United On Fire

Manchester United 1 (Ronaldo 41) Lyon 0

That boy Ronaldo, he scored again. For the 30th time this season, to be precise.  It was enough to make the last 10 minutes a little tense instead of unbearably unwatchable.

Shortly before half time, Wes Brown put in an excellent cross, from which Anderson’s cross was blocked but Ronaldo pounced on the loose ball, make space and finished far too hard for Coupet to get to.

This wasn’t the best game there ever was, but this was as much Lyon’s fault as much as United’s.  For all the hype of Benzema, Lyon didn’t threaten enough.  This was despite Alex Ferguson’s very odd midfield selection of Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher.  With Ronaldo and Nani on the wings; this just didn’t work.  Anderson, despite not having his best game was the most effective, inventive of the three.  Fletcher and Carrick was anonymous for most parts of the game.  Ronaldo and Nani, whilst providing pace were too wasteful when in possession.  Rooney did sterling work up front but was isolated until Tevez came on.  The saving grace was the defence, solid and dependable, all of them.

Lyon ended the game with four strikers but it was telling that United had far more chances to score once Tevez came on.  Both Rooney and Ronaldo missed good chances to finish the game, whilst at the other end Leita hit the post with a shot that beat Van Der Sar.

United move onto the quarter finals and a possible meeting with Arsenal who knocked out AC Milan, beating the holders 2-0 in the San Siro.

Image Ronaldo, originally uploaded by chuffy

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I was impressed by Lyon when we played them two weeks ago. A hard working, solid team with the big threat of Karim Benzema up front. United were cautious and a little bit defensive when we played with them, but matched them for workrate in the midfield. Just when we were getting onto of the game, Benzema scored a great goal and we had to come out and attack them. Bringing on Tevez and moving to 4-4-2 was the catalyst but it was a mistake that allowed United to equalise.

As United go for their 10th straight win, perversely that goal means that we don’t have to win to go through. A 0-0 draw will do, although that is an incredibly dangerous tactic to play. Luckily for United fans, Manchester United don’t ever go for 0-0 draws at Old Trafford. I’d like to see (and I’m sure Fergie would to) United go for the throat in the first twenty minutes. Sometimes we do it and win the game in the first half. I’m sure Fergie would also like to know why we don’t always do it, as we’d have been Champions of Europe a lot more than twice if we could produce that on demand.

United team news

Ryan Giggs and Nemanja Vidic were injured for the Fulham game but are expected to be fit. I wonder at what point Giggs will lose his 1st choice tag to Nani? Rested Rooney and Ronaldo return for Saha and Tevez if United play 4-5-1. Who plays in central midfield is anyone’s guess. I’ll go for Carrick, Scholes and Hargreaves. Maybe Fergie roles a dice.

Lyon team news

Lyon have been playing Benzema wide on the left with Fred up front. Sort of like putting Rooney out left, its a waste of talent, but serves a purpose. Cris is fit again, but Reveillere is suspended. After seeing Boumsong playing in England, this can only be a bonus for Lyon

Previous meetings

United and Lyon have only ever met in the Champions League. Two away draws and a 2-1 win at Old Trafford so far. A repeat of that would be nice. This is United’s 250th European match.

Form and Prediction

Derby game and Spurs away, this year United have been flying and are currently on top form. Lyon are not and were so-so against Lille at the weekend. In the Champions League, both are on unbeaten runs, but that is to be expected after the group games. I’m going for a 2-1 win.

Image Lyon, originally uploaded by raindog

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Lyon 1 (Benzema 54) Manchester United 1 (Tevez 87)

Carlos Tevez rescued United from an away defeat as they take a vital away goal advantage to the 2nd leg. Both teams started with a 4-5-1 formation that canceled each other out. Lyon broke through with a great individual goal from Benzema whilst United leveled once they changed formation to 4-4-2 showing that they had a greater strength in depth.

There was a tough first half as both midfields fought and and battled with few chances for either team. Hargreaves and Anderson allowed Scholes to progress further forward and a beautiful through ball from Giggs put him into the box in a throwback to 10 years ago. Giggs created an even better chance for Rooney who was put through one on one with the keeper, only for Coupet to save well. Meanwhile, United’s back four were pressed but coped with the Lyon attack.

United started the second half strongly with much possession only for Benzema to create a goal. With 4 United players around him, he was able to find the gap and place the ball into net off the post. United were visibly shaken by this and Ferguson showed his squad had the numbers and ability to change games for him. The increasingly tired and ineffective Scholes and Giggs were replaced by Nani and Tevez. Hargreaves was later replaced by Carrick.

The effect was notably as United went to 4-4-2 and Rooney had a companion to play with again and nearly scored as they showed their telepathic understanding one touch to create a chance. Increasingly Lyon were pegged back and they attempted to change the game by removing Juninho for a more defence minded player and Benzema for the Brazilian Fred.

In the end it was the latter substitution that had the most effect, but for the worst. As United pressured late in the game, they won a corner. Initially cleared, the ball then fell to Carrick in the area who fired the ball goalward only for it to hit Fred. It was cleared again, only to Nani on the wing. He flighted a perfect cross into the box but there were no United players on the end of it. However, it bounced again off Fred, this time off his heal and straight into the path of Tevez. Tevez couldn’t miss from three yards out and the game was level.

United take a vital away goal into the home game at Old Trafford and any win or a 0-0 will see them through.

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