Sports Thread #1 for 5/27/09: UEFA Champions League Preview, Prediction, and Thread
Photo from ESPN SoccernetIt is the matchup that everyone was hoping for in Europe and throughout the rest of the world.
The best team from England against the best team from Spain. The champions of the world looking to become the first team to repeat as conquerors of the continent against the team many have thought to be the best team in the world all year long. And both teams looking to win a historic treble of titles in this calendar year.
Ferguson, Guardiola, Ronaldo, Messi, Rooney, Eto, Ferdinand, Puyol, Xavi, Gibbs.
The UEFA Champions League final is always a special event, and it is mighty difficult to top the hype of last year's final featuring united and Chelsea.
Unless the opponent's for the Red Devil's side this year is the Catalan giants.
Going into the game, with Barcelona missing 75% of its starting defense, most are expecting United to be too strong with their tremendous depth (when you have the option of leaving the likes of Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, or a terrific young talent such as Rafael da Saliva on the bench, you are the true definition of LOADED). The losses of class defenders Dani Alves and Eric Abidail to cards in that emotional Chelsea second leg tie, to go along with Mexican captain Rafael Marquez's injury are indeed major blows that would have severely damaged Barcelona if they were unavailable for a long period of time.
But with former United man Gerald Pique and Yaya Toure playing in the middle, to go along with the timeless Puyol siding outside, Barcelona just need one quality game from a makeshift defense to win their second Champions league trophy in four years (and a steady performance from the sometimes maligned but still there goalkeeper Victor Valdes). The talent is still there.
On the other side tho, will Rio, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, and John O'Shea stop the tremendous trio of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and former United villain Thiery Henry.
Prediction: Despite all the evidence and logic tilting this one to a historic night for Manchester United, I think somehow, someway, the magic of Lionel Messi (and Xavi as well) will somehow outshine Sir Alex's side. The defense will hold up (I think Pique will have a breakout performance), and Barcelona will be able to make all the premier League haters smile a lot at 5 PM Eastern time, 11 PM Rome time.
Final score: Barcelona 2, Manchester United 1
Update on 4:32PM: Barcelona has simply dominated this game, as they are well on their way to a treble, up 2-0 right now. Two members of that famed trio, Messi and Eto'o have scored the goals to humble United fans all around. And great sportsmanship showed by Wayne Rooney to the Argentine superstar.
And there it is! They are the best team in Europe, and really, the best team, in the world. Congrats to Barcelona.
Comments
Then suddenly at the 10 minute mark...Barcelona moves the ball down makes a nice pass to Et'o on the right side of the goal, who makes a nifty move to elude a defender and left foots in into the corner. WHOA! Man U is shocked. Then the momentum is totally changed...from that point on it is almost all Barcelona's game...their fantastic team play of quick, precise, artistic passing...patience and persistence. And also their great mid-field defense checking of Man U when it was on offense. I am realy quite new to football, but I have never seen a team hold another team to the mid-line of the pitch like Barcelona did to Man U. And Man U just got increasingly frustrated. When Man U did try to break free it was an offsides - I have to admit my joy of watching Ronaldo pout - though his poor sportsmanship at the end of the game should have earned him a red card.
Anyway, Barcelona really controlled the ball (something like 53 minutes of the game), putting lots of pressure on Man U and coming close on a number of occasions to scoring more - Man U was lucky it wasn't 5-0. The last goal - the pinpoint pass by Xavi to Messi, who gently headed it in over the Man U goalie - who no chance but to watch - was truly a thing of beauty. I was super impressed with watching Xavi in last years EM victory of Spain over Germany - he passes better with his foot than I could with throwing a ball with my hand - so now seeing him set up Messi so well was just one more amazing piece of work. I'm a Xavi fan - he had a 92% success rate in his passing game tonight!!. I am also a Messi fan, who while a superstar is also a great team player - he passes the ball to his teammates (what a concept, eh Ronaldo?). It was a fun game to watch (but then I was cheering for Barcelona)!
I guess I'm hooked on footie now!
IT has been total domination by manchester united in europe over some years now..
If you wanna live up to us... be consistent over your victories...
we will meet again next season...