Expectations Begone! Defence proves vital as Man United and Barca secure away wins

By: Rob | April 1st, 2008

Ronaldo heads in Tonight was the first leg of two Champions League Quater finals, and despite letting the respective home teams come at them, both favourites Man United and Barcelone secure vital away wins.

Roma Vs Manchester United

Man United lined up in a 4-5-1 formation (Van Der Saar, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Brown, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Park, Rooney) which seemed to adapt into a 4-6-0 formation as Rooney kept dropping left, while Roma lined up in a similar line up, albeit Roma’s 451 (Doni, Mexes, Pannucci, Tonnetto, Cassetti, DeRossi, Aquilani, Pizzaro, Taddei, Mancini, Vucinic) always seemed more likely to turn into a 433.

Roma started the more brightly of the two sides, Mancini threatning Ferdinand inside a minute before a poor Vucinic cross let United off the hook. De Rossi, however, who before the game was looked upon by Roma fans to be the hero, looked a bit casual and was twice kicked by Scholes to wake him up. De Rossi did het to play Aquilani in on 8 minutes but Ferdinand cut it out, in what would be familiar territory all night.

Whenever United had the ball they looked content to just try and keep it and wait for thier oppurtunity, unlike their Roman counterparts who pushed forward at every attempt. Vucinic often looked dangerous in the first half, sometimes dropping into (the missing) Totti-esque positions. He scooped one over the crossbar in the first half, and set up Mancini, who’s shot was deflected wide.

That led to a corner fed into Christian Pannucci, who put it over (genuinely didn’t know he could actually miss from headed corners..) In what would prove a feature of the game, Cassetti put in a good low first time cross but the only players in the six yard box were united shirts. It seemed without Totti, no-one was willing to chance on the ball.

Vidic came off early (28 Minutes) after a freak jumping accident did for his knee, O’Shea came on to replace him. Man United’s much touted Ronaldo, was kicked out of the game early on by the Roma defence, forcing him to drop deeper and deeper. He constantly looked upset with the ref.

However, his dropping deep proved vital for the opening goal. A wonderful drop of the shouder from Rooney put him position to put in an overhit cross to Scholes, who patiently held the ball and delivered a hanging cross which Ronaldo ran 20-25 yards to get on the end of, he rose beautifully and put it in the oppositte corner to where Doni was stood. One-Nil a little against the run of play for United.

Two minutes later a great bit of control from Vucinic nearly put him in, but his shot trickled past the far post. The referee, who so controversially sent of Marco Mattarazzi last time he reffed and English-Italian CL tie, had very little to do, and only got his cards out twice - both at the end of the first half, for Anderson (who had a rubbish game) and Pizzaro for a nothing off-the-ball challenge on Ronaldo.

In the second half, Roma looked energised. Roma manager Spalletti is often critisised for not firing up his players, but whatever he said at half time worked, because Roma came out all guns blazing. De Rossi looked a different player - the De Rossi we know he can be as he charged into the Man United box only to bought down (fairly according to the ref) by Scholes.

A minute later, Vucinic, who was at the heart of whatever Roma did right up front put Tonetto of all people in, but he blasted his shot wide. This was the best attacking period for Roma, and Vucinic throw led to a Mancini header and Pannucci missed a sitter from six yards.

A corner also gave Vucinic a flicked header at goal which produced the best save of the match from Van Der Saar.
After this attacking ten minutes from Roma, Man United took off Anderson and bought on Hargreaves, who moved to Right Wing to allow Ronaldo to go up front and United to go to 4-4-2. It proved a masterstroke.

An attacking cross to Park of all people, was nodded back across goal, and Doni couldn’t quite grab it, leaving Rooney to tap in completely against the run of play. Mexes had his head in his hands, but tried to fire up the troops again.

Roma however looked completely deflated by the second United goal, Ronaldo hit the post soon after after a good Doni save. A couple of late missed chances from United aside and the game was over.

Roma have alot to do now, to go to Old Trafford and produce - at least - a 2-0 win is going to be a huge, huge ask.

Schalke Vs Barcelona

Meanwhile, in the other QF, Schalke took awhile to get out of the blocks, and after showing Barca a bit too much space, found themselves one-nil down after 11 minutes.

A great move started by Bojan (in for the is-he isn’t-he inured Ronaldinho) found Thierry Henry bearing down on the goalkeepers near post. Despite a poor first shot that just hit the goalkeeper, he had the wherewithall to pass the ball across the goal and give Bojan an easy tap in.

After that Barca looked happy to sit back on thier away goal, but Schalke’s first half crosses were poor. The only one that found its target let to a questionable penalty shout as Kuranyi seemed to pushed away from the ball.

IN the second period Schalke threw everything at the Catalan club. Kuranyi had a good chance from distance, while Asamoah failed to turn in another long shot. Another chance for Schalke as they tried to lift it over Valdes, but it trickled past the post.

So both Barca and United look strong to meet each other in, for the neutral at least must be a dream semi-final.