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KO 19:45 GMT
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Probably the most balanced game in Europe, as it could go either way.

First leg end in a 0 - 0 draw. Who does it benefit most? We'll find out.
Match Preview:

The last time these two teams met, Manchester United were completely dominant and played Inter Milan off their own pitch in every facet of the game, except where it counted: on the scoreboard. Their inability to pick up a valuable away goal could be their undoing as Inter Milan pay a visit to Old Trafford with a trip to the Quarterfinals on the line.

Manchester United have been in spectacular form as of late, storming to a nearly insurmountable lead in the Premiership while picking up the first two trophies in their attempt to win a "Quintuple." They fired a warning shot to anyone who thought they would be ripe for the picking with a difficult trip to St. James Park in midweek after a rousing and emotional Carling Cup Final victory over Tottenham by coming from behind to defeat a determined Newcastle United squad. They also served notice of their intentions in the F.A. Cup by winning handily at Fulham despite resting the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Cristiano Ronaldo. Their only concern going into this match will be health-related, as Rio Ferdinand limped off at Craven Cottage with an ankle injury and John O'Shea tweaked his hamstring. Then again, United will be getting back their best defensive player in Nemanja Vidic, who was suspended for the trip to the San Siro, so it isn't all bad news.

For Inter, they'll need to improve significantly if they want to keep their European hopes alive. They have some major concerns of their own heading into this match. They were blasted, 3-0, by Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia in midweek, and lost two of their defenders, Marco Materazzi and Nicholas Burdisso to injuries against Genoa over the weekend. Nelson Rivas, who was terrible in the first leg, was even worse in the loss to Sampdoria, giving away a goal and being pulled at halftime. As such, Jose Mourinho might have to start veteran Ivan Cordoba at center-back and pull Esteban Cambiasso back from his usual position in midfield.

That hasn't stopped Mourinho from being his usual bragadocious self, however. In addition to touting himself as Sir Alex's eventual replacement at Old Trafford, he reminded everyone of his success against Manchester United in years past. Even though Mourinho's mind games are more for the press than anyone else, his words will, no doubt, have an impact on Sir Alex, who remembers how Porto poached a last-minute goal at Old Trafford in 2004 to send United tumbling out of the Champions League.

Who will win between these two giants? Will Manchester United's quest for a Quintuple continue? Or will Mourinho continue to beguile Sir Alex and Manchester United? Tune in and find out!

Link (http://soccerlens.com/manchester-united-v-inter-milan-uefa-champions-league-11-march-2009-live-blog/23289/)


Possible game winners:

Man Utd

Vidic

Was not missed in the 1st leg, but it is crucial that Vidic is back in defence for Utd. Against two physical strikers in Ibrahimovic and Adriano, Vidic will have to be at his brilliant best to match them. Also, can pop up with an all important goal from set pieces.

http://blog.ecr.co.za/sports/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/nemanja.jpg

Rooney

Big game player. In recent games, it seems as though he has returned to his best. His new role as a n.o 9 has allowed to score more goals rather than creating them. Inter will need to keep an eye on him.

http://njmg.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/09/wayne_rooney_the_associated_press.jpg

Inter

J.Cesar

The most on form keeper in the world. Made some great saves in the 1st leg and will be hard to beat again.

http://ngerumpi.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/julio-cesar.jpg
Ibrahimovic

Yet to shine in a big game in Europe. Now's his chance. Enough with all the talking and start to deliver. It will be a great battle between him and Vidic.
http://bleacherreport.com/images_root/image_pictures/0013/2266/Ibrahimovic.Zlatan.1_article.jpg

Injury updates:

Man Utd: Ferdinand has been given the all clear to play the match, yet to be confirmed by Man Utd. O'Shea limped off with a thigh strain, but is expected to be fit. Link (http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BF9E570E6-407E-44BC-800F-4A3110258114%7D&redirectorid=news_story&newsid=6628552)

Inter: Materazzi and Burdisso both went off injured in their league game on Saturday, Chivu is the latest to be injured, but Samuel is back and expected to start alongside Cordoba. Link (http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/03/09/1146331/inters-samuel-will-return-against-manchester-united-but-chivu-wil)

This is the highlights of the friendly match between Man Utd - Inter, which Inter won 2 - 3.

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Probable XI's for both teams:

Man Utd: VDS, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Park, Carrick, Scholes, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov

Inter Milan: J.Cesar, Maicon, Samuel, Cordoba, Santon, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Muntari, Zanetti, Ibrahimovic, Adriano
My prediction: 0 - 0; Man Utd to win on penalties.

Join in and discuss. :cheers1:

quoted from the other soccer forum with a few edits :D I'd probably add Giggs in there somewhere for starting XI. Is he fit?

Maybe Tevez will get some action too after the other day.

the most balanced match?? right now, united has much more level than inter.

The original poster started this and made edits after certain Inter injuries came to light... e.g. the injury updates section. Just so happens United are getting players back and Inter losing some.

But still I think its going to be a close game. O'shea could gift Ibrahimovic a goal :D I'm going to eat my words for saying that. Bet he scores a goal now haha

Rooney: We'll attack Inter

Before the first leg most United fans would have settled for a draw. Given the way the game panned out, was the team disappointed with a draw?
We were a little, yeah. We had a few chances to win the game and perhaps should have taken them. Had we done that then we’d be in a lot better position. But I still think a draw was a good result. Of course, we’d have preferred a score draw – that’s better than 0-0 – but we’re still in a good position and it gives us a good chance in the second leg. Now we know we’re capable of creating chances against Inter and at Old Trafford we’ll play with more pace and really attack them.

Your involvement was limited to seven minutes in the first leg. You must have been itching to get on when you saw the chances we were making…
Absolutely. Whenever you’re sitting on the bench you want to come on and get involved. I didn’t get too long in Milan but I was impressed with the way the team played without me so I can’t really complain too much!

Were you rested as a precaution or was it a tactical decision to leave you out?
My hamstring feels good but obviously I’d played 90 minutes a few days beforehand. It always pays to be a little bit cautious with a hamstring injury so if I’m honest I probably expected to be on the bench for that game.

Does it mean you’ll be doubly determined to make your mark on the tie at Old Trafford?
Of course. Hopefully I’ll play and by the time that game comes around we’ll have watched the video of the first leg and identified a few weaknesses of theirs that we can exploit. So we’ll set about trying to do that and unsettle them.

In Champions League 08-09 this season(round of 16), every team qualified whom gained possession of match at away(both home can be like Bayern). :D

what an useless stadistic, we always have the possesion in all matches but we are only 2 times europe champions.

So is ESPN 2 showing this game or not? The tv schedule says it's showing it but I keep hearing that it's not gonna be on ESPN 2 but instead on ESPN classic. Anyone know for sure which one is right?

it's anybodys guess at the moment.. I hope it's on ESPN2 as schedule because I have my TiVo set to record.

As for the game itself... Yesterday we had two games ruined by refs mistakes. If this game has any hope of living up to it's potential, we are going to need a top class ref or a ref that will need to be on top of his game.

United are on top form and Inter are slumping at the wrong time, yet Knowing Mourinho, I think he has enough skill to pull it off. It's all going to come down to how good can inters defence play.

So is ESPN 2 showing this game or not? The tv schedule says it's showing it but I keep hearing that it's not gonna be on ESPN 2 but instead on ESPN classic. Anyone know for sure which one is right?

Really? I just checked today's tv schedule for ESPN 2 and they're showing the match live.

Really? I just checked today's tv schedule for ESPN 2 and they're showing the match live.

Well I guess it really is anyone guess at the moment tha as mine says ESPN 2 are showing it too but from what I had heard before it was going to be on ESPN Classic, God I hope it's ESPN 2 as I don't get Classic.

0-1

94' - Ronaldo own goal.

Boy would that be sweet. (H)

although I like ManU and hate Inter, "God in Heaven, Mourinho on Earth" (H)

having said that:

1-1
Rooney 1'
Zlatan 90'

0-1

94' - Ronaldo own goal.
hahaha ... that would be tooo f*cking hilarious!



1-1
Rooney 1'
Zlatan 90'
nice one ... Mourinho running down the touchline again ...

both predictions are very appealing!


Really? I just checked today's tv schedule for ESPN 2 and they're showing the match live.
yup, ESPN2, 100% sure ...

On that Espn thing, it's great to know that such a big network has listened to the Football fans of the U.S.

0-0 PK shootout (doesnt matter to me who wins really)
or
1-0 Inter

Zlatan (H)!!!!!!! I can see the samething Kaka did to Man Utd when he tore them up in OLD TRAFFORD.

Balotelli could also start in place of Adriano in that 4-3-1-2 formation: Zlatan scored and then provided an assist for Balotelli this past weekend, so Mourinho may stick to a combination that has most recently worked ...
so lineups are out, and Mourinho has indeed stuck with Balotelli partnering Zlatan up front, with Adriano staying on the bench ... Vieira gets a spot ahead of Muntari; this may have all too much to do with Vieira's special inspiration reserved just for when he faces Man Yoo ... I'm still not happy with that; Sulley should have started ...

Muntari was terrible in the first leg

Muntari was terrible in the first leg
first half? ye ... worse than Rivas or the invisible Cambiasso or Deki? no ...

and that was 1 game in what has been a very impressive season for him ... he's been a beast against other top teams, so I would have still picked him ... but Mourinho has gone for the experience of a man who hates Man Yoo at his core, which is understandable ...

I would've picked Vieira every time.

Berba pulled up in warm-up with a possible problem with his calf, Tevez was warming up with named 11.

EDIT: Berba starting.

way to go Vieira! f*cking useless ...

Vieira just got owned. damn lol how is the lad? 32?

Good first half! Lots of chances.

United are unlucky to have not gotten a pk for that handball in the box.

much more open game following the goal ... zlatan off the crossbar ... deki then put through brilliantly by zlatan, but he skied it over ... man yoo have had their chances too ... those handball penalty calls would have been harsh, but i've seen them given ... should be an excellent second half ... vieira needs to come off ...

Damn Giggs is having a beast of a game. He's looked like a young Giggs today, sprinting through players.

*edit* damn giggs again he must be on Duracell today :D So fast

*edit* Damn that would of been class if Adriano scored then. Off the post, unlucky... thank god.

it's is too early to say that the winner of this game is clear favourites to win it all??

BAH! ESPN 360 just went down. I can't watch the last half hour of the game, boo!

don't own a tv, unfortunately.

2-0, but the score could have been so different ... 4-1 ... 2-3 ... lots of chances ... the two that went in were headers where the marking was shoddy ... inter only have themselves to ask questions of ... man yoo showed discipline, and were clinical in the air in the box ... that has won the day ...

A few players shined at times especially Giggs he was like a younger version of himself at times bursting with energy flying everywhere and in spite winning I didn't think we played that well. Didn't give it there all anyway, perhaps to save some in the tank for Saturday?

The team did what they needed too and played well all of them. Just seemed a bit lazy towards the end i.e. sitting back, time wasting etc. I just wanted them to score more. O well Smartest move in the greater picture of things.

well, I should give credit to Inter. They played much better than first leg, they had good opportunities which were misssed by Ibrahimovic,stankovic and baloteli. They hit post two times as well. Maicon, Ibra and Zanetti played very well and they barely did any mistake or miss the ball. well they are champions of Italy!!!

we played with more discipline in second half and we had great upportunities as well missed by Oshea and Berba. Rooney had three great shot and ronaldo had some as well. Overall, I think our midfiled players were not as dominant of EPL and first leg. But it was a good win but not easy.

2-0, but the score could have been so different ... 4-1 ... 2-3 ... lots of chances ... the two that went in were headers where the marking was shoddy ... inter only have themselves to ask questions of ... man yoo showed discipline, and were clinical in the air in the box ... that has won the day ...


very good points

very even match...Inter could have potentially netted a couple as well. We've come out on top though which great! Can't wait for Liverpool

As i sad in Man U thread man u won 2-0 ( and should've won more)

Yet again Berbatov was garbage. Frankly Man U need to sell him.

I'm a dumbass huh?

very even match...Inter could have potentially netted a couple as well. We've come out on top though which great! Can't wait for Liverpool

ROFL wasnt even at all Inter had 2 chances those 10000 long shots don't count. Man U had much more chances and couldn't put them in

look at that i was right

I'm a dumbass huh?

yes you are

As i sad in Man U thread man u won 2-0 ( and should've won more)

Yet again Berbatov was garbage. Frankly Man U need to sell him.

I'm a dumbass huh?

Berba's good but not good enough to be first striker choice, I think fergi should give tevez more european and epl chance, whenever he played he was useful. I personaly think rotation will work

ROFL wasnt even at all Inter had 2 chances those 10000 long shots don't count. Man U had much more chances and couldn't put them in

look at that i was right

They hit the bar twice. Although we missed some right sitters too.

yes you are

lool

Berba's good but not good enough to be first striker choice, I think fergi should give tevez more european and epl chance, whenever he played he was useful. I personaly think rotation will work

As i said some times Berbatov needs to be a CF in a support role for rooney and tevez. That's the role Berbatov's fits Perfectly at Man U. He has great ability to hold onto ball and on a good day make great passes as stats show he has most assissts at 9 (don't know if he has more now) and yet Fegie keeps Playing him in wrong position.

Get it Striker Role = poor performance cf = great performance

They hit the bar twice. Although we missed some right sitters too.

so 1st 1 the ibra header wouldve been blocked if it originally was going on target as a defender was right there to block it. 2nd one yah was a little unfortunate. Other than that Inter didn't really have anything other than horrible random longshots

yes you are
dude STFU you are just jealous i predicted EACTLY how the match would go and you still call me a "dumbass" you are just jealous and also pissed cause you're team or should i say 1 of your team's lost. Just face it im smart and you know it. Keep letting the jealousy control you

Wont bother anymore their is absolutely no hope.

Is Julio Cruz injured? If not, why wasn't he there from the start?

Is Julio Cruz injured? If not, why wasn't he there from the start?

no he was on bench he was warmign up with figo but figo came on and Cruz never came on. Frankly Ibrahimovich should've came off for for Cruz.

Frankly Crespo would've been Best choice for this match.

Ibrohimovich proves he is overrated and on a big stage cant perform well.

I would've benched Ibra from start and put Crespo or Cruz.

In Serie A Ibra is Amazing but in Europe on a big stage he is garbage. Especially when you are playing best team in world and fact he played **** in first leg and his history in CL i would've of played Ibra from start.

I kinda agree with the Berbatov issue. But sell him? ur soo biased its not even funny. How can u give someone who signed with another team when infact didn't play the first 4-6 games because he didn't get along with Juande Ramos? Let him get use to the Man Utd tactics and give him atleast one full season before u talk out of ur ass.




BTW why the **** wasn't Tevez starting?

Berbs was useless today. Rooney didn't have such a great game either but at least he was working hard, and coming back to help defend. He is always a hard worker. With Berbs, you could barely remember that he was on the field today. Should've been Tevez.

And has Nani fallen off the face of the Earth?

Too bad for Mourinho...I haven't watched the highlights yet but I guess ManU were just too strong for Inter this season.

Congrats to ManU and their fans, I'm already foaming myself for a potential Barça x ManU QFs (H)

dude STFU you are just jealous i predicted EACTLY how the match would go and you still call me a "dumbass" you are just jealous and also pissed cause you're team or should i say 1 of your team's lost. Just face it im smart and you know it. Keep letting the jealousy control you

Wont bother anymore their is absolutely no hope.

yeah im hell jelous of you :blush:

1 of my teams?

unlike you i only support one team

so 1st 1 the ibra header wouldve been blocked if it originally was going on target as a defender was right there to block it. 2nd one yah was a little unfortunate. Other than that Inter didn't really have anything other than horrible random longshots


dude STFU you are just jealous i predicted EACTLY how the match would go and you still call me a "dumbass" you are just jealous and also pissed cause you're team or should i say 1 of your team's lost. Just face it im smart and you know it. Keep letting the jealousy control you

Wont bother anymore their is absolutely no hope.
The irony is so thick I could drizzle it pancakes.

And before you stroke yourself to the thought of predicting that the defending CL champs would make the quarterfinals...
real madrid will go through
"im" jealous

he was only 6 goals off, give him a break

After the game Mourinho said: "All of Italy will be happy that Inter went out. I don't care, though. I know that I won."

yes because your side is not italian.

After the game Mourinho said: "All of Italy will be happy that Inter went out. I don't care, though. I know that I won.".....

Haha, what the hell????

mourinho is psycho in short
he needs following treatment..the dumbest coach ever in the whole milky way galaxy

Yea, dumb. Hasn't lost a home match since 2002, but he's the "the dumbest coach ever in the whole milky way galaxy".

Yea, dumb. Hasn't lost a home match since 2002, but he's the "the dumbest coach ever in the whole milky way galaxy".
there is a match (H)
FmCNsLAs3bI

i'm 27/m/jamaica, you guys?

44/f/ethiopia

32/m/Kenya

We got lions

18/f/34D-24-34