Away goals are always crucial in European football and Manchester United will be facing this threat when they host Marseille at Old Trafford this evening. One goal by their visitors could change the complexion of the game and Marseille have the pace and power to produce an effective counterattacking game.
That said United are still firm favourites, they have an amazing record at Old Trafford in European competition. United are unbeaten in their last 11 matches in the knockout stages at home, winning ten.
And for United a goalless draw away from home in the first leg - as dangerous as it is - has become a tried and tested formula. In 2008 the Red Devils drew 0-0 away to Barcelona in the semi-finals and in 2009 did the same against Inter Milan in the quarterfinals. In both instances United got the job done in Manchester.
Maybe the biggest headache for Sir Alex Ferguson tonight will be who he picks in his first eleven.
With Nani in the squad and Antonio Valencia available again Ferguson has a selection dilemma especially after the energetic performances of the Da Silva twins in United’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Arsenal on Saturday. Upfront Ferguson has to decide whether the unpredictable Dimitar Berbatov plays or if Wayne Rooney assumes his big game lone ranger role.
What Rooney alone upfront offers is someone who will be willing to continually and forcefully engage Marseille’s central defence which, though committed, lacks pace and can be indecisive.
United’s vastly superior experience in possession of the ball will be key as well. United are not flashy on the ball, but on European nights they know exactly what to do with it. This is the biggest difference between the cream in Europe and the rest. Reckless possession of the ball is sorely punished; so treat the ball as a friend.
This is something Ferguson’s team has learnt and adopted over the past three seasons. Marseille on the other hand are still loose in possession. Stephane Mbia, who is usually the holding player in a midfield three, for example is often too expansive on the ball while the general ball movement of Marseille’s midfield can be too slow or too rushed.
History also favours United who have never lost to French opposition at Old Trafford.
But they did suffer a French horror in 1998 when Monaco earned a shock 1-1 draw at Old Trafford after a goalless draw in the first leg, knocking United out at the quarterfinal stage.
Can Marseille emulate Monaco? Highly unlikely – United should be way too good for Marseille.
In Munich Bayern’s 1-0 lead over Inter Milan is a delicate one. Over the past two years Bayern have shown they are generally inclined to attack and this could suit Inter Milan – a team that struggles to create on the front foot but still has the weapons to hurt sides on the counterattack.
The deadliest of these weapons is Samuel Eto’o who is undoubtedly the most destructive striker in world football. If Bayern play an open game they risk leaving Eto’o room to attack their defence with his brutal pace and power.
Indeed tonight’s match probably rests solely on the area of the game – will Bayern’s midfield sufficiently control the tempo of the game and so limit Inter's transition game or will Samuel Eto’o run riot against the German side’s slow central defence.
If Bayern score first though it will be game over especially with their hot-knife-through-butter man Arjen Robben. Along with Lionel Messi and Eto’o, Robben is the most devastating player from open play, and Inter won’t want to chase the game with him around.
Having won away in Milan and now playing in front of their enthusiastic home crowd Bayern should progress to the next round. They should…
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