UEFA Champions League Predictions [Part 2]

In my previous column, I covered the match-ups between Shakhtar Donetsk vs Barcelona and Tottenham vs Real Madrid. Scroll down to the Blog Archive, in case you missed it.

Schalke vs Inter Milan

The First Leg of this match-up gave us 2011’s Goal of the Year with just 2 minutes underway. After Cambiasso sent a dangerous threatening long ball, Schalke’s GK Neuer had charge out of the box to head it away. Unfortunately for Neuer, before the ball even landed, it met Stankovic’s right foot. The result was a thunderous volley from midfield that met the back of the net.  Regrettably, the rest the night is one Inter Milan fans want to forget.  A porous and undisciplined defense allowed Schalke’s club to equalize not once but twice. Along with the second equalizer, Schalke went on to score 3 more unanswered goals with Inter’s Chivu getting sent off during the match.

The real killer of the 2-5 final score of the First Leg is that the match was played at the San Siro. Which means Schalke will almost definitely hold the tie-breaker with their 5 away goals scored. In order for Inter Milan to advance to the Semifinals, they need to win 4-0, 5-1, (5-2, tie, go to PK’s), 6-3 or a better goal differential than +3. It’s going to be a real tall order for the Defending UEFA Champions to win away from home by that amount.  

Cristian Chivu received a red card during the First Leg and will be suspended for this match. Leonardo’s squad is already short-handed in their back four with injury and fitness issues and Chivu’s absence is not going to help.  However, Diego Milito returned to starting XI and contributed a goal in his first match back from injury. This Inter squad is capable of scoring many goals with Sneijder, Eto’o, Pazzini, Maicon and more.

Schalke's Raul scoring past GK Julio Cesar
(Reuters)

Schalke has been the real surprise of these Quarterfinals, dubbed as the weakest squad remaining by many, playing with patience and discipline on defense led by Goalkeeper and Captain Manuel Neuer. Schalke don’t have many “young big name players” but where they lack in names, they make up for with experience. Outfielders Raul and Edu provide leadership and belief that they can win.  Although they are in 9^th place in the German Bundesliga, this club has showed they are completely focused on advancing in this Champions League.


Prediction:  Schalke 0-2 Inter Milan (Aggregate Score: 5-4) Schalke advances into the Semifinals.

Manchester United vs Chelsea

I went to a pub last Wednesday to watch the two Quarterfinal matches in downtown Minneapolis. Got there about a ½ hour before kickoff and settled in at the closest seat near the TV showing the Barcelona match. I was surprised to see how empty the pub was so close to game time until I heard raised voices from nearby. There was a fight just waiting to break out in the adjacent viewing room between a Chelsea and Man U fan. The viewing room was completely packed full with fans from both clubs in front of a large projection screen TV that was showing highlights from a previous meeting between the two clubs.  This only reaffirmed my belief that Manchester United and Chelsea have 2 of the more diverse and passionate fan bases across the world.

Man U's Wayne Rooney celebrating the only goal
of the 1st Leg against Chelsea
(Google Images) 

So after the scuffle settled down, I settled back into my seat as each match was about to start.  It was truly an electric start by Chelsea, getting a couple early chances and testing 40-year-old Man United GK Edwin van der Sar. However, in the 24^th minute Manchester United broke through Chelsea defense with a great diagonal long ball from Michael Carrick landing perfectly at a streaking Ryan Giggs’ left foot, with a world-class first touch towards goal got by his mark and squared a pass to the center of the box. “Chicharito” Hernandez played a clever dummy successfully and Wayne Rooney slotted it home far post, 0-1 Man United.

As this was a typical heavyweight match, both teams punched back and forth, highlighted by a Fernando Torres shot that hit the post and Patrice Evra making a goal line save against Frank Lampard’s rebound attempt on target. Later on in the 74^th minute, Torres was on the end of a cross with a top-class finish that was headed for goal, only for GK van der Sar to equal with a world-class save. With 1 minute into extra time, Torres flicked on an inviting pass to Ramires in the box, who was then clearly taken down in the box by Evra, but the Spanish referee didn’t make the call for a penalty.  The match ended 0-1, as Man United came away with an away goal and victory at Stamford Bridge.

This return Leg match-up at Old Trafford has all the makings of an instant classic. Man U have been nigh impregnable at home this season, especially in the first half. According to Opta Sports, the Red Devils have not given up a goal at Old Trafford in the 1^st half since April 3^rd, 2010 in the Premier League. Even though this is Champions League, it’s still an impressive stat nonetheless. Rio Ferdinand is fully fit now returning from injury and was a stone wall during the 1^st Leg along with Captain Nemanja Vidic at the centre back positions. Rooney is just starting to return to his goal scoring form from a year ago and will most certainly cause problems for Chelsea’s back four.

Fernando Torres of Chelsea
(Google Images)

Chelsea will come into this match playing basically with nothing to lose since the Premier League title is out of reach. The Blues are still struggling to find a starting XI that will match up with forward Fernando Torres up front, who the Blues recently paid this January over 50 million pounds for. Torres hasn’t scored for Chelsea (648 minutes and counting) since being transferred over from Liverpool and seems to be low on confidence, even if he won’t admit it.

With all this being taken into account, I’m predicting another great match with El Nino finally scoring for Chelsea but Chicharito equalizes late to advance Manchester United into the Semifinals to face Schalke.

Prediction: Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Aggregate Score: 2-1) Manchester United advances into the Semifinals.