UCL 2008

[JK]

Smithy how about you have a look at the quarter final? You are lucky to even be in the semis after Kuyt's blatant tug on Hleb's shirt, maybe that ref was bribed and UEFA should have a look at him. Liverpool fans always think everything is against them and fail to see things when they go their way, Carragher wasn't penalised for his tackle but I guess he never does at Anfield even though he does that quite often.

As for diving, your own captain is one of the worst going around. Have a look at the Blackburn game recently to see for yourself. He even publicly states he hates divers yet still does it.

Nice header by Riise though.

RM, I'd always thought you were fairly open minded, particularly for a Manc, but I guess you've just been waiting for an opportunity?

No Liverpool supporter I know denied/disagreed that the Hleb decision was a stinker (I said so myself on here a few times) ... And I haven't seen anyone suggest we're the only team that ever gets hard done by.

On any occasion when you feel you have received a rough trot from the Refs your'e going to be a bit upset about it (you might not have experienced because we all know it never happens at OT), but as with Aussie Rules, it's swings and roundabouts, you win some you lose some.

Liverpool will still get through if they're good enough, if they don't, then Chelsea deserve to be there, simple as that.

FWIW - I didn't think the Drogba one today was a penalty, although watching the replay it very well could have been, but as Smithy said, the bloke doesn't help his own cause.

[RoosterMarty]

I only saw highlights just after I woke up so not sure if it was Drogba that Carragher tackled but that started outside the box so was never a penalty anyway, he may have been last man which could have made things disastrous for Liverpool. For a strong man he falls over far too easy though, would be a much better footballer if he kept his feet.

To suggest the ref was bribed (I know he wouldn't have been completely serious but still) is a bit rich when Liverpool have had the rub of the green recently.

I wonder if Terry will be cited for what he did to Torres.

[smithy]

To suggest the ref was bribed (I know he wouldn't have been completely serious but still) is a bit rich when Liverpool have had the rub of the green recently.

I wonder if Terry will be cited for what he did to Torres.

Yeah the bribing comment wasn't serious RM, his performance though was VERY one sided though, could it of been because they were wearing Chelsea's away strip ?

Did you see the Terry/Torres incident on replay ?
On top of that incident, 3 times he smashed into the back of LFC players with his elbow..the guy is a disgrace.

[RoosterMarty]

Kuyt on Hleb was 50/50 I thought.....the 2 missed today were blatant.
Carraghers so called foul on Drogba might've been awarded if he didn't go down * so often and anyway was outside the box.
The ref today gave everything chelsea's way, free kicks, throw ins, 4 minutes extra time.....no penalty calls, terry should've been received 5 yellow cards at least.

Show me where Gerrard admits to diving please............provide a link so I can read it

Pardon? How can you honestly suggest Kuyt's pull of the shirt on Hleb was 50/50?!?! It was a blatant penalty!! Which ones are you talking about from this morning? The push in the box when a Liverpool player (sorry can't remember who) was jumping and got nudged with a forearm? That was more 50/50 than the Kuyt/Hleb incident!!

You must have misread what I said about Gerrard. He publicly said he hates diving.

Here is a nice youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVb2gbMtN3I

He says he hates diving yet he is a diver himself! Before you bring someone like Cristiano Ronaldo into it, he may dive but at least he doesn't publicly state he detests divers.

[RoosterMarty]

To suggest the ref was bribed (I know he wouldn't have been completely serious but still) is a bit rich when Liverpool have had the rub of the green recently.

I wonder if Terry will be cited for what he did to Torres.

Yeah the bribing comment wasn't serious RM, his performance though was VERY one sided though, could it of been because they were wearing Chelsea's away strip ?

Did you see the Terry/Torres incident on replay ?
On top of that incident, 3 times he smashed into the back of LFC players with his elbow..the guy is a disgrace.

Yes I did see the Terry/Torres incident and it was a very weak effort, doesn't take any guts to do something like that. Unfortunately I doubt UEFA will do anything about it though.

[JK]

To suggest the ref was bribed (I know he wouldn't have been completely serious but still) is a bit rich when Liverpool have had the rub of the green recently.

I wonder if Terry will be cited for what he did to Torres.

Yeah the bribing comment wasn't serious RM, his performance though was VERY one sided though, could it of been because they were wearing Chelsea's away strip ?

Did you see the Terry/Torres incident on replay ?
On top of that incident, 3 times he smashed into the back of LFC players with his elbow..the guy is a disgrace.

I reckon thats one area where Stevie G is soft ... He should spend less time being friendly with his England Teammates and get stuck into them when they infringe in club matches.

[JK]

I thought Ballack should have been done for handball inside the box RM, but admittedly I only saw it once and I barrack for Liverpool lol.

That said, the commentator called it a clear penalty (that said, most SBS commentators have sweet FA idea most of the time).

Whilst technically the push in the box may have been an infringement, you'd never want to see a penalty paid for that.

[JK]

Before you bring someone like Cristiano Ronaldo into it, he may dive

LOL ... Umm .. "May"

The bloke makes Greg Louganis look like an Amateur.

(But I do take your point on SG)

[Dirko]

LMFAO...just saw Riise's own goal...ha

**** me...how much lower can a bloke go to header the ball....

[mighty_tiger_79]

Barca v Man Utd

1min-17 gone a man Utd corner header by ronaldo onto milito's arm for handball penalty

Ronaldo then misses!!!!! could be very very costly

[mighty_tiger_79]

30mins in Barca have dominated with possession but just cant get a decent shot on goal

some dodgy back-passing by barca saw Ronaldo get through but he decided to dive instead of keep his feet and got what he deserved

[mighty_tiger_79]

0-0 barca-man utd half time

[Swooper16]

United would be happy with the result and cearly were only worried about a clean sheet but my initial feeling is that Barca arent all that flash at the moment and had we come out with a more attacking mindset we could have probably wrapped this tie up.

I know Ronaldo missed that penalty and was unlucky not to be awarded another (probably justice as he went down to easily for one in the 1st half). My only concern is that Henry looked pretty sharp and if he plays 90 mins instead of Eto'o (whats happened to him??) and Deco & messi can play a full match they might cause us a few more concerns then what they did today.

I guess Vidic pulling out may have made us go more defensive with a makeshift back 4. Would like to have been 1 up going to OT tho.

[JK]

Without having seen the game It's hard to comment, but for hose of you who did, who do you think holds the upper hand for the return leg?

Naturally Man U will always start favourites to win at OT (lol actually with their squad they'll virtually always start favourite anywhere), but a score draw and Barca get through, and you would have thought (on paper at least) they have the names in the squad to find the net at least once over 2 Legs?

[RoosterMarty]

It is interesting. United would be slight favourites because the game is at home, but with no away goal it is a bit of a dangerous situation because of the chances of a score draw. Barca have the personnel to score plenty of goals so we will have to watch out for that.

Disappointed that Ronaldo failed to nail his penalty, an away goal would have been very very handy.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Without having seen the game It's hard to comment, but for hose of you who did, who do you think holds the upper hand for the return leg?

Naturally Man U will always start favourites to win at OT (lol actually with their squad they'll virtually always start favourite anywhere), but a score draw and Barca get through, and you would have thought (on paper at least) they have the names in the squad to find the net at least once over 2 Legs?

interesting

as mentioned UNited just wanted the clean sheet more then anything and Barca had heaps of possession around the box, but just failed to break the defence.

Man Utd at home will be more attacking and interesting to note that in Barca's last ten matches in the league they have only won one, and scored 10 and let through 14, while they are undefeated through europe at this stage Man Utd are performing better overall.

so man utd to get through but ill be hoping barca

[mighty_tiger_79]

eufa cup

HOW boring was Gers V fiorentina this morning????????

Gers should have been more attacking instead of going with one striker - yes i know it has been successful for the season, but you need to score to win games and especially at home you need to make the most of it

[johntheclaret]

Latest.

Man U 1 - 0 Barca.

All Barca in the 2nd half but United holding out. Tevez has been absolutely outstanding for Man U. Chased every ball, his input and energy have been awesome.

85 mins gone.

A goal at this stage will put Barca through on the away goals rule such is the tension. Great game of football .

[johntheclaret]

All over Man U have made it to the final guaranteeing and English club will bring back the trophy.

Just a shame me and DA have to travel all the way to Moscow to watch the final. Man U v Pool or Chelski in the UCL at Wembley would have been something else

Anyway, I've packed me furlined muffs DA, just waiting for the call mate

[johntheclaret]

Manchester United made sure it will be an all-English UEFA Champions League final with a 1-0 victory over Barcelona.
In a pulsating encounter at Old Trafford, Paul Scholes' unstoppable first-half strike was enough to secure an aggregate success for Sir Alex Ferguson's side following the goalless draw at Camp Nou.
Barcelona kept battling until the final whistle but United were heroic in defence and limited the Spanish side to few, if any, clear-cut openings.
Injuries contributed to United's demise in the semi-finals 12 months ago and Ferguson was dealt a double blow prior to kick-off when Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic were both ruled out with the problems they picked up against Chelsea at the weekend.
The best chance of the first leg came when Barca conceded a penalty in the opening minutes and within 60 seconds United almost repaid the favour as Scholes brought down Lionel Messi just outside the area. Messi failed to make the most of the free-kick but the young Argentine was a real menace early on as Barcelona carried on where they left off last week and dominated possession.

Stunned
The visitors were stunned, however, in the 14th minute when Gianluca Zambrotta tackled Cristiano Ronaldo but then surrendered the ball to Paul Scholes. The veteran midfielder was almost 30 yards from goal but he is not a player to look a gift horse in the mouth and immediately unleashed a thunderous shot that left Victor Valdes grasping at thin air as it swerved straight into the top corner.
Messi nearly silenced the cheers of the United supporters five minutes later as he embarked on a trademark run from deep, skipping away from Scholes and Brown before drawing Van der Sar into a fine save from the edge of the area.
Barcelona have been desperately out of form domestically and looked vulnerable in defence as United looked to set a fast tempo. Ronaldo was proving a handful and the Portuguese winger set up Park Ji-sung to sidefoot agonisingly wide.
Barca were much more confident coming forward and Deco twice came close to bringing the scores level with efforts from distance, first clipping over and then dragging wide after neat move.
Patrice Evra then had to come to Edwin van der Sar's rescue with a terrific challenge on Samuel Eto'o after the goalkeeper had dived full-length to catch a Messi cross but spilled the ball.

Opportunity
Nani had an opportunity to give United a two-goal lead at the break as he beat Eric Abidal in the air to connect with a pinpoint delivery from the impressive Park, but his glancing header flew a foot past the post.
Play continued to fluctuate from end to end as the second half got underway but it was United who appeared likeliest to grab the next goal.
Barcelona had Abidal to thank as the French left-back cut out a pass from Ronaldo towards Nani in the centre, before Tevez played a one-two with the newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year and stung the palms of Valdes with a shot from a tight angle.
Nani then burst into the box after combining well with Ronaldo, but showed no composure as he blazed high into the crowd from a good position.

Clung on
Frank Rijkaard recognised that he needed to change things on the hour mark and replaced Andres Iniesta with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry, but the momentum was with United and the home side continued to threaten a second.
Barcelona were restricted to hopeful long-range strikes as the clock ticked down, although Deco's free-kick sent Van der Sar scrambling as it was deflected narrowly wide.
United's makeshift backline of Owen Hargreaves at right-back, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown in the middle and Patrice Evra on the left, were immense as time and again they disrupted promising Barcelona attacks.
Henry directed a header straight at Van der Sar from Xavi's corner as United sat further back, although Ronaldo nearly gave United some breathing space with a drilled shot wide on the break.
The 1-0 scoreline ensured the tension remained right to the death but United clung on to secure their passage to next month's final in Moscow, where they will face either Chelsea or Liverpool.