Man. Utd. vs Porto - CL quarterfinal discussion thread

It could be trickier than it looks on paper for Man. Utd., because Porto are no mugs. The English side will be big favourites, but with the 2nd leg in Portugal, Porto do have a chance of pulling off an upset. They probably could really do with an away goal in the first leg.

It will be Man Utd.

Porto seems stronger than the last years.
But i needs a lucky day or two to defeat ManU

I'm yet to be convinced any side out of England can score a live goal against Man Utd, if Porto change that it's more than possible.

does kas win a prize for creating all the match threads super quick?

It's a unique brand of narcissism that I've never really understood.

Tuesday, 9 March, 2004

Man Utd 1-1 Porto

(Porto win 3-2 on aggregate)



KEY MOMENTS

• 31 mins: Paul Scholes puts Man Utd ahead
  
• 45 mins: Scholes has a goal wrongly ruled out for offside
  
• 46 mins: Louis Saha replaces the injured Eric Djemba-Djemba
  
• 90 mins: Francisco Costinha's equaliser sends Porto through
  

Man Utd Subs: Carroll, Ronaldo, Saha, Bellion, Kleberson, Solskjaer, Forlan.

Porto Subs: Nuno, Pedro Emanuel, Ricardo Costa, Jankauskas, Bosingwa, Ricardo Fernandes, Bruno Moraes.

Same old off-side story. let me help you a little more.


Key Moments - 1st leg

Made up free kick that would originate United only goal - it was by the way the only United clear opportunity in the whole match.
Baía several times stamped over by United players who thought they were playing Rugby instead of football.
English fans destroyed several places in the Antas stadium, chairs, toilets and several cars and shops outside the stadium and also several incidents happen in the afternoon in other zones of Porto City.

Also:
Selective memory of the United fans make them remember only the offside and forgetting about the way they were outclass in the first leg and the way their team grow up on fear as the final minutes aproached in the second leg, eventually that would cost them.

You know it is really lame everytime United fans talk about the tie refering the only thing that they can hold on to. You had a bigger budget, tops players, you were the big favorites so you don´t need to use the same old excuse over and over and over.
------------------------------

But there are some much more interesting curiosities:

Porto never lost a home tie against an english team in 11 games so far having faced all the top teams several times.
Porto never won away against an english team having only draw once losing all the other ties.

We've faced eachother 6 times so far:

1977/78
FC PORTO - Manchester United (4-0)
Manchester United - FC Porto (5-2)

1996/97
Manchester United - FC Porto (4-0)
FC PORTO - Manchester United (0-0)

2003/04
FC PORTO - Manchester United (2-1)
Manchester United - FC Porto (1-1)

2 wins for each side
2 draws

Batman wrote:

Howard

P Neville . . . . G Neville . . . . Brown . . . . O'Shea

Fletcher . . . Djemba-Djemba . . . Butt . . . . Giggs

Scholes

van Nistelrooy

Glenn Phillips wrote:

Batman wrote:

Howard

P Neville . . . . G Neville . . . . Brown . . . . O'Shea

Fletcher . . . Djemba-Djemba . . . Butt . . . . Giggs

Scholes

van Nistelrooy

I was thinking the same thing. Apart from Scholes, RVN and Giggs, that is a very average side.

Protheus wrote:Same old off-side story. let me help you a little more.


Key Moments - 1st leg

Made up free kick that would originate United only goal - it was by the way the only United clear opportunity in the whole match.
Baía several times stamped over by United players who thought they were playing Rugby instead of football.
English fans destroyed several places in the Antas stadium, chairs, toilets and several cars and shops outside the stadium and also several incidents happen in the afternoon in other zones of Porto City.

Also:
Selective memory of the United fans make them remember only the offside and forgetting about the way they were outclass in the first leg and the way their team grow up on fear as the final minutes aproached in the second leg, eventually that would cost them.

You know it is really lame everytime United fans talk about the tie refering the only thing that they can hold on to. You had a bigger budget, tops players, you were the big favorites so you don´t need to use the same old excuse over and over and over.
------------------------------

But there are some much more interesting curiosities:

Porto never lost a home tie against an english team in 11 games so far having faced all the top teams several times.
Porto never won away against an english team having only draw once losing all the other ties.

What united fans also forget was that if that goal was given, it would've finished 2-1 and been extra time. They wouldn't necessarily have won.

Il Dragone wrote:

Protheus wrote:Same old off-side story. let me help you a little more.


Key Moments - 1st leg

Made up free kick that would originate United only goal - it was by the way the only United clear opportunity in the whole match.
Baía several times stamped over by United players who thought they were playing Rugby instead of football.
English fans destroyed several places in the Antas stadium, chairs, toilets and several cars and shops outside the stadium and also several incidents happen in the afternoon in other zones of Porto City.

Also:
Selective memory of the United fans make them remember only the offside and forgetting about the way they were outclass in the first leg and the way their team grow up on fear as the final minutes aproached in the second leg, eventually that would cost them.

You know it is really lame everytime United fans talk about the tie refering the only thing that they can hold on to. You had a bigger budget, tops players, you were the big favorites so you don´t need to use the same old excuse over and over and over.
------------------------------

But there are some much more interesting curiosities:

Porto never lost a home tie against an english team in 11 games so far having faced all the top teams several times.
Porto never won away against an english team having only draw once losing all the other ties.

What united fans also forget was that if that goal was given, it would've finished 2-1 and been extra time. They wouldn't necessarily have won.

Unlikely, the goal they got was mostly due to man utd being scared at 1-0

L-r d wrote:

Il Dragone wrote:

Protheus wrote:Same old off-side story. let me help you a little more.


Key Moments - 1st leg

Made up free kick that would originate United only goal - it was by the way the only United clear opportunity in the whole match.
Baía several times stamped over by United players who thought they were playing Rugby instead of football.
English fans destroyed several places in the Antas stadium, chairs, toilets and several cars and shops outside the stadium and also several incidents happen in the afternoon in other zones of Porto City.

Also:
Selective memory of the United fans make them remember only the offside and forgetting about the way they were outclass in the first leg and the way their team grow up on fear as the final minutes aproached in the second leg, eventually that would cost them.

You know it is really lame everytime United fans talk about the tie refering the only thing that they can hold on to. You had a bigger budget, tops players, you were the big favorites so you don´t need to use the same old excuse over and over and over.
------------------------------

But there are some much more interesting curiosities:

Porto never lost a home tie against an english team in 11 games so far having faced all the top teams several times.
Porto never won away against an english team having only draw once losing all the other ties.

What united fans also forget was that if that goal was given, it would've finished 2-1 and been extra time. They wouldn't necessarily have won.

Unlikely, the goal they got was mostly due to man utd being scared at 1-0

Porto had the momentum. They would've gone on to win it in ET.

Il Dragone wrote:

L-r d wrote:

Il Dragone wrote:

Protheus wrote:Same old off-side story. let me help you a little more.


Key Moments - 1st leg

Made up free kick that would originate United only goal - it was by the way the only United clear opportunity in the whole match.
Baía several times stamped over by United players who thought they were playing Rugby instead of football.
English fans destroyed several places in the Antas stadium, chairs, toilets and several cars and shops outside the stadium and also several incidents happen in the afternoon in other zones of Porto City.

Also:
Selective memory of the United fans make them remember only the offside and forgetting about the way they were outclass in the first leg and the way their team grow up on fear as the final minutes aproached in the second leg, eventually that would cost them.

You know it is really lame everytime United fans talk about the tie refering the only thing that they can hold on to. You had a bigger budget, tops players, you were the big favorites so you don´t need to use the same old excuse over and over and over.
------------------------------

But there are some much more interesting curiosities:

Porto never lost a home tie against an english team in 11 games so far having faced all the top teams several times.
Porto never won away against an english team having only draw once losing all the other ties.

What united fans also forget was that if that goal was given, it would've finished 2-1 and been extra time. They wouldn't necessarily have won.

Unlikely, the goal they got was mostly due to man utd being scared at 1-0

Porto had the momentum. They would've gone on to win it in ET.

They wouldn't have got to extra time was my point.

Another thing that not many people remember.

Ronaldo came on as a sub and got badly fouled. The ref didn't blow the whistle. A few minutes later when he finally did stop play, Ronaldo had to be subbed off.

If the ref did his job properly then the timeline of the game would have been completely different.

Also Porto were lucky that Djemba-Djemba went off injured because he was having a really good game.

Il Dragone wrote:

Glenn Phillips wrote:

Batman wrote:

Howard

P Neville . . . . G Neville . . . . Brown . . . . O'Shea

Fletcher . . . Djemba-Djemba . . . Butt . . . . Giggs

Scholes

van Nistelrooy

I was thinking the same thing. Apart from Scholes, RVN and Giggs, that is a very average side.

So SAF deserves a lot of praise for the current Man Utd team he has built.

English, Euro and World Champions.

L-r d wrote:

Il Dragone wrote:

L-r d wrote:

Il Dragone wrote:

Protheus wrote:Same old off-side story. let me help you a little more.


Key Moments - 1st leg

Made up free kick that would originate United only goal - it was by the way the only United clear opportunity in the whole match.
Baía several times stamped over by United players who thought they were playing Rugby instead of football.
English fans destroyed several places in the Antas stadium, chairs, toilets and several cars and shops outside the stadium and also several incidents happen in the afternoon in other zones of Porto City.

Also:
Selective memory of the United fans make them remember only the offside and forgetting about the way they were outclass in the first leg and the way their team grow up on fear as the final minutes aproached in the second leg, eventually that would cost them.

You know it is really lame everytime United fans talk about the tie refering the only thing that they can hold on to. You had a bigger budget, tops players, you were the big favorites so you don´t need to use the same old excuse over and over and over.
------------------------------

But there are some much more interesting curiosities:

Porto never lost a home tie against an english team in 11 games so far having faced all the top teams several times.
Porto never won away against an english team having only draw once losing all the other ties.

What united fans also forget was that if that goal was given, it would've finished 2-1 and been extra time. They wouldn't necessarily have won.

Unlikely, the goal they got was mostly due to man utd being scared at 1-0

Porto had the momentum. They would've gone on to win it in ET.

They wouldn't have got to extra time was my point.

why not?

Even if Scholes' goal had been allowed, not much would've changed from Porto's perspective. They're aim would've still been to score a goal, but only to force extra time rather than win the tie outright.

Batman wrote:

Il Dragone wrote:

Glenn Phillips wrote:

Batman wrote:

Howard

P Neville . . . . G Neville . . . . Brown . . . . O'Shea

Fletcher . . . Djemba-Djemba . . . Butt . . . . Giggs

Scholes

van Nistelrooy

I was thinking the same thing. Apart from Scholes, RVN and Giggs, that is a very average side.

So SAF deserves a lot of praise for the current Man Utd team he has built.

English, Euro and World Champions.

It helps when you have alot of money, but i do give Man Utd credit since alot of the signings they made were smart like Vidic, VDS and Evra for example, plus they managed to develop Ronaldo into a great player and Fletcher and Brown into very solid and dependable players.

Il Dragone wrote:

Batman wrote:

Il Dragone wrote:

Glenn Phillips wrote:

Batman wrote:

Howard

P Neville . . . . G Neville . . . . Brown . . . . O'Shea

Fletcher . . . Djemba-Djemba . . . Butt . . . . Giggs

Scholes

van Nistelrooy

I was thinking the same thing. Apart from Scholes, RVN and Giggs, that is a very average side.

So SAF deserves a lot of praise for the current Man Utd team he has built.

English, Euro and World Champions.

It helps when you have alot of money, but i do give Man Utd credit since alot of the signings they made were smart like Vidic, VDS and Evra for example, plus they managed to develop Ronaldo into a great player and Fletcher and Brown into very solid and dependable players.

Fergle always used to get drunk and pick bizarre teams in midweek/evening games. Neville at centre back was always my favourite.

Good draw. United can use their reserves for both leg and focus the first team to win the Prem.

Pras = Mancs+Milanista wrote:Good draw. United can use their reserves for both leg and focus the first team to win the Prem.

By all means, do that if you please

Protheus wrote:

Pras = Mancs+Milanista wrote:Good draw. United can use their reserves for both leg and still go through so they can focus the first team to win the Prem.

By all means, do that if you please

So with Berba out for tomorrow and injuries to Rafu, Rio & Anderson what team would you field?

I think we either need to go 4-4-2 with Tevez and Rooney up front or 4-3-3 with Rooney the lone striker and Giggs behind.

1)

vdS
Nev, Evans, Vidic, Evra
Fletch, Giggs, Carrick
Ronaldo, Rooney, Park

2)

vdS
Nev, Evans, Vidic, Evra
Ronaldo, Fletch, Carrick, Park
Rooney, Tevez


Can't see Nani getting a game after yesterday....

He said O'Shea is going to play which is unfortunate but just inevitable

I think it'll be the bottom one but with O'Shea in for Neville.

L-r d wrote:He said O'Shea is going to play which is unfortunate but just inevitable

Guessing it maybe the safe option as Neville may not recover in 2 days after his first 90 minutes in ages.

He may play Scholes as well seeing as he'll be fresher than some of the others but he doesn't seem to play in the big games now days. Plus he can't do that linking/no 10 role as well as Giggs either.

The Hulk will rape G-Unit Neville

Portuguese League 2008/09 – 23rd round

1. FC Porto - 51
2. Sporting - 47
3. Benfica - 46

Vitoria Guimaraes 1-3 FC Porto



In a keenly disputed match played in front of almost 30,000 fans this evening FC Porto took a big step towards claiming their fourth successive Portuguese championship with a 3-1 win away at Guimaraes.

Brazilian striker Roberto gave the hosts an interval lead, before second-half strikes from Ernesto Farias, Mariano Gonzalez and Rolando made sure Porto walked away with the three points.

No doubt mindful of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester United on Tuesday, and given the long journey made to South America and back in midweek by influential duo Lucho Gonzalez and Cristian Rodriguez, Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira opted to start both men on the bench.

Nevertheless, the Dragons started strongly, with man-of-the-match Hulk again putting in a performance so impressive that all the watching commentators and pundits were agreeing that he would not be staying long in Portugal. After just 20 seconds the powerful Brazilian embarked on the first of his endless bursts into the heart of the opposition danger area, which was only stopped by a crude foul.

Nilson shines
Guimaraes goalkeeper Nilsson soon had the opportunity to show he is one the top net-minders in the Liga Sagres, pulling off superb saves to deny Farias and Hulk in the opening exchanges.

Against the run of play Guimaraes snatched the lead as Roberto neatly turned in a pinpoint cross from Milhazes. Porto continued to have the upper hand, but spurred on by their goal the hosts grew in confidence and started to stem the attacking flow of the visitors.

Farias for Porto and Marquinho for Guimaraes exchanged near misses, but it was the home fans who were happy as the players trooped off at half time.

A whirlwind start to the second period saw Porto turn the scoreline around in five minutes. First Argentine striker Farias was in the right place at the right time to head a Raul Meireles into the back of the net from close range. In the 58th minute Mariano Gonzalez deflected a miss-hit Tomas Costa shot past Nilson to give the visitors the lead.

Rolando joy
From that moment onwards Guimaraes never looked likely to force an equaliser, and Porto confirmed the victory in the closing minutes when central defender Rolando, who last week made his debut for Portugal, capped a memorable seven days in his career by thumping in a headed goal from a corner to complete the scoring.

The win was Porto’s eighth consecutive away victory in the Liga Sagres, establishing a club record which was previously held by Jose Mourinho’s 2002/03 team. Moreover, the three points in what appeared the most difficult fixture until the end of the season makes the team odds on for yet another championship triumph. Porto will head to Old Trafford on Tuesday with their morale sky high.

by Tom Kundert

V. Guimaraes: Nilson, Lionn (Andrezinho, 7), Gregory, Moreno, Milhazes, Custodio (Fajardo, 64), Joao Alves (Santana, 77), Desmarets, Nuno Assis, Marquinho, Roberto

FC Porto: Helton, Sapunaru, Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Fernando, Tomas Costa (Lucho Gonzalez, 66), Raul Meireles (Madrid, 85), Mariano, Farias, Hulk (Rodriguez, 83)

Goals:
[1-0] Roberto, 19
[1-1] Farias, 52
[1-2] Mariano, 58
[1-3] Rolando, 88

Ferdinand is confirmed as out of the game, as is Anderson

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7976964.stm

Manchester United centre-half Rio Ferdinand and disappointing midfielder Anderson are set to miss Tuesday's quarter-final first-leg tie against Porto.
Both sat out training on Monday with injuries picked up on international duty, while striker Dimitar Berbatov is also sidelined with an ankle injury.
But Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes all return having been suspended for the win over Aston Villa.
Ji-Sung Park is also available again while Federico Macheda is in the squad...................

Man Utd squad: Van der Sar, Foster, Kusszzczzakk, O'Shea, Neville, Vidic, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra, Eckersley, Ronaldo, Noddy, Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Rooney, Tevez, Welbeck, Macheda.

Flight of the Glennchords wrote:Ferdinand is confirmed as out of the game

That's game over for Porto then.

If Ferdinand was playing, they would've had a chance.

Batmans starting XI:

Bring on Giggs and Tevez in the 2nd half if needed.