Manchester United - Road to the Champions League Final
May 20, 2008
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| Manchester United and their road to the Final |
There are less than 24 hours until the kick-off of the 2007-08 Champions League Final. Let’s analyze how the two teams have managed to grab the tickets for the Luzhniki Stadium. I will start with the team that is considered the home team, during tomorrow’s final.
Manchester United have started this Champions League season, being directly qualified for the group stage from the position of Premier League Champions.
The Group F was selected for Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils. They managed an impressive total of 16 points, with 5 wins and a draw in 6 matches. Man Utd defeated twice Dynamo Kiev, 4-2 in Ukraine and 4-0 at the Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo and his mates also won both games against Sporting Lisbon, 1-0 in Portugal and 2-1 at home. The derbies of the group stage where played against AS Roma. United won 1-0 in front of the English fans and obtained a 1-1 draw in Rome.
Sporting Lisbon 0 - 1 Manchester United
Manchester United 1 - 0 AS Roma
Dynamo Kiev 2 - 4 Manchester United
Manchester United 4 - 0 Dynamo Kiev
Manchester United 2 - 1 Sporting
AS Roma 1 - 1 Manchester United
The round of the last 16 brought Olympique Lyon as opponents. The powerful French Champions proved themselves a hard nut to crack. Manchester United managed to obtain a late 1-1 draw in the first leg in Lyon. Carlos Tevez scored the equalizer and this proved to be a very important goal. The second leg was won by the Red Devils with 1-0. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal and United where qualified for the quarter-finals.
Lyon 1 - 1 Manchester United
Manchester United 1 - 0 Olympique Lyon
The Quarter-Finals saw United facing the same opponents as the last season and also this season’s group stage neighbors, AS Roma. The Italian side was determined to revenge themselves on the humiliation suffered last season as Man Utd defeated them 7-1 at the Old Trafford. The first leg ended with a 2-0 win in Rome for Alex Ferguson and his boys. Cristiano Ronaldo with an imperial header and Wayne Rooney sealed a win that proved to be enough for advancing in the semi-finals. At the Old Trafford, United did not force and Carlos Tevez ensured a 1-0 win.
AS Roma 0 - 2 Manchester United
Manchester United 1 - 0 AS Roma
The Semi-Finals prepared a superb clash between Man Utd and Barcelona. The Red Devils where on a role, grabbing the Premier League and playing at their highest level, while Rijkard’s Barcelona was struggling and the Champions League remained their only chance to save a disastrous season. Lionel Messi came back from the injury room and showed impressive football. Although the Argentinian youngster was above Manchester’s star, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Red Devils qualified for the Champions League Final with a 0-0 away draw and a 1-0 home win. Paul Scholes scored a superb long range goal.
Barcelona 0 - 0 Manchester United
Manchester United 1 - 0 Barcelona
The Final
Manchester United vs Chelsea
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