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CL Preview: Manchester United - Inter
Club games don't come much bigger than this one: the reigning English, European and World champions against the side bidding for a fourth straight Serie A title in Italy, managed by a character who, at Porto and Chelsea, usually got the better of Sir Alex Ferguson. To add to the tension and fascination, the tie is perfectly poised at 0-0 after the first leg.
Mar 10, 2009 2:27:09 PM
Kick-Off: Wednesday, 11th March 19:45 GMT
Old Trafford, Manchester
Decision Time
In the hunt for an unprecedented five-trophy haul, and with a squad the envy of Europe, it seems that Sir Alex Ferguson has the easiest job in football.
Carlos Tevez’s show-stealing act at Fulham on Saturday has given him a headache as he puts together a team fit to knock Serie A supremos Inter out of the Champions League.
The Argentine whirlwind was magnificent against the Cottagers. His brace helped United to a 4-0 win which put them through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Tevez’s sublime 25-yard strike and his excellent link up play with Wayne Rooney gave Fergie a timely reminder of his talents.
All this came while World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo was back in Manchester and £30.75 million record signing Dimitar Berbatov was collecting dust on the substitutes' bench.
Ferguson is expected to promote the Bulgarian back to his usual starting role on Wednesday as he is the Red Devils' top scorer in Europe this season.
The fact that the Scottish manager has a decision to make between the pair shows the fearsome strength in depth available to him.
United need to win this game as nothing else will do after the 0-0 draw in Italy. But with players of Carlito’s quality sitting out the match, it would take a brave man to bet against the Mancunians progressing.
Walk The Line
Inter are bringing no defenders and no home goal with them to Manchester, but with Jose Mourinho in their dug-out they still stand every chance of knocking out the European champions.
The last time the charismatic Portuguese visited Old Trafford in the Champions League, he famously sprinted along the touchline as his Porto team snatched the last-minute goal which sent them to Champions League glory and Mourinho into superstardom.
Inter approach this do-or-die second round clash bang in form after a commanding 2-0 win at Genoa on Saturday. Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the prodigal Mario Balotelli handed the Milanese side the points, in the process handing a first home defeat of the season to the Rossoblu.
For the Nerazzurri to progress on Wednesday night they won’t even need to inflict a first Old Trafford reversal of the campaign on their hosts. After Manchester United drew a blank at the San Siro, a score-draw will do.
It won’t be easy to hold back the flying Red Devils' attack with just a threadbare defensive unit after an injury crisis struck.
If the returning Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba can cover for their team-mates though, Mourinho might just be making the trip down the Old Trafford touchline once again.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
7th March vs. Fulham (A) won 4-0 (FA CUP)
4th March vs. Newcastle United (A) won 2-1 (PREM)
1st March vs. Tottenham Hotspur (N) 0-0 (FT) (W) 4-1 on pen (CARLING LEAGUE CUP)
24th February vs. Internazionale (A) drew 0-0 (CHAMP LG)
21st February vs. Blackburn Rovers (H) won 2-1 (PREM)
Inter:
7th March vs. Genoa (A) won 2-0 (SERIE A)
4th March vs. Sampdoria (A) lost 3-0 (COPPA ITALIA)
1st March vs. Roma (H) drew 3-3 (SERIE A)
24th February vs. Manchester United (H) drew 0-0 (CHAMP LG)
21st February vs. Bologna (A) won 2-1 (SERIE A)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
The injury cloud hanging over John O’Shea (heel) and Rio Ferdinand (ankle) has cleared in time for kick-off.
Right-backs Wes Brown (metatarsal), Rafael (ankle) and Gary Neville (illness) are still out, whilst Owen Hargreaves (knee) continues his lengthy rehabilitation program from season-ending surgery.
Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Van der Sar, O'Shea (Eckersley 52), Ferdinand (Evans 46), Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Rooney (Welbeck 64), Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Berbatov, Giggs, Scholes.
Squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Eckersley, Fabio, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Park, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck.
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney.
Inter:
Jose Mourinho comes to Old Trafford with a serious hole in his options at center-half as Marco Materazzi (thigh), Nicolas Burdisso (knee) and Christian Chivu (groin) remain at home in Italy, and some doubts persist over Walter Samuel’s (calf) participation.
Last starting XI (vs. Genoa): Julio Cesar, Maicon, Burdisso (Muntari 31), Materazzi (Cordoba 16), Santon, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Figo (Mancini 72), 8 Ibrahimovic, 45 Balotelli.
Subs not used: Toldo, Adriano, Jimenez, Crespo.
Squad: Toldo, Cesar, Orlandoni, Cordoba, Maxwell, Rivas, Maicon, Samuel, Santon, Zanetti, Stankovic, Figo, Muntari, Jimenez, Vieira, Cambiasso, Bolzoni, Mancini, Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Balotelli, Adriano.
Possible starting XI: Cesar, Maicon, Santon, Cordoba, Samuel, Stankovic, Muntari, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Balotelli, Ibrahimovic.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United: As the Red Devils push for victory, Nemanja Vidic’s presence will be vital if they aren’t to concede a goal on the counterattack. The center-back played a prominent role in keeping out Fulham last Saturday. If the obstinate Serb fills the gaps in the United defence once again, they should have too much for their Italian rivals.
Inter: Mario Balotelli may be more enfant terrible than prodigal son, but when he’s on form he’s a potent weapon in the Inter attack. His sharp finish from a tight angle on Saturday showcased the positive aspects of his game. A repeat performance from the Ghanaian Italian will validate Jose Mourinho’s faith in his wayward youngster.
PREDICTION
This game is almost impossible to call as Sir Alex Ferguson’s cavalier attack faces Jose Mourinho’s immovable defense.
United certainly had the better of the first leg, and if they can build on this then they should progress. There’s no better man to stagnate a game than the Portuguese, though.
The Red Devils’ class will show through in the end, but expect them to work hard for their victory.
Manchester United 1-0 Inter
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
Old Trafford, Manchester
Decision Time
In the hunt for an unprecedented five-trophy haul, and with a squad the envy of Europe, it seems that Sir Alex Ferguson has the easiest job in football.
Carlos Tevez’s show-stealing act at Fulham on Saturday has given him a headache as he puts together a team fit to knock Serie A supremos Inter out of the Champions League.
The Argentine whirlwind was magnificent against the Cottagers. His brace helped United to a 4-0 win which put them through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Tevez’s sublime 25-yard strike and his excellent link up play with Wayne Rooney gave Fergie a timely reminder of his talents.
All this came while World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo was back in Manchester and £30.75 million record signing Dimitar Berbatov was collecting dust on the substitutes' bench.
Ferguson is expected to promote the Bulgarian back to his usual starting role on Wednesday as he is the Red Devils' top scorer in Europe this season.
The fact that the Scottish manager has a decision to make between the pair shows the fearsome strength in depth available to him.
United need to win this game as nothing else will do after the 0-0 draw in Italy. But with players of Carlito’s quality sitting out the match, it would take a brave man to bet against the Mancunians progressing.
Walk The Line
Inter are bringing no defenders and no home goal with them to Manchester, but with Jose Mourinho in their dug-out they still stand every chance of knocking out the European champions.
The last time the charismatic Portuguese visited Old Trafford in the Champions League, he famously sprinted along the touchline as his Porto team snatched the last-minute goal which sent them to Champions League glory and Mourinho into superstardom.
Inter approach this do-or-die second round clash bang in form after a commanding 2-0 win at Genoa on Saturday. Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the prodigal Mario Balotelli handed the Milanese side the points, in the process handing a first home defeat of the season to the Rossoblu.
For the Nerazzurri to progress on Wednesday night they won’t even need to inflict a first Old Trafford reversal of the campaign on their hosts. After Manchester United drew a blank at the San Siro, a score-draw will do.
It won’t be easy to hold back the flying Red Devils' attack with just a threadbare defensive unit after an injury crisis struck.
If the returning Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba can cover for their team-mates though, Mourinho might just be making the trip down the Old Trafford touchline once again.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
7th March vs. Fulham (A) won 4-0 (FA CUP)
4th March vs. Newcastle United (A) won 2-1 (PREM)
1st March vs. Tottenham Hotspur (N) 0-0 (FT) (W) 4-1 on pen (CARLING LEAGUE CUP)
24th February vs. Internazionale (A) drew 0-0 (CHAMP LG)
21st February vs. Blackburn Rovers (H) won 2-1 (PREM)
Inter:
7th March vs. Genoa (A) won 2-0 (SERIE A)
4th March vs. Sampdoria (A) lost 3-0 (COPPA ITALIA)
1st March vs. Roma (H) drew 3-3 (SERIE A)
24th February vs. Manchester United (H) drew 0-0 (CHAMP LG)
21st February vs. Bologna (A) won 2-1 (SERIE A)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
The injury cloud hanging over John O’Shea (heel) and Rio Ferdinand (ankle) has cleared in time for kick-off.
Right-backs Wes Brown (metatarsal), Rafael (ankle) and Gary Neville (illness) are still out, whilst Owen Hargreaves (knee) continues his lengthy rehabilitation program from season-ending surgery.
Last starting XI (vs. Fulham): Van der Sar, O'Shea (Eckersley 52), Ferdinand (Evans 46), Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Rooney (Welbeck 64), Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Berbatov, Giggs, Scholes.
Squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Eckersley, Fabio, Ronaldo, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Park, Berbatov, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck.
Possible starting XI: Van der Sar, O’Shea, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney.
Inter:
Jose Mourinho comes to Old Trafford with a serious hole in his options at center-half as Marco Materazzi (thigh), Nicolas Burdisso (knee) and Christian Chivu (groin) remain at home in Italy, and some doubts persist over Walter Samuel’s (calf) participation.
Last starting XI (vs. Genoa): Julio Cesar, Maicon, Burdisso (Muntari 31), Materazzi (Cordoba 16), Santon, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic, Figo (Mancini 72), 8 Ibrahimovic, 45 Balotelli.
Subs not used: Toldo, Adriano, Jimenez, Crespo.
Squad: Toldo, Cesar, Orlandoni, Cordoba, Maxwell, Rivas, Maicon, Samuel, Santon, Zanetti, Stankovic, Figo, Muntari, Jimenez, Vieira, Cambiasso, Bolzoni, Mancini, Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Balotelli, Adriano.
Possible starting XI: Cesar, Maicon, Santon, Cordoba, Samuel, Stankovic, Muntari, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Balotelli, Ibrahimovic.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United: As the Red Devils push for victory, Nemanja Vidic’s presence will be vital if they aren’t to concede a goal on the counterattack. The center-back played a prominent role in keeping out Fulham last Saturday. If the obstinate Serb fills the gaps in the United defence once again, they should have too much for their Italian rivals.
Inter: Mario Balotelli may be more enfant terrible than prodigal son, but when he’s on form he’s a potent weapon in the Inter attack. His sharp finish from a tight angle on Saturday showcased the positive aspects of his game. A repeat performance from the Ghanaian Italian will validate Jose Mourinho’s faith in his wayward youngster.
PREDICTION
This game is almost impossible to call as Sir Alex Ferguson’s cavalier attack faces Jose Mourinho’s immovable defense.
United certainly had the better of the first leg, and if they can build on this then they should progress. There’s no better man to stagnate a game than the Portuguese, though.
The Red Devils’ class will show through in the end, but expect them to work hard for their victory.
Manchester United 1-0 Inter
Matt Monaghan, Goal.com
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