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Champions League: Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern & Inter seeking Last 8 tickets
Mar 13, 2012: Bayern Munich vs Basel
Bayern Munich have to correct the mistakes that saw them lose to FC Basel away from home. Luiz Gustavo is not taking anything away from the Swiss contenders who stunned pre-tournament favourites Manchester United en route to the Last 16.
“It is not only a very difficult game, but also a very important one. We will have to be very focused in order to turn around this tie. We have to deliver a good game from all positions. One mistake can decide everything!”
Errors to Basel, Palace, Blackburn & now the Toons: Where are Man United heading?
No more Champions League glory hopes
Already, their hunt for UEFA Champions League glory is dead. The Red Devils’ new generation of players couldn’t survive the existing pressure in the group phase of the tournament. Dropping points to Portuguese giants Benfica in the process seemed understandable, but losing to FC Basel in the Round of 16 decider was something too alarming to believe.
This defeat relegated Fergie’s team to the UEFA Europa League and provoked jeers among the Red Devils’ army of haters. But in typical fashion, battered Manchester United fans vowed to cheer their lads all the way to Europa League glory.
A Look Ahead to the Champions League Draw on Friday
Italy is the nation with most sides in the round of 16. Germany, Spain, Russia, England and France each are represented by two sides in the competition. Cyprus, Switzerland and Portugal are each represented by one team. All these teams have made their passages through tough groups with perhaps the exception of Barcelona and AC Milan. These two sides were drawn with Plzen and Bate, two relative novices at this level, in the group stage.Nonetheless, Barca and Milan must be given credit for qualifying as the novices have risen this season. Whereas experienced competitors such as Manchester United, Villarreal, Porto and Valencia have gone out, the likes of Apoel Nicosia and FC Basel have progressed into the knockout stages.
Manchester United crash out of UEFA Champions League after disastrous 2-1 loss at FC Basel
Marco Streller and Alexander Frei hammered the nails into the United coffin, while Phil Jones headed a late consolation for the English champions.United have reached three of the past four UEFA Champions League finals, and went into this game knowing a win or draw would be enough to advance to the knockout stages.
The Red Devils dominated possession in the early stages and adopted an attacking mentality. The pressure was turned up though when Basel took a 9th minute lead with their first genuine attack.
Xherdan Shaqiri produced a dangerous low cross that was redirected by David de Gea, and Marco Streller was on hand to fire Basel into a 1-0 lead.
Man United, Chelsea & Man City facing Champions League to Europa League demotion
Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City are interestingly more or less in danger of exiting the continent’s top competition for the Europa League. Unlike Barcelona, Real Madrid, Internazionale or Bayern Munich, the English trio cannot afford to relax on Matchday 6.
Andre Villas-Boas’ big test
Andre Villas-Boas led Chelsea to a 3-0 defeat of Newcastle United last weekend, but this result doesn’t mean that the coach has finished proving himself in the eyes of his critics. The Portuguese man is facing a tough challenge in the form of Valencia.
Since quite a number of years now, one of the Blues’ priorities has always been to win the UEFA Champions League. Today, they are in a serious condition which they can still overturn, though. A goalless draw will be enough for them to pass onto the knockout stages of the competition.
Benfica vs Basel Report
The Spain U21 striker had hit the post in the very first minute, and as Benfica continued to dominate a straight-forward home win looked inevitable.
Garay headed just wide, but Basel gradually began to get a foothold in the match.
The visitors got their reward in the second half, as Huggel finished smartly to level the scores in the 64th minute.
Benfica vs Basel Preview
What’s more, three points will also give the Lisbon outfit an excellent chance of finishing Group C above Manchester United in top spot, which theoretically would result in a kinder last sixteen draw. Things are definitively looking up for the Portuguese side. Still unbeaten in 2011/12, Benfica have won their last six games in all competitions.
With up-and-coming striker Rodrigo, who scored a brace on Saturday night against Olhanense, showing signs he could be a real find, and an array of high-quality midfield options in Pablo Aimar, Bruno Cesar, Axel Witsel, Nolito, Matic and Javi Garcia to pick from, it’s little wonder coach Jorge Jesus says he is extremely satisfied with the squad he has at his disposal.
Basel vs Benfica Report
The hosts started off the more lively, but once Benfica took the lead on 20 minutes the Portuguese team took control of the match. It was a well worked goal, with Aimar, Gaitan and Rodrigo combining well to set up Brazilian midfielder Bruno Cesar for his fourth goal in Benfica's last six matches.
Benfica created the better chances to extend their lead, with Gaitan and Emerson missing when well placed, although Artur continued to show what an excellent addition he has been to the Portuguese side with a couple of vital saves from Streller.
Man United 3-3 Basel: Fergie orders Red Devils’ midfield & defense to improve
It all started very easily for Manchester United; they broke the deadlock after only 16 minutes. It came through a fine combination from Antonio Valencia, Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs. Danny Welbeck was left in the box to put the ball past the goal line. The English youngster doubled his tally a minute later as Manchester United looked sure to triumph on the night. But FC Basel responded well. Within a 2-minute spell after the break, the visitors went leveled.
First, Fabian Frei issued the comeback with a goal from a corner. Alexander Frei was then allowed too much space to make it 2-2.
Manchester United v FC Basel: Red Devils Must Show Depth of Their Own
Manager Roberto Mancini has a wealth of talent at this disposal, and the common belief is that City’s reserve team could achieve a top half finish this season.This week the red half of Manchester must show that they have equal ability to cope without starting players and still achieve results.
Manchester United are currently tied on points with City at the top of the Premier League, and this week will be looking for their first win in UEFA Champions League group play.
After their Champions League home opener against Swiss club FC Basel. United play host to Norwich City, and then travel to face rivals Liverpool in a high profile Premier League battle.
Champions League: Guess Which Teams Will Grab The Final 4 Last 16 Spots?
The Last 7 Teams Hopeful Of Qualifying – Who Are They?
From Group A to Group C, as well as in Group F and Group G, everything has been decided in terms of Last 16 qualification. In these sections, the other two contenders must settle for what their respective positions can offer them – an Europa League spot or an exit from Europe.
Tottenham Hotspur, Internazionale, Schalke 04, Olympique Lyon, Manchester United, Valencia, Chelsea, Marseille, Real Madrid and AC Milan are all in a table where it’s become impossible for the rest of their opponents to join them into the next stage of the Champions League. In Group D and Group E, the question remains: who will join Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively into the Last 16 of the Champions League?
UEFA Champions League Match-day One Report – From Group E To Group H
Group E: Bayern Munich 2-0 AS Roma; CFR Cluj 2-1 FC BaselJust as it had been predicted earlier on LiveSoccerTV.com, CFR Cluj beat visitors Basel with the narrowest of margins in Romania. It took two early goals from Rada and Traore for Cluj to get the job done.
Stocker’s 45th minute goal Basel proved to be nothing more than a consolation as the hosts went on to join Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
Hollywood FC played out a good match at the Allianz Arena against AS Roma and it was only in the last 11 minutes of the game that the Germans found the keys to unlock the Giallorossi’s compact defense. Muller and Klose were on target as Bayern Munich rounded up a 2-0 victory over AS Roma on home soil.
UEFA Champions League Match-day One Preview – From Group E to Group H
Group E: Bayern Munich vs AS Roma; CFR Cluj vs BaselIt’s hard to see last season’s beaten finalists Bayern Munich kick off their UEFA Champions League campaign badly. Aside from the fact that the Germans should benefit from their home advantage, AS Roma’s current form seems to have boosted Bayern Munich’s chances of clinching all three points tonight.
Likewise, the Giallorossi could bounce back from their alarming 5-1 Serie A defeat to Cagliari in style. Adriano, perhaps? Which of AS Roma’s players will be singled out as the ‘dream maker’ should they beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena? Meanwhile, CFR Cluj will entertain FC Basel in Romania with a fair opportunity of winning the match.