John Arne Riise

[MegaTon]

Hope Barca stuff the Manks tonight! Fed up reading about BIGHEAD fergie writing off Barclona. Did the same last year and got knocked out by AC Milan. Lol!

[Mike_CFC]

I'm hoping for a draw.Like that Yahnited might rest a few players for Saturday's game against Chelsea.

[Sam Slater]

Man Utd are fighting for a title but Barcelona are not. Like last year with Milan, Barca can/will rest players between the two games. Man Utd can't afford that luxury.

Didn't the commentator mention that only 4 teams out of the last 16 Champions League winners have also won their own league in the same year? (Barcalona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Man Utd - at a guess or maybe Porto in replace of Munich?).

[Deuce Bigolo]

Thank god i wasn't stupid enough to get up at 4.30am australian time to watch it

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a third-minute penalty as Manchester United drew 0-0 with Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final first leg.

The Portuguese winger, who already has 38 goals to his name this season, was presented with an ideal chance to silence the Nou Camp crowd early on following Gabriel Milito's handball, but fired wide from 12 yards.

United were second best for much of the game thereafter, though the nearest the hosts came to breaking the deadlock was a Samuel Eto'o slice into the sidenetting and two late Thierry Henry efforts.

The result leaves next week's second leg at Old Trafford wide open, with both sides entitled to feel relatively happy with the scoreline.

But it could have been so much better for United, who saw Ronaldo's first-minute free-kick deflected over for a corner. From the resulting flag kick, Ronaldo was first to react but his goal-bound header was blocked by the raised hands of Argentinian defender Milito with referee Massimo Busacca pointing straight to the penalty spot.

However, the usually-reliable Portuguese winger lost his nerve and fired his spot-kick wide of Victor Valdes' goal.

That gave the Nou Camp crowd a huge lift and allowed Barca to string a number of passes together with Rafael Marquez and Eto'o both trying their luck and Lionel Messi showcasing his talents.

But United continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack and Barca were fortunate not to concede a second penalty after 28 minutes when Ronaldo's surge into the box was ended by Marquez's clumsy challenge.

Deco's free-kick was then comfortably saved by Edwin van der Sar, while an effort by Ronaldo at the other end curled harmlessly wide as the half drew to a close.

Barca made a bright start to the second period with Messi seeing a shot deflected wide and Gianluca Zambrotta firing another effort just over.

Eto'o then skipped around Rio Ferdinand's challenge in the area, but his cut-back was cleared by Owen Hargreaves. Moments later, the Cameroon striker missed a great opportunity when some slick passing carved United open, but his shot hit the sidenetting.

As play switched down the other end, Michael Carrick was unlucky to see his left-footed effort also flash the wrong side of the net with Valdes looking beaten.

Andres Iniesta then saw his theatrical attempts to win a penalty waved away by the referee, while the late introduction of Henry from the bench failed to break the deadlock despite the Frenchman seeing a stinging drive parried by van der Sar and another effort, from a free-kick, comfortably saved.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to blame Ronaldo for his side's failure to score an away goal.

The Scot revealed he thought the winger would score, but added: "He's a bit unlucky. Maybe it's come too early."

Of the second penalty incident, he said: "You're doing well to get one penalty kick. To ask for another one... I wasn't surprised."

Ferguson was pleased with his side's defending but felt they could have created more at the other end.

Describing United's performance as "professional", he said: "We sealed off the areas where teams don't normally do well against Barcelona.

"They didn't make a lot of chances. Our concentration defending the space was very good."

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard insists his side can reach the final of the Champions League.

"We have a great chance - we can do it," he said.

"It won't be easy but we are capable. We must remain serious and organised in midfield. We have a chance."

[Mike_CFC]

Spot on Sam,Porto are the only other team to achieve that recent feat.Since the Champions League changed it's format,it's very rare for a team that wins their domestic league,to win the European Cup in the same season.Rare,but certainly not impossible.

As a Chelsea fan,i'm spoilt for choice atm !laugh!Sam Slater wrote:

> Man Utd are fighting for a title but Barcelona are not. Like
> last year with Milan, Barca can/will rest players between the
> two games. Man Utd can't afford that luxury.
>
> Didn't the commentator mention that only 4 teams out of the
> last 16 Champions League winners have also won their own league
> in the same year? (Barcalona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and
> Man Utd - at a guess or maybe Porto in replace of Munich?).
>
>

[Mike_CFC]

I told you the Nou Camp can be an intimidating hotbed.When they play the Catalan National anthem,yes they have their own National anthem. as Catalans don't recognise or adknowledge Spain.You can blame General Franco for that.The hairs on the back of your neck stand up when the Barca fans yell "forca Barca",and the Yahnited players clearly felt that,and are lucky to come away with a 0-0 draw which will set up a right clash at O.T on Tuesday.

Both semi finals are gridlocked,but i'm edging to a Barcelona v Chelsea final on May 21st in Moscow.

Many,many people will disagree,but it's my opinion !happy!

[Sam Slater]

Man Utd were lucky?

How did you come to that conclusion? I'm gonna sound like a Man Utd fan here (I'm not) but I don't know what games you've been watching....

Man Utd should have had two penalties, and Barcelona one penalty. Man Utd hit the post, but apart from a decent effort by Henry, neither keeper had anything to do all match. Barca had 2/3rds of the ball and did fuck all with it.....at home. Fergie rested Giggs, Nani and Anderson and took Rooney off early...all with Saturday's game in mind, no doubt. (due to Chelsea having the extra days rest between both the Liverpool - Man Utd clash, and Man Utd - Liverpool 2nd leg...so within the space of 3 big games, Chelsea have 48 hours extra rest which can be very important near the end of a long season).

As for the Liverpool v Chelsea clash: You lot were awful and only scored in the last 30 seconds, from an own goal. Liverpool controlled that match (I was rooting for Chelsea btw). And lets be honest.....who've Chelsea played to get into the semis? Liverpool had to beat Inter & Arsenal while Man Utd had Lyon & Roma.

Man Utd may lose both on Saturday and next Tuesday, but I don't know how you could say they were lucky. The interviews with Ronaldo and Ferdinand as they were walking off the pitch didn't show a single bead of sweat on their foreheads, which tells you a lot on how hard they were made to work for that draw - ie: not that hard at all.

I predict Chelsea will beat Liverpool and Man Utd will score against Barca, at home.......however, they may have to score two so I think that game can go either way. I don't think Barca will win but may go through on away goals.

[Mike_CFC]

Fair do's.Had of Ronaldo scored his penatly,instead of blasting it into La Rumblas,it might have been a different outcome.

Barca are capable of scoring in Manchester and they will gave their talisman 'Puyol' back after his ban.Like i said,it's a tough one to call.

It'll be interesting to see which team Fergie plays against Chelsea.Chelsea will be without Frank Lampard,who's mother passed away earlier today.

The Chelsea fans thoughts and condolences are with Frank,Frank Snr and the Lampard family at such a sad and tragic time.

Bill Shankly was very wrong in saying that football is a matter of 'life and death'.

[Sam Slater]

Aye, condolences to Lampard and his family. It was only last night, on the BBC website, lamps was saying how his mother had picked up a bit. Must have been a shock.