Its a Manutd Chelsea final

Didier Drogba fired Chelsea into their maiden Champions League finals as they saw off the challenge from Liverpool in extra time. It was a tense encounter which saw Chelsea coming out on top. The pre-match talk had been dominated by Rafa who said Drogba was a diver and striker returning the complement saying he had great regard for Rafa till he said those words.

And on the pitch Chelsea started brightly with Reina called into action early. Torres had a good chance but it was saved by Cech. Chelsea were trying to impose themselves into the game with some neat football. Liverpool suffered a blow when Skrtel had to be replaced by Hyppia. And after that Drogba had a great chance were his shot across the post was inches wide. And Chelsea got their goal when Reina saved a Kalou shot and the rebound was smashed in by Drogba who celebrated it by diving right across the Liverpool bench. It was a controversial goal as Kalou was offside when he got the ball.

In the second half Chelsea were sitting back and allowed Liverpool to make all the play. It was not a good tactic against a team that had players like Torres and Gerrard. And Liverpool didn't disappoint them, Torres finished off a ball from Bennayoun and the away goal of Chelsea had been cancelled out. Chelsea then were searching for some spark to get things going and Essien had a good chance but he hit the side net. And as the teams pressed for the winner time ran out and the match went to extra time.

Chelsea were bright in ET1 and Essien scored after the ball from a corner was cleared but it was ruled offside, another dubious call as the strike was made from outside the box and the Chelsea players in offside position had no intentions of playing the ball. And right away Ballack was fouled in the box to give Chelsea a penalty which Lampard dispatched. While the Blues were celebrating Torres was subbed for Babel. And Drogba sealed the match with another cool finish and it was 3-1 at the end of ET1 and in the closing stages of the second Babel scored who make the scoreline look better.

Its going to a fight between Manchester United and Chelsea in both Premier League and Champions League!!!!!!


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1-0 Drogba
1-1 Torres
2-1 Lampard(pen)
3-1 Drogba
3-2 Babel
Essien - Disallowed goal

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Scholes screamer sends United into the Finals

It was a night to remember for the Red Devils fans as Manchester United beat Barcelona 1-0 courtesy a scorcher from Scholesy and entered the Champions League finals for the third time in history. And this feat fittingly comes in the 50th anniversary of Munich Disaster and it will be more poetic if United go on and convert their third final also into a European Cup win. The crowd was roaring throughout the match and their joy lasted even after the match and even few fans invading the pitch to show their joy. United now await a Premier League opposition in an "All English" finals.

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1-0 Scholes

Highlights
First Half
Second Half

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Real edge closer to the title

Real Madrid edged closer to title with a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilboa at the Bernebeu. Saviola, Robben and Higuain scored for the Whites and Casillas saved a penalty. Real are now 10 points clear of second placed Villareal and lead Barcelona by 14 points.

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1-0 Saviola


2-0 Robben


3-0 Higuain


Penalty Save - Casillas

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United pay the penalty

Manchester United lost to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to hot up the title race which seems to go till the last day. United started without Ronaldo, Scholes and Evra while Chelsea did not have Lampard. Vidic suffered a blow and had to be subbed. Chelsea were better throughout the first half and Ballack headed them into the lead just at the stroke of halftime. In the second half Chelsea took the gas off the pedal and Rooney fired United back into the game latching on to a mistake from Cavarhlo and shot past Cech. Ronaldo came on for Rooney. Chelsea were pressing for a goal and the got a controversial penalty which Ballack dispatched. United also tried after that with Cole and Shevchenko clearing from the goal line to deny United.

Chelsea now are on level with United and the race is surely to go till the very end.

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1-0 Ballack

1-1 Rooney

2-1 Ballack(pen)

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United earn a draw at Nou Camp

Manchester United took on Barcelona at the Nou Camp and were hoping for a display that would put them in drivers seat to qualify for the finals. But it was not the typical attacking style from United but they sat back and defended with purpose and warded off the attacking threats of Barca to earn a 0-0 draw. Things could have been better had Ronaldo converted the penalty he got in the 3rd minute.

United had Brown at central defence due to Vidic's injury while Rooney was partnering Tevez upfront. Barca had Messi back in their side and were looking to put up a good show that could erase their La Liga failure this season. And they received a setback when United were given a penalty in the 3rd min. Ronaldo earned it and he hit that one wide much to the delight of Catalan fans. After that it was all Barca with their passing being precise and they had plenty of possession. United were starved for the ball but when they got it, they gave it away far too easily something you don't associated with United. Messi, Deco, Eto'o were queuing up in front of goal but their threat was only upto the 18 yard box and keeper was not called into action. United looked to play on the counter and Ronaldo was playing as the most further player up the field. He was denied another penalty when he was fouled by Marquez in the box. That would have been given as a foul had it been anywhere on the pitch other than the penalty box. Barca were pressing hard and the defenders held fort for United.

Second half also had the similar pattern of play and early on into the second half Eto'o capitalising on some poor defending by Brown stormed into the box and was chased by Ferdinand who tripped him but Eto'o was true to himself and dint go to ground as he thought he had a chance and he pulled the ball for Iniesta but then the defenders had closed down the danger. It was a critical moment as had Eto'o gone down it was surely going to be a penalty. And Barca pressed and had some shots on target while Carrick hit the side netting from close range. Messi was replaced by the young Bojan at the hour mark.

Barca were unable to create any clear cut chances and the United defenders closed down the spaces very well. Barca had nearly 67% possession throughout the match. Evra was very good throughout and there was a shout for penalty for his foul on Iniesta but it wasn't given. Time was running out and Henry came on for Barca while Nani and Giggs came on for Rooney and Tevez. Henry had a couple of shots on goal that worked Van Der Sar but the deadlock was not broken and the match ended in a stalemate.

It would have been a totally different game had Ronaldo scored the penalty but nevertheless it was a result that made Sir Alex happy and Manutd would be confident going into the second leg at Old Trafford knowing that a win would take them to Moscow.

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Ronaldo - Missed penalty

Short highlights

Full highlights

First Half

Second Half

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Advantage Chelsea as Liverpool mess it up

Liverpool let it go from their grasp and now face an uphill task at Stamford bridge. The Reds must score away to stand any chance of progressing to the finals. It was looking like another successful day in the office for Rafa in Champions League till the last few seconds.

The Blues took on the Reds at Anfield and had Lampard back in their lineup. Ferreira started in the right back position while Drogba was leading the attack which had Malouda and Cole on the wings. Liverpool started with a more settled team and Carragher partnered Skrtel in the central defence. Chelsea started off brightly in the opening few minutes and had more intensity in their play. Liverpool took time to settle and were under pressure from Chelsea. Liverpool then found their rhythm and started to move the ball better, Cole had an half chance while Kuyt could not control Alonso's ball to the box which was cleared. There were not many openings on either ends.

Gerrard was involved in a slick play with Torres and put the Spanish star through on goal but Cech saved the shot well. It was the first real chance of the game. Kuyt was lively and showed more desire and his hard work was rewarded when he dispossessed Lampard and he got into the box and shot past Cech to give Liverpool the lead just at the stroke of half time. It was a mistake from Lampard that cost Chelsea the goal and they needed to come out attacking in the second half.

In the second half Chelsea were more urgent but Liverpool were controlling the game with the lead on their side and Ferreira was having a horrible time against Babel whose runs were creating all sorts of problems for the Chelsea defence. Chelsea had a reprieve when Ballack appeared to have handled the ball in the box. And on 60minutes Aurelio was injured and replaced by Risse. Chelsea were pressing for the elusive away goal while Liverpool looked for the second that would give them a huge advantage going into the second leg. Lampard had a chance but Carragher's timely intervention denied him. Kalou and Anelka came on for Chelsea while Benayoun replaced Babel. Time was running out for Chelsea and in the injury time Cech again stopped a shot from Torres. And in the final minute Kalou crossed the ball into the box and Risse who was under pressure from Anelka headed the ball into his own net trying to clear it, the whole of Anfield went quiet but for the travelling fans.

Chelsea take a huge advantage going into the second leg. And Liverpool will feel unlucky as they played a good match. Rafa has a task on his hands considering the matches between these teams don't produce lots of goals. Advantage Chelsea.......

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1-0 Kuyt

1-1 Risse(Own Goal)

Torres one on one

First half Highlights

Second half Highlights

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Title favourites

Manchester United and Real Madrid took a step closer towards retaining their titles. Tevez scored a crucial late equaliser at Ewood park to keep the champions 3 points adrift of Chelsea prior to their clash at Stamford Bridge this weekend. Real Madrid continued their march beating Europe chasing Racing Santander. Captain Raul scored his 17th league goal of the season while Higuain sealed the win in stoppage time. Realmadrid now lead second placed Villarreal by 10 points and Barcelona are in third spot 11 points behind The Whites. Real have one hand on the trophy and could win the title the coming week.


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BLACKBURN ROVERS - MANCHESTER UNITED


1-0 Santa Cruz


1-1 Tevez

Highlights


RACING SANTANDER - REAL MADRID

0-1 Raul

0-2 Higuain

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