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msudogs
Moderator
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 65535
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In midweek, Manchester United will play their second game on the road as they make the short trip to Lisbon to take on the biggest club side in Portuguese football. United and Benfica have storied histories in this competition with arguably United’s 4-1 win against a Eusebio-led Benfica in 1968 – the most memorable, making Manchester United the first English club to win the European Cup.
But today, Benfica are on a sticky wicket – both in Portugal and outside of it. They may be placed third in their league, but the recent form of the Eagles has been pretty disappointing by their usually high standards – with just 3 wins in games in all competitions – in a run that has seen a brutal 5-0 defeat at Basel in Switzerland.
As a consequence, their European campaign has suffered as worse a start as they could have imagined – losing both their opening games scoring once and conceding 7 already, jeopardising their hopes of making it to the knockouts. But that said, with the experience, they have got within the club and a European pedigree ingrained in their DNA, it will be intriguing to see if Rui Vitoria’s side could make it memorable at the famed Estadio Da Luz.
Manchester United came off a 0-0 draw on Saturday against their biggest domestic rivals for the second year on the bounce, that has predictably pulverised the opinions of fans and pundits alike on social media. United recorded only one shot on target out of 6 attempts in total at Anfield – yet their league position suggests, the Red Devils are probably where they wanted to be at this stage of the season.
Two points off league leaders – with 6 clean sheets out of 7 games in the league and only 12 conceded in 2017 (PL) so far, United have provided themselves with an ideal foundation at the back to build on in the Champions League on Wednesday and beyond and a win would virtually ensure qualification for the side, achieving what was considered bare minimum.
TEAM NEWS
Benfica right-back Andrea Almeida will miss out through suspension, after being sent off in their last European tie away to Basel. Jonas has a back injury and is likely to miss out, as is defender Jardel while Eliseu has been ruled out with a thigh injury.
Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic still remain sidelined and while Marcos Rojo is still working his way back to full fitness, the Argentina defender was part of the travelling squad to Lisbon. The fitness of Eric Bailly, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick – who all missed Saturday’s clash with Liverpool will be assessed before Wednesday’s Champions League encounter.
INTERESTING NUMBERS
Manchester United have won 14 of the 21 fixtures against Portuguese clubs, and have lost only twice, with the remaining five matches ending all square.
The last time United faced Portuguese opposition was in the 2012/13 season, when, in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last campaign in charge, his side beat Braga twice in the group stages, notably coming from two goals down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford in the first encounter.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.
This match will mark a return to Lisbon for Mourinho, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof.
PREDICTION
Manchester United will score goals. And therefore, Manchester United will win this one.
Benfica 0-2 Manchester United
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10-18-17 01:02 AM |
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msudogs
Moderator
Registered: Nov 2005
Posts: 65535
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When Chelsea were on a rampage last season, several of Antonio Conte’s fellow managers in the Premier League had pointed out that they were flying high due to the lack of European football. This season, Conte’s men seem determined to prove those managers right. After their shocking loss to Crystal Palace on Saturday, there is no respite for the Blues as they host AS Roma on Wednesday night in the third game week of the Champions League.
In the post-match conference after Saturday’s match, Antonio Conte sounded disappointed and even hinted that his side must lower their sights this season, if their current form and injury concerns persist. Three losses out of eight matches in the Premier League – two of them to Burnley and Crystal Palace – are reason enough to be disappointed. However, the European stage has given Conte a platform to bounce back from domestic reverses and he will look forward to host AS Roma on Wednesday. With six points from two games in Group C, Chelsea can almost secure qualification to the round of 16 if they beat the Italians on Wednesday. But to ensure this, Conte must motivate his depleted squad to compete extremely well.
Roma had a great start to their Serie A campaign but they too lost their league game on the weekend. The difference is that they lost to the league leaders Napoli. They are currently second in the group but if they do not get a favourable result on Wednesday, they might slip down to the third, as Atletico Madrid who are playing Qarabag in the other match in the group are surely likely to win. Thus, leaving London with at least a point and hopefully three, must be Roma’s aim on Wednesday.
INTERESTING STATS
But it is not going to be easy as Roma have won only one of their 15 away games in England, losing nine. Conversely, Chelsea have lost two of nine against Italian sides on home soil.
Chelsea have only once failed to reach the round of 16 in the Champions League. In 2012-13, they become the first defending champions who were not able to make it to the round of 16.
Before they beat Qarabag in the previous matchweek, Roma had been winless in the previous seven matches.
TEAM NEWS
For the Blues, Victor Moses and N’Golo Kante are injured with their respective injuries picked up during the international break. Danny Drinkwater also is at least a fortnight away from a return to the starting eleven. Alvaro Morata’s hamstring problem is not as bad as it was initially assumed to be and the Spaniard could make a return to the side against Roma.
Roma themselves are facing a sort of injury crisis too. Kostas Manolas was taken off just after halftime against Napoli and he joined the injury bench occupied by Patrik Schick, Gregoire Defrel, Emerson Palmieri, Kevin Strootman and Stephan El Shaarawy. However, Strootman should be able to return to the side for the crucial game on Wednesday.
THE VERDICT
As Conte mentioned in his reaction, with his side 9 points adrift of the league leaders Manchester City, defending the Premier League title might not be a feasible goal. But progress in the Champions League is clearly in Chelsea’s control. They host an injury-ridden Roma side that has not had great success in England and who are also wounded from a loss on the weekend. While Chelsea may not find this tie as easy as their previous European home game against Qarabag but it still should be winnable for Conte’s men.
CHELSEA 2 – 1 ROMA
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10-18-17 01:04 AM |
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