LIVERPOOL - CHELSEY
The essence of the confrontation
Both teams will surely immediately begin to carefully and carefully grope weak gears in someone else's mechanism. Aesthetes, perhaps, should not injure themselves with such a spectacle - scoring rains and breathtaking combination squalls by the creators of these machines were not considered as their main purpose. Therefore, “Liverpool” and “Chelsea”, most likely, habitually cost two or three goals for two.
A thorough knowledge of the tactical tricks and features of the opponent is unlikely to bring someone big dividends. In such cases, the outcome of the confrontation, as a rule, is decided in the context of a specific day, hour and episode, directly on the lawn.
DUEL
One of the two commanders, Rafael Benitez or Jose Mourinho, must block another Athenian direction, on the horizon of which the Champions Cup glitters attractively. For three seasons, legionnaire commanders have been studying each other through internal English campaigns. Moreover, the Benitez Cup is more successful than the Benitez Championship. And the main victories of Mourinho, on the contrary, are so far on the long-playing series of the Premier League.
And it is also worth highlighting the confrontation between Stephen Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who, as in the England team, will interfere with one another making the game.
PAST
Two years ago, in a victory for the “red" Champions League draw, the teams also faced in the semifinals. According to the results of two hopelessly gray matches, the Liverpool hard workers managed to teach the capital a little lesson - after a London goalless draw, Luis Garcia almost miraculously forced the ball to cross the line of other people's goal on Anfield.
Subtext
Chelsea climbed the European semi-final for the third time in the last four seasons. Before the realization of the “blue” dream of Roman Abramovich, the team was left with the last climb, which, as you know, is the most difficult. But this time, even a dry theory of probability is on the side of Mourinho and his guys.
Winning the league in 2005 spurted Liverpool to the level of the best clubs on the continent. Almost 700 days after that takeoff, the lost Rafa and his team urgently need a new springboard.
BET
Champions League Chances (William Hill):
Liverpool - 4
Chelsea - 3
MILAN - MANCHESTER UNITED
The essence of the confrontation
Both English and Italian “devils” are highly dependent on the game of midfield lines. It is the center of the field that promises to become the theater of the main actions in the matches of this couple. At this stage, the fortress of defensive orders is also extremely important. And in this component, some advantage is on the side of the Milanese.
“Manchester United”, as if summoning old Hottabych into allies, showered a quarter-final rival (also Italian) with a hail of goals. It is curious to find out if there is anything left in the English bins for Milan.
“Red-blacks" have already created almost the main sensation of the tournament, breaking into the semifinals with a terrible shortage of forwards. And after that, the recent flaw of the team Carlo Ancelotti went into the category of its merits.
DUEL
Among the many confrontations, we highlight the possibility of visually comparing the best scorer of the Kaka draw with the best wings of the tournament - Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs. Everyone did a good job promoting their clubs: the Brazilian scored 9 (7 + 2) points in the “goal plus pass” system, and the Mancunians scored 7 (2 + 5).
Kaka is already used to fighting the superior forces of the opponent alone. Tough Bavarians were able to push him to the flank, but this did not help. Alex Ferguson will have to come up with his own solution to the same problem.
PAST
In the 2005 playoffs, the teams met at the 1/8 final stage. Then the reliable defense of the Milanese and the minor mistakes of Manchester allowed the “Rossero-Neri” to twice celebrate the victory with a score of 1: 0. Then, “Milan” managed to get to the main match of the tournament and was not enough to win it.
Subtext
The Italian club has a whole alignment of historical analogies in order to count on at least the finals. An important condition for this has been fulfilled - Bayern have been beaten. After all, it was this German club that the Milanese most often left behind when they rushed to the triumphs in European cups in full steam. But will that be enough now?
“MU” in this draw has already stunned one team from the Apennine Peninsula. Moreover, “Roma” is in the standings of Serie A above “Milan” and shows football in higher quality. What will Ancelotti learn from the mistakes of others?
BET
Champions League Chances (William Hill):
Milan - 5
Manchester United - 3
Stanislav POPOVICH