Man Utd vs Madrid ,,mid week. 2-0 will be enough for us but it'll be harder without scholes and maybe gary. I don't think real are coming here just to defend so we got to avoid a away goal.. what's your predictions?. also,,will veron be fit for this?
If O'Shay is fit, I really don't think we will miss Gary Neville. The loss of Scholes is huge, though. He has been in a great run of form with his scoring and creating. Alex today said Veron should be fit for the match.
My prediction [R] HT: 1-1 (Giggs 11', Raul 42') FT: 3-1 United (van Nistelrooy 51', Solskjaer 88') Scoreless during extra time. Penalty shootout: Roberto Carlos scores! Van Nistelrooy scores! Zidane scores! Giggs scores! Figo scores! Veron scores! Raul scores! Solskjaer scores! Ronaldo shoots, but Barthez dives to his left to save!!!! Beckham vs. Casillas!!! To see replay of shootout, go to http://www.pepsi-football.co.uk/advert.asp . (Yeah, I know, I've posted this link many times in this board, but it *is* my favorite ad so I can't help it )
I watched El Superclassico yesterday. Barcelona did well and played to a 1-1 draw with Real. No injuries for Real to report, but Raul didn't look like the same player from a few weeks back. Ronaldo took his goal well, but he exploited a mistake (a blown offside trap) to do it as he calmly slotted home in a 1 v 1 with the keeper. They did their standard chips and flicks and neat turns and flash, but they seemed to really lack any true creativity when it came to actually creating any real chances to actually score. However, if we are leading 2 - 0 with 10 minutes to go, it's going to be the toughest task in preventing them to score, they are like an air force going on bombing raids. Wave after wave of players coming forward... it's quite impressive. I think we can outscore them, but will it be enough?
I hope United can pull off the upset, but it's hard to believe we can stop Madrid. They really are amazing; it's almost unfair. We'll need some lucky breaks and most likely an early goal to get some momentum. If Madrid scores first, or if we haven't scored by halftime, you can forget about it.
I can see us playing like Liverpool till half-time. Box it in and hope to catch them on a counter once in a while. If we can keep it at 0-0 till then, I would think we'd go for the 2-0 scorelineas as a matter of strategy. I'd prefer to go at them, but we might hold off as I'm sure Madrid are expecting us to go after them immediately and try to exploit us in the same way. 4-5-1 in the first half, 4-4-2 in the second. (we'd switch if we give up a goal at any time I would assume)
Madrid looked vulnerable during the whole last half at the first leg. Their defense was not spectacular and there were at least 5 blown chances (Butt guilty of two that i saw) to score. The important thing is to keep them from controlling the tempo of the game. Raul and Figo are fantastic but they don't bring the ball up, they need Zidane the supply them. If Man Utd. can keep Zidane bridled and keep Roberto Carlos from scoring on set pieces then they have a great shot to win. Madrid is very good in the attack, but they leave themselves vulnerable, especially with Roberto Carlos playing prima donna along his left side.
Have you guys seen Madrid's past two games? A blueprint on how to play them. What Man Utd will have to do is not play scared, attack their defense, and pressure their midfield. Real Sociedad beat Madrid this way and Barça should've beaten Madrid this way (it ended 1-1 but Barça was the better team).
Pressure their midfield. We didn't start doing this until the 80th minute or so in the last leg. Hopefully, Keane will come out inspired this time.
Agree with the 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 formation, 2-0 is the best and most possible result for us. Madrid would assume our focus is on attack so they’ll concentrate on the counters, which are deadly. United scoring 2 goals at old Trafford is very common, especially for Ruud Van Nistelrooy, but we also need that clean sheet from barthez who needs to STAY in hes box this time also, congrat scholes on 100