Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg Preview
Manchester United v. AC Milan, 1st Leg Semi-Final @ Old Trafford
At this point in the season your most recent result dictates what kind of form you are in. Judging by United's wobble at Old Trafford, drawing 1-1 with Middlesbrough, and the fact that Rio Ferdinand and Nemja Vidic are injured this could be a rough patch for the Red Devils. Plenty of people will remind the naysayers of the 7-1 beating Roma incurred at Old Trafford, but that was ancient history in football terms. The pressure of competing in 3 competitions is starting to wear on the faces of the United players. Don't let Ronaldo's smiling face fool you as he picked up a couple awards the other night. This is an exhausted side and one that will be in danger of getting sucked into the Italian style of play tomorow if Milan feels bogging them down is the only way to get a result.
AC Milan are coasting. The Serie A has been decided and to be honest, that was never Milan's focus. They've been fighting to get in a position to qualify for next season's Champions League. With just a handful of matches left, Milan looks set to qualify and are totally focused on winning this year's competition just in case. While they've had to fight hard to climb out of the bottom of the league after a points deduction, there hasn't been the pressure on them all season long that typically comes with being at the top of the table.
Milan looked fresh over the weekend and they looked fantastic against Bayern Munich in the previous round. Old Trafford is going to be a test unlike anything they've faced thus far. But with United battling on multiple fronts I think Milan will be looking to get an away goal to take back to Italy. This means United could be forced into an attacking situation and the match has the potential to be wide open.
Vein of Form predicts 1-1
Chelsea v. Liverpool, 1st Leg Semi-Final @ Stamford Bridge
This is the match up Chelsea were dreading. There is so much history between these two sides since Jose and Rafa took over (just 3 years, but still!) that Chelsea did not want to have the added attention that will come with an all-English semi-final against what is arguably the best rivalry in England right now. Liverpool are playing out the string in the domestic competition and look set to finish 3rd. Chelsea are scrapping for a 3-peat and are in the FA Cup Final. Liverpool will be content with a scoreless draw on Wednesday, and have proven they have the squad to get those kind of results in Europe. Chelsea made that mistake in '05 and went to Anfield having to score. It could be deadly again to come away from The Bridge without a goal to their credit.
Revenge will be what drives Chelsea because their lackluster performance against Newcastle on Sunday suggests they are running a bit flat. Rafa will plan on clogging up the midfield and neutralizing the likes of Joe Cole and Didier Drogba. A task that will not feel quite as daunting with a suspended Michael Essien on the bench. Essien probably scares Liverpool more than any other player in the Chelsea squad and they will be relieved not to have to deal with him just yet.
Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch are in fine form. Javier Mascherano looks to be a steal and Steven Gerrard always delivers on big European nights. Really, this one could go either way. I don't even want to put myself in the position of making a pick. But I will because I'm a journalist and that is what respected journalist do!
Vein of Form predicts Chelsea 1 - Liverpool 0
At this point in the season your most recent result dictates what kind of form you are in. Judging by United's wobble at Old Trafford, drawing 1-1 with Middlesbrough, and the fact that Rio Ferdinand and Nemja Vidic are injured this could be a rough patch for the Red Devils. Plenty of people will remind the naysayers of the 7-1 beating Roma incurred at Old Trafford, but that was ancient history in football terms. The pressure of competing in 3 competitions is starting to wear on the faces of the United players. Don't let Ronaldo's smiling face fool you as he picked up a couple awards the other night. This is an exhausted side and one that will be in danger of getting sucked into the Italian style of play tomorow if Milan feels bogging them down is the only way to get a result.
AC Milan are coasting. The Serie A has been decided and to be honest, that was never Milan's focus. They've been fighting to get in a position to qualify for next season's Champions League. With just a handful of matches left, Milan looks set to qualify and are totally focused on winning this year's competition just in case. While they've had to fight hard to climb out of the bottom of the league after a points deduction, there hasn't been the pressure on them all season long that typically comes with being at the top of the table.
Milan looked fresh over the weekend and they looked fantastic against Bayern Munich in the previous round. Old Trafford is going to be a test unlike anything they've faced thus far. But with United battling on multiple fronts I think Milan will be looking to get an away goal to take back to Italy. This means United could be forced into an attacking situation and the match has the potential to be wide open.
Vein of Form predicts 1-1
Chelsea v. Liverpool, 1st Leg Semi-Final @ Stamford Bridge
This is the match up Chelsea were dreading. There is so much history between these two sides since Jose and Rafa took over (just 3 years, but still!) that Chelsea did not want to have the added attention that will come with an all-English semi-final against what is arguably the best rivalry in England right now. Liverpool are playing out the string in the domestic competition and look set to finish 3rd. Chelsea are scrapping for a 3-peat and are in the FA Cup Final. Liverpool will be content with a scoreless draw on Wednesday, and have proven they have the squad to get those kind of results in Europe. Chelsea made that mistake in '05 and went to Anfield having to score. It could be deadly again to come away from The Bridge without a goal to their credit.
Revenge will be what drives Chelsea because their lackluster performance against Newcastle on Sunday suggests they are running a bit flat. Rafa will plan on clogging up the midfield and neutralizing the likes of Joe Cole and Didier Drogba. A task that will not feel quite as daunting with a suspended Michael Essien on the bench. Essien probably scares Liverpool more than any other player in the Chelsea squad and they will be relieved not to have to deal with him just yet.
Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch are in fine form. Javier Mascherano looks to be a steal and Steven Gerrard always delivers on big European nights. Really, this one could go either way. I don't even want to put myself in the position of making a pick. But I will because I'm a journalist and that is what respected journalist do!
Vein of Form predicts Chelsea 1 - Liverpool 0
posted by Anonymous at 9:00 PM
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