Victories for Manchester United FC and Arsenal FC last night guarantee an English presence in the UEFA Champions League showpiece in Rome on 27 May, while a second successive all-English final would be on the cards if Chelsea FC were to get the better of FC Barcelona in the other tie. uefa.com looks at the history behind the fixtures ahead of the eagerly awaited last-four ties.
FC Barcelona v Chelsea FCTuesday 28 April – Camp NouWednesday 6 May – Stamford Bridge
It is the third time the clubs have met in the latter stages. Barcelona won an epic quarter-final in 1999/00, 6-4 on aggregate after scoring twice in extra time, and also had the edge in the first knockout round in 2005/06 en route to winning a second European Champion Clubs' Cup. Twelve months earlier at the same stage John Terry headed a late winner to send the Blues through 5-4 on aggregate.
Barcelona have won four of the nine previous semi-finals they have contested – those successes coming in 1960/61, 1985/86, 1993/94 and 2005/06 – in addition to advancing to the 1991/92 final as winners of their last-eight group.
Barcelona's home record against English opposition is impressive, with 13 wins, nine draws and just two losses from 24 previous meetings. Both those defeats came against Liverpool: a 1-0 reverse in the 1975/76 UEFA Cup semi-final first leg, and then a 2-1 defeat in the 2006/07 first knockout round.
Last season's semi-final defeat by Manchester United means the Spanish club have won seven and lost nine of 16 two-legged contests against English opponents.
Chelsea are in the semi-finals for the fifth time in six seasons. Their victory against Liverpool last season followed two previous defeats by the Reds, while they also lost at this stage in 2003/04, succumbing 5-3 on aggregate against AS Monaco FC.
Manchester United FC v Arsenal FCWednesday 29 April – Old TraffordTuesday 5 May – Arsenal Stadium
Since meeting for the first time on 13 October 1894, the clubs have played 204 times. The Gunners have 77 wins to United's 82.
Apart from last season's final, Manchester United have never met an English club in the UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal have faced English opposition in Europe on two previous occasions, losing quarter-finals to Chelsea in 2003/04 and Liverpool last season.
United's ten preceding semi-final appearances have brought just three victories, the most recent being last season when they eliminated Barcelona on their way to a final victory against Chelsea in Moscow.
Arsenal have a 100 per cent record in UEFA Champions League semi-finals, having beaten Villarreal CF in their only previous appearance in 2005/06.
The clubs are the only teams to win the English league and FA Cup double three times. United did it in 1994, 1996 and 1999; Arsenal in 1971, 1998 and 2002.
In my opinion, statistics only shows facts, but nothing is gonna be repeated because of facts. But, in this case Chelsea is better than Barcelona, and Man U is better than Arsenal, so I think that the final battle is Man U vs Chelsea, my favorite is Man U and is going to be the champion.
1 comment:
I really think theese four clubs: Barcelona, Chelsea, ManUtd and Arsenal; will give us a great delight at semifinal matches, and for sure, an epical final match in Rome. By the way, I don´t think Chelsea could stop one of the best Barcelona FC of whole history; did you see their last game? It seems to be like Barcelona played against a CONCAChampions club (no ofending Bayern München). On the other hand, yes, the other finalist will be ManUtd.
So, I expect a memorable final match between Barcelona FC and Manchester United FC, and the winner...
...I don´t care, whatever the score wiil be, it´ll be an unforgetable match!!!
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