United - Barca final hopefully.
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United - Barca final hopefully.
2009/10 UEFA Champions League draw
Quarter-finals: 30/31 March & 6/7 April
1: Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v FC Girondins de Bordeaux (FRA)
2: FC Bayern München (GER) v Manchester United FC (ENG)
3: Arsenal FC (ENG) v FC Barcelona (ESP, holders)
4: FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) v PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
Semi-finals: 20/21 & 27/28 April
1: Winner quarter-final 2 v Winner quarter-final 1
2: Winner quarter-final 4 v Winner quarter-final 3
Quarter Finals:
Bordeaux v Lyon
Bayern v Man Utd
Arsenal v Barcelona
Inter v CSKA
Semi Finals:
Bayern/Man Utd v bye*
Inter/CSKA v Arsenal/Barca
Interesting draw. Bordeaux and Lyon have both been impressive in getting to the quarters. That should be a good match. I suppose Arsenal v Barca is the most attractive tie of the round. Barca should be too strong for them but as a neutral it should be a good tie to watch. Bayern are very lucky to be in the draw. I cant see them getting past United to be honest. Again CSKA have done well to make the quarter final draw but Inter should find they have the easiest path to the semi-finals.
A repeat of the 2009 final looks the most likely alternative at the moment.
That would definitely appear the most likely Final after that draw. United have to be very happy with it. I was hoping Barca and Arsenal would meet, should be a cracking tie. Bordeaux will fancy their chances against Lyon, they are top of the French league after all. If they do I suspect it will make the semi a much easier proposition for Bayern or United as Lyon have far greater European pedigree at this stage.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
Really Edmundo? It's not like you to be so dismissive. Surely if it's a Bayern v Lyon semi final it's not a foregone conclusion?Quote:
Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo
Sorry but I just can't see either french team getting past United or Bayern, Bordeaux are efficient and workman like and Gourcuff is a special player, but they nearly threw it away against Olympiacos despite having a 1-0 away goal lead from the first leg. I know they beat Bayern already in group stage twice, but I think they will struggle at this big stage. As for Lyon, I don't seem being a danger to either team, they scraped through against a disjointed Madrid (who have an unbalanced defence with the likes of Sergio Ramos sauntering up the field). You would have to think either Bayern or United will be too strong.
Of the "weaker" teams I think CSKA could cause an upset against Inter. Arsenal / Barca and Bayer / United are mammoth games and it's very hard to call those ones. Some how the quarters seem more difficult (and more exciting to watch) than the semis...
Interesting to see a few of the teams seem to have come from the same groups (Bordeaux & Bayern, United & CSKA, Barca & Inter) 6 of the 8...
Inter dark horses.
Well after beating Chelsea twice and drawing CSKA they'll definitely see themselves in a semi final. They'll give Arsenal or Barca a serious test in that but would obviously prefer Arsenal.
I'm happy with that draw from a United perspective. Loads of people are saying we are guaranteed to be in the final. Eh, no. Bayern are a good team who are capable of pulling something out of the bag even when they haven't been looking great. Bordeaux have been impressive and Lyon are not to be sniffed at.
Saying that, I think I will be booking flights to Spain for that weekend! :p
If they get over Bayern it would be a fairly big surprise for them not to make the Final I think. Bayern will be tough though. The PL obsessed Sky Sports asked Dwight Yorke if he thinks United will be happy to face the winners of the French tie in the semi....Yorke said.."am I think they have to beat Bayern first!!".Quote:
Originally Posted by MaryDrummer
That's Yorke after going up in my estimation.
I think either of those French sides would be tricky, especially Bordeaux.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the game tonight at the Allianz Arena. Much has been made of Ribery and Robben's lack of fitness / availability, and without them at the top of their game (together with the bizzare decision to loan Kroos and Toni out) it's hard to see how Bayern will create a lot of chances. Klose is a good player, but I've never been impressed by Mario Gomez, Olic is potentially dangerous but so far he's not been able to rediscover his form at HSV. They have some decent defensive-minded like De Michelis, Van Buyten and Van Bommel, but the pace of Man Utd's attacks could be an issue - none of those Bayern players are especially quick.
It's a very interesting tie alright. I'd be shocked if United went with anything other than their preferred big match 4-5-1 tonight or 4-3-3 depending on what way you look at it, certainly more of a 4-5-1 tonight. I'd imagine the team will be VDS, Neville, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Park and Rooney. This way Evra and Park will try to double up on Robben should he be fit and Neville and Valencia will try something similar with Ribery. Think Valencia and Park are more suited to this kind of job than Nani, although he did get the nod in the San Siro. I wouldn't be that concerned about Ribery anyway to be honest I think he's a bit overrated. I could see Bayern winning the midfield battle alright with the players you've mentioned, Scholes isn't the player he was and Carrick can be a bit laboured looking in these kind of games. Fletcher could be a key player over the two legs alright.
Well what a tie so far... I had my doubts that it could live up to the classics of yesteryear when the likes of Matthaus, Jeremies, Basler and Effenberg pitted against Keane, Scholes, Butt, etc the towering Jancker against Stam, Kahn up against Schmeichel. But tonight's game was a great spectacle and credit has to be given to both teams for honest attacking play. I still think Man Utd will probably edge it given the away goal, but much will depend if Bayern get Robben back and how Schweinsteiger plays.
I do wonder why Ferguson changed it swapping Park & Carrick off for Berbatov & Valencia, one of them might have been understandable but in taking Park off especially I think they were a little lightweight in the middle of the park and with the likes of Van Bommel's vision and ball retention and Pranjic's lungs Bayern were always going to be a threat.
Almost the reverse of the Milan away tie, united were very poor in the second game and when the momentum swung Bayerns way after the equaliser, they looked in trouble. In a sense united might consider themselves lucky that the second goal was right at the end of the game because Bayern were well on top. Much is made of Ferdinand and Vidic at centre half for united but the back four is really comprised with Neville at RB. If anyone thinks United dont miss JOSH, tonight was proof. He certainly wouldve kept a much tighter rein on Ribery.
Expect a different united performance in OT and probably a different formation too, 1-0 will do them but dont think it will be that simple. A fit Rooney will be key, dont think the injury picked up tonight is all that serious, a doubt for saturday yes but doesnt look like a break of any sort.
Michael Carrick is mr invisible. Bayern should have been out of sight and played very well. Man Utd were very poor in possession and their midfield was outplayed. Fletcher and Park were not at the races and they'll need to get their A game back if they have any chance of overturning the result at OT.
Bringing on Berbatov was a strange move. A fresh Tevez would have been a nice man to bring on.....
Come on BARCA!!! A 6 nil drubbing would do nicely. Wenger moaning about how teams can only score against Arsenal with long balls shouldn't really apply here.
So, you're predicting 1-0 for Man U at home? Otherwise, the "away goal" rule doesn't count for Man U. I would be very surprised if it ends up 1-0. Both teams can score.Quote:
Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo
Enjoyable game I have to say. Open contest. I look forward to the return leg.
Purely because Henry plays for Barca I want to see Arsenal win.Quote:
Originally Posted by shakermaker1982
I also think there is too much made of the away goals rule at times but it will give United a little bit more freedom at Old Trafford. If they had lost 1-0 they'd know that they are in serious trouble if they concede at home so they won't be on quite the same knife edge having scored away. United are well capable of keeping a clean sheet at home and if they do you'd have to expect they'll score at some stage. An awful lot depends on whether Rooney plays as well, their season could fall apart even if he's only out for two games. Bayern were by far the better team last night overall and certainly deserved their win. Bringing on Berbatov at 1-0 was a suicidal move I thought. It would have been ok if United were dominant and they wanted to try to finish the tie but they were on the back foot even at that stage. Bordeaux were fairly unlucky against Lyon going by the highlights, Lloris having plenty to do. The penalty decision for the third Lyon goal was harsh in the extreme as well I felt.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan