Semi-final debate

Join the Sky Sports debate on the Champions League semi-finals

Last updated: 24th April 2008

Cristiano Ronaldo Victor Valdes Barcelona v Manchester United Champions League

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We want to hear your thoughts on the UEFA Champions League semi-finals after the first legs.

It looks to be advantage to Manchester United and Chelsea after the first legs.

Who will the make final in Moscow after both games ended in draws?

Will Manchester United rue Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty miss?

Was a goalless draw a fair result?

It looked to be advantage Liverpool when Dirk Kuyt scored at Anfield but there was late drama as John Arne Riise headed into his own goal in the final minute of stoppage time.

Was 1-1 a fair reflection of the match or did Liverpool deserve to win? Did The Reds lose focus when it mattered most? Did the referee add on too much stoppage time?

Which players stood out in a lively encounter? Who won the battle of wits between Rafa Benitez and Avram Grant?

Can Liverpool now score an away goal in the second leg and once again see off Chelsea for a place in the final?

What will be the tactics of the respective managers at Stamford Bridge next week?

Have your say by filling in the feedback form below....

Comments

Simon Brown says...

If Drogba had a higher pain threshold and balance than a newly born baby! then the referee would not have needed to add four minutes. I think no one is allowed to tackle the Chelsea Premadonna's but if you want to kick Torres off the ball (J Terry) that is perfectly fine. I cannot wait for Wednesday it is better to see 30,000 Chelsea fans cry than only a couple hundred at Anfield.

Posted 14:09 25th April 2008

J Panoya (Manchester United fan) says...

0 - 0 wasnt the result we where quite looking for but its still good, barcelona didnt do enough to win the match but to be fair did control the game. I still dont understand uniteds midfield set up in a game we could have afford to conceed in but also had a great chance with an attacking set up to score in. The penalty awarded was harsh on barca but ther wer 3 other penaltys in the match, 2 for united and if eto had go down one for barca. The set up at OT will be attacking and im not concerned too much about barca scoring as long as we score more.. a top european team holdin 80% posession and not scoring at home is farely week but they are still barca and we do need to be carefull. liverpool hahahha nice one, cant see them winning at the bridge

Posted 14:06 25th April 2008

Kev Cordell (Liverpool fan) says...

The semi finals will be very interesting. Yes the blues have the advantage with the away goal but all we have to do is beat them at stamford bridge which i think we're more then capable of doing. My thoughts are with Frank Lampard at a very sad time for him.

Posted 13:42 25th April 2008

Peter Crawford says...

As a Liverpool fan I was extremely disappointed in the result on Tuesday. Yes, Liverpool bossed the vast majority of the game but there is no point of talking about how much we 'deserved' to win the game by 2 or more goals. The fact is that we did not score the vital second goal through a combination of poor finishing and great goalkeeping. Chelsea were poor on the night especially the midfield where they gave away the ball far too much aside from a 15 min period in the second half but on nights like that all it takes is one moment of luck or genius and this time around it was Chelsea's turn to have some of the former. The second leg will be a close affair but the away goal plays into Avram Grant's chosen strategy of men behind the ball. Rafa Benitez will need to show something more than relying on the passion of Anfield to get us to Moscow but who is to say that he does not have that trick up his sleeve. As for United, the word 'professional' is usually tacked on to a performance when the game was boring. They were unusually negative compared to the side that is about to win the league. 0-0 is not the worst result but would have been a lot better against the Barca side of two years ago. This year's Barca is not the unit that the team of 2006 was and the tie was there for United to finish off in the Nou Camp. With all their good play up to the penalty area, Barca did not look like scoring in a month of Sundays. A bit more conviction on the counter attack and United would have been out of sight. I think that it is Barca's lack of team unity that is the major threat to United, with so many world class individuals such as Henry, Et'oo and Messi they can score a goal from anywhere. If they do the 0-0 in Spain is suddenly a poor result something which has happened United before against poorer sides. Still I expect United to go through and while my heart say they will meet Liverpool in the final my head says Chelsea.

Posted 13:18 25th April 2008

Allan Milimo (Liverpool fan) says...

Well, it is one of those things that happen in the game of soccer. but allow me to comment on these referees that sometimes will spoil the the sport of soccer. if you look at that own goal that we (reds)conceded was scored in the 94th minute and meanwhile time added was only three minutes. anyway its just a game and we accept it, but come next week the lesson will be taught to the blues as it happened last time.

Posted 12:31 25th April 2008

Orits Oyowe says...

As a Barca fan I dont have much to say to those who talk as though they didn't see the match - Rooney and Tevez were literally missing in the entire matich. Deco, Toure and Xavi marshalled the midfield putting Scholes in the shades. Barca outclassed United - no questions. As for Old Trafford, Barca has never lost there on two attempts plus they have had it good with English teams right there in England - wins at stanford Bridge and Anfield. United fans should be afraid - really afraid of the Barca Bite!

Posted 12:17 25th April 2008

Alex Mcgeorge says...

As a Celtic fan I am neutral and I would assess the semis as follows. Chelsea - typically dour defensive performance but had the guts to get attacking subs on for the last quarter instead of settling for 1-0 and got lucky.Gave the ball away cheaply in midfield! Liverpool - never really got on top of the game and created few chances although at home.Also gave ball away cheaply in midfield and rarely breached Chelsea back line and then had to beat a great keeper. Man Utd - set up like an old style Italian team and hoped for a goal on the break.Pressurised all over the field but held firm under severe pressure.Penalty miss might prove crucial! Barcelona- Attacked from off but last ball was poor on the night. Opened Uniteds defence up a number of times but end product poor or defence excelled.Made errors in defence but always dangerous and have the best player of all four in Messi. All in all I would imagine like all Champions League semis the away goal will prove crucial and I think Man Utd will have to be very careful at home.I expect Barcelona to line up like they did against Celtic with Messi and Henri wide- a very potent combination. Chelsea and Liverpool will no doubt be much the same and Liverpool will have to find something really special to progress given Chelseas home record.

Posted 12:16 25th April 2008

Mick Shea (Chelsea fan) says...

Firstly, it wasn't a penalty. it was outside the box. it was a foul. but it was outside. i think the only reason he didn't give it was becasue he didn't know if it was in or out of the box and if he gave the foul he would have had to send off carragher. after he weighed all that in his head it was too late and he carried on. but it doesn't matter. as lampard said in the interview after the game. we (chelsea) got a lucky penalty in the league. the one thing i would say about liverpool is that i think their players are cheating, and by cheating i mean cheating their fans. how can they put the sort of performances in like the ones they have consistently done against chelsea, against inter milan and against other european greats in the champions league and then so badly under performed in the league. i think it's brilliant that the fans have supported and backed the players and benitez but how many years can you go without picking up a league title.

Posted 12:10 25th April 2008

Jamie Winter says...

Chelsea to win at home 2-0 and reach the final no doubt about it. Liverpool are hopeless in the premiership and even if they do reach the final they are undeserving of it as over the last few years there premiership bid has been a total failure. Come on you blues.

Posted 12:05 25th April 2008

Scott Osborne (Liverpool fan) says...

Would it be better for liverpool if Chelsea win or loose at Utd? Im always in support of teams putting one over on united but would the confidence of the win improve the champions league performance or would it distract them? On the other side if Man U break that home record that chelsea have at the bridge thats a big blow for them and good for us but then the champions league would be their only realistic chance of a trophy, not to mention a shot at revenge over Utd! I think i want chelsea to win tomorrow but only after they run themselves ragged! As fot Barca theyre more than capable of beating Utd i think it will come down to whoever scores first in that tie, the same applie for us at Chelski

Posted 11:55 25th April 2008

Vince Prince (Liverpool fan) says...

Can we put this to bed once and for all about the "phantom" goal for Liverpool v Chelsea in 2005? I was right in line with the byline and can tell you that the ball DID CROSS THE LINE and was a perfectly legitimate goal. Furthermore the referee has publicly stated that if he hadn't given the goal he would have awarded a penalty to Liverpool and sent the Chelsea goalie off, remember this was the FOURTH minute of the match, the chances are that Chelsea would then have been a goal down (though you never know with penalties - just ask Ronaldo !!!) and playing with 10 men including their 2nd choice goalie.

Posted 11:18 25th April 2008

Pratik Kerai (Liverpool fan) says...

Peter Murema, in fact is was NOT a penalty, and if it was a foul, the initial contact was made OUTSIDE the box, meaning there never was a penalty incident in the match. Also Chelsea only controlled the game for all of 15 minutes, the other 75 Liverpool bossed, Chelsea were lucky, but it was also good goal keepingfrom Cech, saving Torres TWICE, and the Gerrard volley going straight to the top corner. Nonetheless, Liverpool will go through, they have a knack for the CL, they the most experienced side out of the teams left in the CL so no doubt they will dig themselves out. Riise, well that was bad luck and poor decision making, next time just stick your right foot through it.

Posted 11:17 25th April 2008

Gareth O'sullivan says...

As a Liverpool Fan I have to say that Utd were outplayed but I still think that they will make a better account of themselves next week. I also think Liverpool will score at the bridge but its going to be a tough one. As for Peter Murenas comment, What can anyone say.... Were you watching the game or did you just here about it..... You mention the word Lucky, That would relate to the own goal that was scored by Liverpool. So therefore chelsea were Lucky and Liverpool were...... thats right unlucky. about the penalty, if you did see the game you would have seen that Miss Drogba was going down outside the area and that there was no contact at that point. For you to go on about penalties being awarded to Liverpool you should really remember the one at anfield that lampard scored. Remember.... Thats when Chelsea got out of jail with the most comical penalty which resulted in a ref. being suspended for his wrongfull actions in awarding Chelsea a Pen. Peter, the more I read your comment the more pain I have down my sides from laughing. Drogba being fouled.... Count how many times Miss Drogba ends up on the ground and how many times he was fouled. Chelsea are a pity for putting up with him. Anyway may the best team go through..... Moscow will be a sea of red

Posted 10:58 25th April 2008

Scott Taylor says...

Everyone knows that liverpool deserved to win that game, we were the better team, i don't even think that chelsea had a decent chance at goal. Torres should have slotted home a couple but cech done some good saves. It's really annoying that chelsea fans are talking about it's time for them to get some luck. If there such a good team they shouldn't need luck to win. I can tell you 2 times in which chelsea got lucky against liverpool. One being in the 2005 carling cup final in which liverpool scored (riise) within 48 seconds with a sweet volley and we stayed at 1-0 for about 80 mins until a rubbish free kick from frank lampard deflected off of gerrard and hit the pot and in..., the other time was beginning of this season, chelsea penatly...which was not a penalty..., so if liverpool want to redeem thereselves it's time to break the record at the bridge!! Come on LIVERPOOL!

Posted 10:57 25th April 2008

Gboyega Abanson says...

It is childish of Rafael to say it is wrong of the refree to have given the 4mins added time.I am sure that,if during the 4mins added time if liverpool netted another goal to make it 2,the story would have been different.You see what i mean.So i say keep fly blues

Posted 10:54 25th April 2008

Peter Murema says...

I don't understand why so many people are insisting that Chelsea were lucky to work away with a draw. If the first half penalty had been awarded, I think Liverpool would have had hard a time that night. Don't tell me it was not a penalty, especially you Liverpool fans, because it was more flagrant than the one you were awarded when you scored the third goal against Arsenal!!! And I was astonished to hear Rafa complaining about the 4 added minutes. Had he forgotten that the watch was ticking when one of his players was being taken off the pitch and when Drogba was fouled? That kind of reaction is childish! If he is honest, I think he thanked the refaree who awarded him an imaginary penalty 6 minutes before the final whistle which would would have seen him out!!!!

Posted 07:30 25th April 2008

Thomas Gannon says...

We (Chelsea) didn't deserve that result in my opinion. Liverpool were the better side, although we created some chances they played a lot better than we did. One question, how do Man Utd have an advantage after they did not, I repeat, NOT, score an away goal. If Barca score at Old Trafford then Man Utd have to go for an out and out win. I don't understand?

Posted 22:30 24th April 2008

Darryl Harland says...

I can't believe everyone is saying how well United played. Apart from defence, they were a disgrace. I lost count of how many loose passes there were. Ronaldo choked during the big occasion again, Park was physically awful and United were outclassed by a team in awful form. Fergie said if United get to the final it will be Paul Scholes plus 10. Maybe he should rethink that strategy too, because Scholes is a thing of the past.

Posted 22:06 24th April 2008

Adam Willis says...

Chelsea without a doubt in my mind were lucky to come away witha draw. we played sloppy, unattractive football and it was unbearable to watch. but even though we played so poorly we came away with a draw and shows we can get a result. we will turn on the style at the bridge and finally make it to the final. COME ON THE BLUES..........

Posted 21:59 24th April 2008

Jim Keeney (Liverpool fan) says...

I enjoyed Rich Proud's comments saying he was a neutral. You have to be a utd fan. If you think that was a good performance you must be Stevie Wonder. Carrick didn't get out of his own half and Xavi showed him how to pass the ball. Tevez was played in midfield and again didn't get out of his own half and where was Rooney? chasing shadows!! Utd got out of jail again. Ronaldo should take a leaf out of Messi's book and stop rolling around the pitch throwing his hands in the air thinking he has the god given right to have the ball and score every game. He was too full of himself in the lead up to the penalty and this is why he missed it.

Posted 21:58 24th April 2008

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