Champions League finals preview

Champions League

Triumph of the Premiership as English clubs take it all

Manchester United and Chelsea will meet on May 21st in Moscow in only the third single-nation Champions League finals. The first ever such event dates back to 1999/00, when Real Madrid defeated Valencia 3-0 in Paris. Three years later, Milan edged Juventus by 3-2 on penalties in Manchester.

This is the epilogue of the Champions League semifinals, in which the winners overcame their opposition by just one goal. Paul Scholes put Manchester United through at Barcelona's expense with a sensational strike from 18 meters early in the game, while in the other semifinals Chelsea finally overcame Liverpool after two narrow defeats in previous encounters. Didier Drogba was the hero with two goals in what may prove one of his last games for the Blues before a reported transfer to Milan.

The finals in Moscow will be the second act of the season's drama which witnesses a gigantic duel between United and Chelsea in the Premier league and in Europe.

On the other hand, Liverpool's loss at Stamford Bridge meant the end of an unique tradition which saw them win nine successive semifinals in all European club competitions. Last time they were stopped at this stage was back in 1970/71 against Leeds in the old Inter Cities Fairs Cup (now incorporated in the UEFA Cup).

Champions League semifinals

Liverpool vs Chelsea 1-1 2-3
Barcelona vs Manchester Utd. 0-0 0-1

Finals
Chelsea vs Manchester May 21st

Path to finals

Manchester Utd.

Group stage
Sporting 1-0 2-1, Roma 1-0 1-1, Dinamo Kiev 4-2 4-0

Round of 16 Lyon 1-1 1-0
Quarterfinals Roma 2-0 1-0
Semifinals Barcelona 0-0 1-0

Chelsea

Group stage
Rosenborg 1-1 4-0, Valencia 2-1 0-0, Schalke 2-0 0-0

Round of 16 Olympiacos 0-0 3-0
Quarterfinals Fenerbahce 1-2 2-0
Semifinals Liverppol 1-1 3-2

Copyright Ozren Podnar & Soccerphile

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