was able to cross a ball for Messi to score his first of two goals of the night. And at minute 87 Messi again was going to give Barcelona the definite two goal lead after a great individual play leaving rivals on the way to send the ball to the farthest post of the goal defended by Casillas.
Barcelona will now try to seal their pass to the final to be disputed at Wembley this coming Tuesday at home when they receive Real Madrid to put an end to a series that is pretty much decided on their favor.
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