Champions League Semi Finals

[Arron]

First legs of the Champions League Semi Finals will be played today and tomorrow.

Todays match is Shalke v Manchester United

Tomorrow is the El Classico between Madrid and Barcelona

Utd face a tough test against Shalke who knocked out holders Inter Milan and also beat Barca at the Nou Camp earlier in the season 1-0. We're not in great form going into this match, I just hope O'Shea doesn't play because he's awful.

Second legs to be played next week.

[Deak]

I reckon it will be tough to call who will get to the final @ Wembley as i reckon both games will have twists & turns in both legs....

I'm predicting that it will be a Man U - Barca final... but we'll just have to watch and see what happens wont we!

[Middlesbrough]

UP THE SHALKE!

http://www.wallpapers-football.tk/images/wallpapers/schalke+04.jpg

[luce]

Shalke have been appauling, did anyone watch them beat inter? because i would like to know how they have done it. The only good player they have on the pitch, judging by this match, is their world class goal keeper. I think we have seen the relegation battle shalke not the CL semi final and german cup finalist team.

[Deak]

They are mid table in the german league so they wont be in europe next year unless they win the whole competition... which more than likely will not happen..

Man u dominated all of the game and will get through to the final easily now they are back to O/T for the 2nd leg.

I've a feeling the real - barca match wont be one sided tomorrow... well i hope not anyway!

[AgnesIO]

Shalke vs MU - how boring. The Spanish game will be far more interesting - and far better fotball will be played.

I reckon either of the Spanish giants would beat MU in the final to be honest

[Deak]

Shalke vs MU - how boring. The Spanish game will be far more interesting - and far better fotball will be played.

I reckon either of the Spanish giants would beat MU in the final to be honest

You never know what will happen in a final ... So if its real or barca v man utd then it should be a good final and a close one too!

[-Heart]

Neuer was outstanding. Look out for him in the future. United dominated tonight and I can't see them giving it up at Old Trafford; then again we saw what these lot did to Inter so we can't rule it out.

Tomorrow's game should be an epic encounter. Madrid know that they can beat this Barca team now, and the Copa del Rey victory is exactly the boost they needed.

[luce]

Shalke vs MU - how boring. The Spanish game will be far more interesting - and far better fotball will be played.

I reckon either of the Spanish giants would beat MU in the final to be honest

It's a CL final you never know what could happen. Who put the ball in the Germans net Ole.... No one expected that and it happened! We certainly don't walk them but the big occasion may shock a few. No doubt we'll be under dogs :-)

Really please with the way we played though last night - it was so comfortable!

[Deak]

Well, what a game that was!

Messi - what a player!

Thought Pepe was a bit unlucky to be sent off ... but it happened ... sooooo the game carried on.

So, after the 1st legs it stands at

Schalke 0 - 2 Man Utd
Real Madrid 0 - 2 Barcelona

Obviously its not all over yet, but as it stands it looks like it will be a Man utd v Barca final @ Wembley.

[Middlesbrough]

Is it only me that has noticed Strachan and Southgate were both utter piss as managers, yet they sit on the side lines and try to analyse the play, they don't have a brain between them, the worst of it all - Strachan stole Southgates job off him!

[FlyingJesus]

Absolutely disgusting match tonight frankly, glad it was Messi who got the goals as he was one of the minority who was actually just playing football and not hopping around trying to get the other team carded. Both teams guilty of it, absolutely ridiculous. Shame about Blatter being right up Barca's crack, FA probably won't do anything about the awful attitudes of these teams

[luce]

Absolutely disgusting match tonight frankly, glad it was Messi who got the goals as he was one of the minority who was actually just playing football and not hopping around trying to get the other team carded. Both teams guilty of it, absolutely ridiculous. Shame about Blatter being right up Barca's crack, FA probably won't do anything about the awful attitudes of these teams

The FA certainly won't haha it would have to be the spanish federation. But i think there has been a bit of fall out so next weeks encounter will be spicy if anything a riot - which is a shame. I don't know what has exactly happened but they should have looked back and given all those players involved in the fight at half time a red card and miss the final. It will ever stop unless it's harshly dealt with it was a really bad advert for Spanish football for the people who tuned in just to watch a bit of CL football. Those two team have the majority of the best players in the world and they were reduced to scrapping. stupid.

[Arron]

If next week's El Classico is going to be another feisty affair then the best we/Schalke can hope for is key players getting sent off thus missing the final. I don't want a repeat of the 08/09 final. None of the teams (Madrid/Barca) deserve to be in the final judging from the first leg. It was a disgrace if you ask me.

[Deak]

So, its Man Utd v Barcelona in the final...
I thought the clasico was a decent game and the draw was right result (unless your a madrid fan)
Man u made it easy again, even with many key players not in the team!

Should be a good final, well i hope it will be anyway!

[Arron]

It will take a lot for any team to beat Barcelona the way they're playing at the moment. If we have all of our first team players available then I'm confident that we can get a result.

Two years ago in the final we missed early chances which cost us the Trophy. If we get these sort of chances then we need to put them away and we'll be in the driving seat to win. Fergie will be doing his homework on the Barca squad and I'm sure he will do his best to overcome them.

I'm excited for it nonetheless, that weekend it's the CL Final then it's my Final on the Sunday. The down effect is that I won't be consuming alcohol during the CL Final and after if we win.

[Matthew]

Well done to man u for getting to the final I guess, but I do think that barca will just be too strong, even for man u.

[Deak]

I agree that barca are going to be hard to beat... But you never know in a one game match what is going to happen!

[Arron]

Mind games might play a key part.