Rosenborg91

Apr 14 2011, 08:57 PM

Or what about Raul meeting his Real Madrid!?

Rosenborg91

Apr 14 2011, 09:13 PM

Have they ever met in the Champions League? Not after 2002-2003 at least. I'm thinking they have once, but I'm not sure...

uefa.com

 

FC Barcelona's UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid CF has the football world agog with excitement, but it is a tie FC Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola would rather have saved until the final.

Not for reasons of grandstanding, nor due to the demands of four Clásico meetings in the space of 18 days – rather, because Guardiola's respect for Madrid coach José Mourinho's tactics and experience is so high. The two men worked together at Barcelona during the reigns of Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal. Just as pertinently, perhaps, it was Mourinho's FC Internazionale Milano who eliminated Barcelona after two epic semi-final contests last year.

Guardiola has also stated twice, since renewing his contract until 2012, that he is "closer to the end than the beginning" of his tenure. So this could be his penultimate chance to lead Barcelona to what would be their fourth European crown.

UEFA club competition honours (runners-up in brackets)
• European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009; (1961), (1986), (1994)
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1979, 1982, 1989, 1997; (1969), (1991)
• UEFA Super Cup: 1992, 1997, 2009; (1979), (1982), (1989), (2006)

Domestic honours (most recent triumph in brackets)
• League title: 20 (2010)
• Spanish Cup: 25 (2009)

Previous European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals
11 (won 5, lost 6)

UEFA club ranking
2 (opponents Real Madrid CF are 7th)

Leading scorer
Liga: Lionel Messi, 30
UEFA Champions League: Lionel Messi, 9

Strengths and weaknesses
The instinct to retain possession seems almost programmed into the genetic makeup of a Barcelona player. The Catalan club have seen more of the ball than their opponents in every single match, home and away, since a 4-1 loss to Madrid in May 2008. In terms of individuals, Lionel Messi is the obvious jewel in their crown, the Argentina forward having struck 49 goals for the side in all competitions this term, including nine in ten UEFA Champions League outings. The loss of Éric Abidal with a liver tumour and the three-month injury absence of fellow defender Carles Puyol represent their Achilles heel, however.

Key moment
For all their scintillating creativity and relentless scoring, Barça's presence in the last four owes much to Arsenal FC striker Nicklas Bendtner missing a late chance at Camp Nou which could well have sent the hosts out two rounds ago. Arsenal dispossessed Adriano down the right, Andrey Arshavin fed Jack Wilshere and he picked out Bendtner in the middle, only for a heavy touch from the forward to allow Víctor Valdés to gather the ball. "If Bendtner's control had been better, we would probably have been out," Guardiola reflected.

Unsung hero
It has to be the remarkable Valdés. The Azulgrana press so high up the pitch that many of his saves tend to come from one-on-ones, when the onrushing attacker would usually be expected to score. The 29-year-old's concentration levels need to be extraordinarily high too, given he can often go an hour or more without having to do any serious work – and then suddenly be required to produce split-second reactions. He has conceded just 16 times in his last 21 appearances in the competition and his litany of saves during the quarter-final will probably give FC Shakhtar Donetsk's forwards nightmares for months to come.

Form
League position: 1 (Last five games: DWWWD)
The dominant Spanish team of the last three seasons, Barcelona may finally be paying the price for playing so many high-tempo, high-stakes games at club level, with Guardiola's key men also performing regularly for their national sides as well. They continue to dominate possession yet appear to have lost some cutting edge in front of goal, while a lack of pace at the back has allowed opponents to generate more chances than is customary. Despite them sitting eight points clear in the league, and having a Copa del Rey final against Madrid on Wednesday, there is a suspicion that the Liga leaders may be ever so slightly vulnerable.

Killer stat
In addition to their 137 goals in all competitions this term, Barça's players have also hit the woodwork 26 times.

What their opponents say
Cristiano Ronaldo, Madrid player:
Barcelona are good but they are not from another world.

uefa.com

 

From photo opportunities with the UEFA Champions League Trophy, to reliving the greatest moments in the competition's history, via the chance to meet legendary former players and take part in football skills clinics, there will be activities to suit all ages and tastes.

uefa.com

 

Having enjoyed a special relationship with the European Champion Clubs' Cup since the tournament's inception, fans of Real Madrid CF are in emphatic agreement with their coach José Mourinho when he says the club "is back where it belongs" – among the continent's top four sides.

Madrid president Florentino Pérez plucked the Portuguese tactician from UEFA Champions League holders FC Internazionale Milano with the view of aligning the nine-time European Cup winners with the man who led both the Italian side and FC Porto to glory. Yet with the Liga title slipping into the distance with FC Barcelona, Mourinho will now be expected to use his immense UEFA Champions League experience to outfox Josep Guardiola in the semi-finals for the second successive year and propel the Merengues into the Wembley final.

UEFA club competition honours (runners-up in brackets)
• European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002; (1962), (1964), (1981)
• UEFA Cup: 1985, 1986
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: (1971), (1983)
• UEFA Super Cup: 2002; (1998), (2000)

Domestic honours (most recent triumph in brackets)
• League title: 31 (2008)
• Spanish Cup: 17 (1993)

Previous European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals
21 (won 12, lost 9)

UEFA club ranking
7 (opponents FC Barcelona are 2nd)

Leading scorer
Liga: Cristiano Ronaldo 29
UEFA Champions League: Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo 6

Strengths and weaknesses
The Santiago Bernabéu has been a fortress under Mourinho this season, with Madrid winning all five of their UEFA Champions League games. A solid defensive structure that contains holding midfielders Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira was further consolidated by Pepe, normally a centre-back, for Saturday's 1-1 Liga draw with Barcelona, the hosts seeking to avoid a repeat of their 5-0 Camp Nou defeat in November. The system may not inspire attractive free-flowing football but it has proved difficult to break down in Europe. Cristiano Ronaldo has delivered with 41 goals in all competitions this term but concerns remain over the inconsistent form of strikers Karim Benzema, Emmanuel Adebayor and the fit-again Gonzalo Higuaín.

Key moment
With Madrid having been eliminated from the competition at the last-16 stage in their previous six campaigns, there was a collective sigh of relief among Madridistas when the team reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004, Olympique Lyonnais their victims. Crucially, Madrid were not on the losing side for the first time in four visits to Lyon's Stade de Gerland, Benzema's goal against his old club earning a 1-1 draw. Marcelo, Benzema and Ángel Di María then scored in a 3-0 second-leg success for Mourinho's men.

Unsung hero
After catching the eye at the 2010 FIFA World Cup where he helped Germany to a third-place finish, Mesut Özil took little time to settle at the Bernabéu following his transfer from SV Werder Bremen. From an attacking midfield role, the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship winner has produced a tournament-leading six assists in this season's UEFA Champions League, while his tireless performances and clever combination play with Ronaldo and fellow newcomer Di María have caused headaches among opposition defences.

Form
League position: 2 (Last five games: WWLWD)
Many pundits in Spain believe Madrid's failure to beat Barcelona in Saturday's Liga fixture made the Azulgrana's eight-point lead at the top unassailable. Morale had also been damaged in the surprising 1-0 reverse to Real Sporting de Gijón – Mourinho's first home league defeat in 150 games. The onus is now on the former Porto and Chelsea FC boss to focus his side on achieving UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey glory.

Killer stat
Madrid have yet to concede a goal after 450 minutes of UEFA Champions League football at the Bernabéu this term.

What their opponents say
Josep Guardiola, Barcelona coach:
One of Mourinho's strengths is that he knows how to play in different ways. His team are better than they were in the first half of the season and they are also better than us in a lot of things.

uefa.com

 

Manchester United FC stand one step away from coming full circle and playing a UEFA Champions League final at English football's spiritual home.

It was at Wembley where the Old Trafford club had their name etched on the European Champion Clubs' Cup for the first time, with victory over SL Benfica in 1968, and it is there that they will return should they get the better of FC Schalke 04 in the semi-finals.

Unbeaten United are in miserly form in the competition, conceding only three goals – their best performance at this stage of a UEFA Champions League campaign since their first semi-final run in 1996/97. They topped Group C ahead of Valencia CF, recording four wins and two draws, then overcame Olympique de Marseille 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 before producing their best displays yet in beating domestic rivals Chelsea FC home and away in the quarter-finals.

The challenge now is to beat German opposition over two legs for the first time in the UEFA Champions League.

UEFA club competition honours (runners-up in brackets)
• European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1968, 1999, 2008; (2009)
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1991
• UEFA Super Cup: 1991 (2008)

Domestic honours (most recent triumph in brackets)
• League title: 18 (2009)
• FA Cup: 11 (2004)
• League Cup: 4 (2010)

Previous European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals
11 (won 4, lost 7)

UEFA club ranking
1 (opponents FC Schalke 04 are 28th)

Leading scorer
Premier League: Dimitar Berbatov, 21
UEFA Champions League: Javier Hernández, 4

Strengths and weaknesses
United's progress has been built on a rock-solid defence with goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar still assured at 40 and Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić as formidable a central pairing as there is. United will hope Ferdinand stays fit as they have the competition's best defensive record along with Real Madrid CF, yet are the lowest-scoring semi-finalists with 12 goals to Schalke's 21 and FC Barcelona and Madrid's 24. Worries about their potency are offset by Wayne Rooney's return to form and impressive dovetailing with Hernández (whose movement is exceptional), as well as the enduring excellence of Ryan Giggs. Despite Michael Carrick's fine display against Chelsea, arguably the biggest concern is the absence of a dominant central midfielder, a situation not helped by Darren Fletcher's ongoing lay-off.

Key moment
United set the template for their campaign on their Matchday 2 visit to Valencia CF when Hernández stepped off the bench to decide a close contest with a late winner, his first UEFA Champions League goal. It was an early sign of the young Mexican's impact and, moreover, a taste of things to come: six of United's seven victories have been by a single goal. The Premier League leaders are actually the competition's joint-12th highest scorers but have yet to concede on their travels and, with their vast European experience, have an enviable know-how when it comes to winning games. As Sir Alex Ferguson said in his programme notes before the Marseille tie, when commenting on this side's perceived lack of fantasy: "Don't underestimate the boys of today."

Unsung hero
The softly spoken Park Ji-Sung is hardly the type to seek the spotlight but he earned deserved acclaim after his winner in the quarter-final second leg against Chelsea. Park's strike – his first since his December league decider against Arsenal FC – underlined his knack of performing in the big games for United. Sir Alex left him out of his 2008 final squad but Park's versatility and energy make him key to the cause. "We want to know what he eats – he must have a different diet to all of us because the way he runs and the energy he has got is phenomenal," said Sir Alex of the Korean.

Form
League position: 1 (Last five games: LWWWD)
The Old Trafford team had won seven straight games prior to their FA Cup semi-final loss to local rivals Manchester City FC – a match for which Rooney was suspended, Hernández a substitute and Giggs left out altogether. That defeat by Sir Alex's "noisy neighbours" ended their Treble dream, yet despite the ensuing draw at Newcastle United FC, United remain on course to win their 19th domestic championship, which would take them past Liverpool FC's long-standing landmark of 18. United are experts at negotiating the spring run-in, as Ferguson himself suggested after the dismissal of Chelsea: "I think we've hit form: the second half at West Ham [coming from two goals down to win 4-2], the performance at Chelsea, the performance here. It's a great boost."

Killer stat
Of the seven times United have reached the semi-finals in the UEFA Champions League era, they have neither scored (1.2 per game) nor conceded (0.3 per game) fewer goals getting there than they have done this year. In 1996/97 they scored ten and conceded three but that was over eight games, rather than ten.

What their opponents say
Benedikt Höwedes, Schalke player:
United are a dream team. I will really enjoy playing them, but I don't think we have to hide. In the past, we used to play at Old Trafford on the PlayStation. Most of the time, those that had Manchester would win.