Paul Scholes eliminates Barcelona

Manchester United - Barcelona

Highlights: Manchester United 1 – 0 Barcelona

Manchester United 1-0 Barcelona Full Time
Because of technical problems the live coverage could not be completed. I apologize for the inconvenience. Highlights are coming up.

67′ Yaya Toure shoots wide.
64′ Deco shoots again an obtains a corner kick after a deflection.
63′ Yellow Card: Michael Carrick is booked.
60′ Barcelona Substitution: Andres Iniesta is replaced by Thierry Henry.
60′ Nani has a superb run, dribbles and sends a shot way over the crossbar.
59′ Barcelona has a corner kick.
59′ Deco tries to score again and is blocked.
57′ Carlos Tevez shoots and Valdes bounces the ball.
56′ Lionel Messi misses the target.
54′ Yellow Card: Deco is booked by the referee.
53′ Nani sends another corner kick.
52′ Yellow Card: Gianluca Zambrotta is booked by the referee.
51′ Nani delivers from the corner kick, no change on the scoreboard.
48′ Xavi delivers a corner kick cross.
46′ The second half has started.

45′+1′ The referee blows for half time.
45′+1′ Eric Abidal’s shot is blocked by Hargreaves.
45′ Ball Possession: Man Utd 43%, Barca 57%.
45′ Iniesta tries to score and is blocked by the defense.
44′ Xavi sends a free kick cross and Milito misses the header from a great position.
41′ Nani misses the goal.
38′ Edwin van der Sar needs the medical staff.
36′ Deco shoots just wide after a superb Catalan attack.
31′ Nani crosses from a corner kick and Valdes clears.
30′ Carlos Puyol needs the medical staff.
25′ Ball Possession: Man Utd 45%, Barcelona 55%.
24′ Michael Carrick crosses and Brown sends a header wide.
24′ Nani delivers a corner kick.
21′ Cristiano Ronaldo sends a low pass and Park slides a ball inches away from the left post.
20′ Lionel Messi shows some great skills, dribbles and sends a dangerous shot bounced by Van der Sar.
17′ Nani sends a free kick cross and Carrick is caught offside.
14′ GOOOOOOAL!!! 1 – 0 Paul Scholes sends a long range volley shot spinning below the crossbar. No chance for Valdes.
11′ Eric Abidal delivers for Barca, ball cleared.
10′ Samuel Eto´o tries to score but the defense blocks his shot.
10′ Carlos Tevez is caught offside.
7′ Samuel Eto´o delivers and Carrick clears the danger.
6′ Superb match here at the Old Trafford, both teams are playing at the maximum level.
5′ Eric Abidal commits a foul on Nani.
3′ Patrice Evra commits a foul.
2′ Messi shoots from the set piece but the ball hits the wall.
2′ Lionel Messi has a superb run and Scholes fould him at the edge of the penalty box.
1′ Manchester United have the first touch of the game.
1′ The referee starts the game.

Time for the serious business in the Champions League. Tonight the UCL schedules the second leg match of the semi-final clash between Manchester United and Barcelona. If last week’s first leg was a little boring I am sure that tonight, the two squads won’t allow themselves a similar outcome. This is guaranteed by the fact that tonight we will know which side is out and which got the tickets for the final.

You should imagine that such an important clash couldn’t be missed here at the FC Football Blog. The live coverage will start at once with the kick-off. Join my extended live text commentary, watch the live highlights and why not use the live streams provided below for live videos from the Old Trafford. Of course, all this for free.

Manchester United vs Barcelona Live Streams
Sopcast: ESPN True, ESPN Sports, NED 3, Live Sport TV, Sky Sports, Alfa TV, Boudir TV.
TVants: Channel 2, NET Hellas, Channel 6, SHTV.
PPMate: SIPTV , Guandong, BTV 6.
TVU Player: Danish Delight, Adthe 5, SHTV.
Media Player: Soccerstream, MySports 3, AGFC MUFC, Cox TV, MilleniumNetTV.

Man Utd are the team that has to cope with the pressure. Alex Ferguson’s side is reaching the maximum pressure levels towards the end of the season. This is not that good as the tired players need to fight for the Premier League title and also for the Champions League, both trophies being very much in reach but still far away.

Barcelona should have no stress at all. The supporters have already accepted their disastrous season. Their miserable run in the La Liga as well as the poor shape of some players, make the Catalans the outsiders of the night. Frank Rijkard is aware that he has no chance of remaining one more year in Catalonia. A success in the Champions League might only make fans regret him a little.

Manchester United vs Barcelona Preview
Competition: UEFA Champions League
Stage: Semi-Finals, 2nd Leg
Date: 29.04.2008
Stadium: Old Trafford
Kick-off: 20:45 CET
Referee: Herbert Fandel
Live Coverage: Man Utd vs Barca

Manchester United vs Barcelona Betting Tips and Odds
The Red Devils are considered favorites for this second leg match and as a result, favorites for qualifying for the Moscow Champions League final. The Catalan side seems to play without any horizon in this last part of the season. Although, Thierry Henry is familiar with the Old Trafford, I am not even sure if he will start in the first 11. Lionel Messi could be Barca’s only hope, let’s see if Frank Rijkard will let him play this time. On the other side Vidic and Rooney might miss the game. Still I think that United have all the resources needed to eliminate Barcelona.

Manchester United vs Barcelona Line-ups
The probable starting line-ups for tonight’s highest level clash between the Red Devils and the Catalans are:
Manchester United
1 E. van der Sar
4 O. Hargreaves
5 R. Ferdinand
6 W. Brown
3 P. Evra
17 Nani
16 M. Carrick
18 P. Scholes
13 J. Park
7 C. Ronaldo
32 C. Tevez

Barcelona
1 V. Valdes
11 G. Zambrotta
5 C. Puyol
3 G. Milito
22 E. Abidal
6 X. Hernandez
24 Y. Toure
20 Deco
19 L. Messi
9 S. Eto´o
8 A. Iniesta