Barcelona vs Manchester United Champions League: Preview and Live Score

If you want to get the live score and updates of Champions league final 2009 between Barcelona and Manchester United, then visit the following link:

Barcelona vs Manchester United UEFA Champions League 2009 Final Live Updates

If you are interested to know the live score and updates of Chelsea vs Liverpool second leg semi final match of Champions League, then visit the following link:

Chelsea vs Liverpool: Live Score and Updates

If you are interested to get the live score and updates of the Manchester United vs Barcelona second leg semi final match, then visit the following link:

Manchester United vs Barcelona: Online Live Score and Updates

If you are interested to know the live score and updates of the Barcelona vs Manchester United Champions League first leg semi final match, then visit the following link:

Barcelona vs Manchester United: Live Score and Updates

If you are interested to get live score, updates and live text commentary of Liverpool vs Chelsea Champions League first leg semi final match then visit the following link:
Liverpool vs Chelsea Champions League: Live Score and Update

Barcelona and Manchester United are going to face each other in the much-anticipated first leg semi-final match of Champions League 2007-2008. The match will take place at the Camp Nou stadium of Barcelona. So, this is the home match for the Catalan club, while Manchester United will have to travel to Spain to take on the Spanish giant on 23 April 2008. The match will kick off at 19:45 GMT time.

Match: Barcelona vs Manchester United, first leg of semi-final of Champions League

Venue: Camp Nou

Date: 23 April 2008, Wednesday

Time: 19:45 GMT

There are now three English clubs in the last four of Champions League this season with Liverpool and Chelsea facing each other in another high profile semi final match tomorrow at Anfield. So, it is almost certain that one English team will certainly be at the final of Champions League this season. So, Barcelona is the only club outside England in the last four of Champions League and the Spanish fans will be happy to see Barcelona plays the final of the tournament, to avoid an all-English final.

However, the task would not be that much easy for Barcelona to outclass the inform Manchester United. Barcelona has not been in their prime form so far this season. They could not win any trophy in this season so far. Barcelona is now way off the title race with 11 points behind the league leader Real Madrid, standing third in Spanish La Liga. They also failed to win the Copa del Rey 2007-08 title. Considering the deficit between Real Madrid and Barcelona, it is certain that Barcelona has a little chance to clinch the league title. So, Champions League is now the only hope for Barcelona to win any silverware this season.

On the other hand, Manchester United has been in an impressive form in both in EPL and Champions League, except some domestic blows. Manchester United failed to win League Cup and Carling Cup, though they are now very close to defend the English Premier League title as Manchester United needs maximum seven points to win the premiership title this season. They are currently leading the table with 81 points with three matches yet to go in this season, with three points clear off closest rivals Chelsea. So, there are enough reasons, Manchester United can win both Champions League and English Premier League. So, the Red Devils will definitely try their best to win the doubles this season, which seems very possible given their current form.

Manchester United outclassed AS Roma 3-0 on aggregate in the quarter final of Champions League. Ferguson boys won both the legs and projected some excellent performance. Barcelona encountered perhaps the easiest opponent, FC Schalke 04, in the quarter final stage so the Catalan fans had expected an easy victory, but they could win the match 2-0 on aggregate and of course, the victory did not come convincingly.

Current Form of Barcelona and Manchester United

If you take the current form of the two teams into account, you can not even pick the favorite of the match. To be honest, their recent form is not that much satisfactory. In fact, Manchester United and Barcelona both shared points with easier opponents in domestic league. Manchester United drew against Blackburn Rovers 1-1 by which they lost the chance to go five points closer to the title. Similarly, Barcelona also came up with a goalless draw against Espanyol in the league, which allowed Villarreal to move up to the second place over Barcelona.

Now, let us see the performance of both teams over the last few matches in all competitions. Manchester United won five out of their last seven matches in all competitions including the home victory against Arsenal in EPL. Two other matches were drawn.

Barcelona’s was no better. They could win only three out of last seven matches in all competitions with the away defeat at Sevilla in Spanish La Liga. Three other matches ended with draw. No doubt, the performance is not satisfactory for Barcelona. They must have to put up some spirited performance against Manchester United at home.

Barcelona vs Manchester United: Thierry Henry and Wayne Rooney Doubtful for the Encounter

Both teams have some injury problems. Barcelona’s ace striker Thierry Henry is now doubtful for the high profile semi final match of Champions League at Camp Nou. The French striker sat on the sideline during Barcelona’s 0-0 draw against Espanyol due to his illness and he did not practice on Monday with the team. His participation in the match now depends on the physical progress of the striker. Gabi Milito and Edmilson, who have minor physical problems, are expected to be available for the home match against Manchester United.

Goal.com reported:

Whether or not Henry can take some part in the fixture will depend on how his physical state progresses ahead of training on Tuesday, as if there is little noticeable improvement then it is unlikely that Rijkaard will take the risk of naming the former Arsenal man in his eighteen man squad for the fixture.

If Henry misses out the match then it would be a blow for the Catalan club, given the fact that Ronaldinho is injured now and Samuel Eto’o is not at his best at the moment.

Similarly, Manchester United also has a big injury problem and that is with their inform striker Wayne Rooney. The English striker netted 11 league and four Champions League goals so far this season and along with Argentine striker Carlos Tevez, has made a lethal combination in the up front of Manchester United.

Rooney picked up a hip injury during his team’s 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers recently, which keeps Manchester United fans worried ahead of the trip to Camp Nou. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that this injury would not keep Wayne Rooney out of the match at Camp Nou stadium. Rooney is always a threat to the opposition defense with his vibrant presence in all over the field and tremendous pace and skill.

Clubcall reported:

The England international striker suffered the injury at Blackburn after colliding with Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen but Fergie is confident he will be available for selection.

"Wayne got a knock on the hip but I'm sure it won't keep him out of Wednesday's game," confirmed the Old Trafford chief.

However, there are few other minor injury concerned sustained in Old Trafford. Goal keeper Edwin van der Sar is yet to recover from his groin injury. However, if he can not become full fit before the match, then Tomasz Kuszczak will take the keeping gloves from Edwin van der Sar. Even Ferguson confirmed that he would have no hesitation to take him in the starting XI as, to him, he had improved a lot.

Time has not come yet to say who are going to play the match and who are going to miss. Actually, this is a match where all the coaches would like to get a full fit squad. Neither of the coaches is confirmed to get a full strength team yet in the match. Still, the match remains a big attraction to the players of both sides.

Barcelona vs Manchester United: Who Will Star in the Match?

Yes, there are many stars. Manchester United and Barcelona are among the high profile European clubs who won many domestic and European titles by their own. So, it is natural that there will be some super stars in their squad. Both the sides include some super stars who could be vital in the match.

I would like to start with Manchester United. Manchester United has three super stars: Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez- who have been playing well pretty consistently so far this season. For Ronaldo, he is arguably the best footballer of the world at this moment. With his spirited goal scoring form, he has helped Manchester United a lot to come to this place. In fact, he is currently the highest goal scorer of English Premier League and UEFA Champions League this season with 28 and 7 goals respectively.

Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez have built a formidable combination in the up front. I will be looking at the Manchester United team combination against Barcelona to see if Ferguson plays both his top guns together in the up front, or initially starts with Rooney in the front and then brings Tevez as substitute.

For Barcelona, it is undoubtedly Messi, the wonder boy of the Catalan club. Messi got out of action with injury for stints this season and came back as substitute during Barcelona’s drawn match against Espanyol and made some immediate impact on the match, though could not bring out three points for his team. Messi is currently the second highest goal scorer of UEFA Champions League along with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard. To stop Messi showing his magical spells, Manchester United will look to French defender Patrice Evra, who has been improved a lot and has enough pace to cope up with Messi.

Along with Messi, Samuel Eto’o could well become a top performer for Barcelona. Though he is currently out of form, Manchester United defenders would make a big mistake if they take this Cameroonian lightly and give a bit room to him. He is still one of the best strikers in the world and I think, a lot of Barcelona’s success in Champions League now depends on Samuel Eto’o.

Since his return to action following injury, Paul Scholes has been regular in the starting line up of Manchester United and he is now playing very well. Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick could be as effective a combination for Manchester United. In the defense, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown have enough skill and experience to stop the Barcelona strikers.

Barcelona midfielder Xavi will have a big role to play in the midfield during the match. He has proved his skill as a class performer and Barcelona will seek another special offer from this Spanish international. In the absence of Barcelona Captain Carles Puyol, French veteran Lilian Thuram will have a bigger responsibility with his experience. Rafael Márquez and Gabriel Milito will also be there to protect Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez.

Barcelona vs Manchester United: Online Live Score and Update

I know that many of you are now thinking about watching the match live on television, because the match promises to be one of the best of this season. However, many of you might be some unfortunate to miss the match on television with personal and professional works. Still, you can keep yourself in touch with this mouth watering clash through getting online live score and live text commentary. Here, I am giving some online live score sites from where you can get the updated result of the match:

Live Score

Goalzz

Footie Scorez

Sportpress

Goal.com

I think, Barcelona vs Manchester United match is going to be a classic one. Both sides have some talented and skilled players. The difference is that Manchester United players are now in good form, while the Barcelona players are a bit out of form. However, you know, when someone has talent and skill, he can get the best out of it at anytime, any moment. Specially, they like the biggest stage like this to perform. So, both teams have enough chances in the match. Barcelona will look to win the match without conceding any goal, while Manchester United will try to make it at least a 1-1 draw, if not a win. I hope to see an exciting match in the first leg semi final of Champions League between Barcelona and Manchester United.