United’s Second String Stroll to Champions League Final with 4-1 Win over Schalke

A considerably weakened Manchester United side romped home to a 4-1 victory over German side Schalke 04 in their Champions League Semi-Final Second-Leg encounter at Old Trafford last night, setting up a clash with Spanish giants Barcelona in the Final at Wembley later this month.

In a match in which the outcome had virtually already been established through United’s 2-0 First-Leg victory in Germany last week, Sir Alex Ferguson made nine changes to the side that won at the Veltkins Arena. Although the United boss admitted to being slightly anxious about taking such a risk in what was still a Champions League Semi-Final encounter, his nerves were to be proved unfounded as his team easily overcame what must be the weakest Semi-Final opponents in the history of the competition.

Antonio Valencia celebrating his
goal against Schalke last night.

United scored with their first real effort on goal after 26 minutes through Antonio Valencia, who latched on to an alluring ball from Darron Gibson before finishing calmly past the onrushing Schalke ‘keeper Manuel Neuer. The Red Devils doubled their lead just five minutes later when Gibson turned from provider to scorer. The Republic of Ireland international fired a shot at Neuer from just inside the area, with the German number one demonstrating after last week’s heroics that he is human after all, fumbling the shot and allowing the ball to cross the line at his near post.

Four minutes later it was Schalke who responded with arguably the goal of the game from Spanish midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado. Picking up the ball from a ricochet off a United defender, he rifled home a shot past United ‘keeper Edwin van der Sar in the top corner of the net, sending the visiting Schalke fans into raptures. However, the muted celebration from the Spaniard said it all; the goal was all too little, too late from the German side who despite having the majority of the possession at Old Trafford, failed to truly test the United goal.

United have the prospect of
facing the seemingly
unstoppable Lionel Messi
in the final at Wembley. 

The second half was a fairly uneventful affair; with both sides realising the outcome of the game had long before been decided. On 72 minutes, Manchester United restored their two-goal lead on the night thanks to another mistake by Neuer. United’s impressive Brazilian midfielder Anderson was rewarded for his persistence after his initial shot following a ball from Nani was blocked by Schalke defender Atsuto Uchida, before turning and striking a left-footed shot through the hands of Neuer and into the Schalke net. Four minutes later the rout was complete, with Anderson again on the score sheet. Dimitar Berbatov was set free on the right-hand side before powering into the area and sliding the ball unselfishly to Anderson who passed the ball home from just inside the six-yard box.

Schalke did have a goal ruled out for off-side in the closing stages – a correct decision it has to be said – but the German side lacked the quality to ever really cause a threat to United and over the two-legs, the Red Devils’ 6-1  aggregate victory was justly deserved.

Manchester United will now face an undoubtedly tougher challenge in the shape of Barcelona in the Champions League Final at Wembley on May 28; in what will be a rematch of the 2009 Final in which Pep Guardiola’s side eased to a 2-0 win. The match will mark 43 years since United won their first European Cup at the old Wembley stadium and Sir Alex Ferguson’s side may just need that sense of destiny in order to overcome a Barcelona team described as one of the best in the history of the game. 

Champions League Quarter-Final Draw

Former England international Gary Lineker served up a set of cracking ties as he performed the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals in Switzerland this morning.

The highlight of the draw was when Tottenham Hotspur, a team in which Lineker himself previously played for, were drawn against Spanish giants Real Madrid in what will sure be a thrilling contest. It seems as though Spurs just don’t do easy draws in what is their inaugural season in the Champions League. After dispatching seven-time European Cup winners AC Milan in the previous round, the team from North London will now face the competition’s all-time record-holders, who have not only won the European Cup nine times, but are also coached by Jose Mourinho, a manager who has won the Champions League twice in six years with two different teams and as recently as last season with former club Inter Milan.

Inter Milan striker Goran Pandev celebrates scoring an
88th minute winner against Bayern Munich that saw
his side progress through to the quarter-finals.

In the remainder of the draw, Mourinho’s former club Inter will face Schalke after beating last year’s beaten finalists Bayern Munich and Spanish side Valencia respectively. 2009 Champions League winners Barcelona have a tricky draw against Shakhtar Donetsk, with the Ukrainians unbeaten at home in 31 months in all competitions. The fourth and final quarter-final sees a re-run of the 2008 Champions League final as three-time European Cup winners Manchester United face fellow Premier League side Chelsea.

This morning’s quarter-final draw was followed by the draw for the semi-finals and Lineker again did not fail to disappoint. The winners of the match between Manchester United and Chelsea will face either Inter Milan or Schalke, while the winners of the game between Real Madrid and Tottenham will play either Barcelona or Shakhtar Donetsk, setting up a possible El Classico in the Champions League semi-finals.

The first legs of the quarter-final ties will be played on the 5^th and 6^th of April, with full reviews of all the games right here on Can We Play You Every Week.

Manchester United ease past Arsenal to reach FA Cup Semi-Finals

A strong performance from Manchester United sees them through to the Semi-Finals of the FA Cup after a 2-0 win against Arsenal.

A weakened United side without regulars Darren Fletcher, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani were simply too strong for an Arsenal team who were all too often wasteful in front of goal.

United’s Brazilian brothers Fabio and Rafael, both playing in more advanced positions than their usual roles at full back, looked lively throughout and it was Fabio who opened the scoring after 27 minutes. A cross from Wayne Rooney was headed towards goal by Javier Hernandez and the young Brazilian positioned himself well to net the rebound after Arsenal ‘keeper Manuel Almunia initially saved from Hernandez.

Arsenal certainly had their fair share of opportunities with Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri in particular all going close but their efforts were consistently rebuffed by an almost impenetrable looking Edwin van der Sar.

Fabio Da Silva stretches to score Manchester United's
first goal against Arsenal.

United’s second goal came just four minutes after the restart and this time it was Fabio’s twin-brother Rafael’s turn to get involved, with the youngster’s pass finding Hernandez who again had a shot blocked before eventually being headed in by Wayne Rooney. The England striker looked back to this best playing apart in both goals and linking up well with strike-partner Hernandez.

Arsene Wenger’s side looked for more attacking options in the second half with Marouane Chamakh coming on to replace Denilson and the Moroccan international almost halfed the deficit with a header that, unfortunately for Arsenal, fell straight into the arms of van der Sar.

The game was stopped in the 80^th minute for Gunners’ defender Johan Djourou to receive lengthy treatment for what seemed a nasty looking shoulder injury following a collision with team-mate Bacary Sagna, after Almunia again saved well from Hernandez to prevent his side going 3-0 down.

Eight minutes of stoppage time was added to the end of the second half due to the injury suffered by Djourou, but it was still not enough for Arsenal to grab even a consolation goal as the North London side crashed out of their third competition in as many weeks. Manchester United on the other hand will now look forward to tomorrow’s FA Cup Semi-Final draw as they learn who they will face out of Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City or West Ham United and their inter-city rivals Manchester City or Reading.