A missed penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo ensured FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC remain deadlocked at 0-0 after an enthralling first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
The English side's last visit to the Camp Nou had ended in extraordinary scenes as they won the 1999 UEFA Champions League with two added-time goals, and they almost picked up where they left off on their first return since, only for Ronaldo to fire a third-minute penalty wide after Gabriel Milito had handled. It was as close as they came on a night when Paul Scholes made his 100th appearance in the competition, although the visitors will be thankful to escape with a draw after being forced on the back foot for much of the match.
Penalty miss The tie sprang to life from kick-off, providing drama as early as the second minute when Ronaldo headed on Scholes' corner only for Milito's raised arm to intervene. The Portuguese international took the spot-kick himself, but fired wide to the relief of the majority in the 98,000 sell-out crowd. Well off the pace in the Primera División, Barça's season rests on this tie and they quickly found their feet, a lightning run from Lionel Messi putting the away team on the back foot. It was breathless stuff as the home side probed a makeshift United back line, shorn of the unwell Nemanja Vidić.
Attacking intent Sir Alex Ferguson had named an attacking side with Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tévez all selected, but they could not break out of their half. Starved of possession, Ronaldo reacted angrily as Rio Ferdinand pumped a clearance high over his head and soon after Rooney was forced to clear off the toes of Samuel Eto'o deep inside his own area. Against the run of play, though, United nearly broke through. Andrés Iniesta's misplaced pass let in Ronaldo, who was eased off the ball by Rafael Márquez as he closed in on goal.
Ronaldo chance Despite Barcelona's possession, United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was rarely troubled, a low save from the returning Deco's free-kick on 38 minutes his main contribution of note as half-time approached. At the other end Ronaldo's darting run was halted by Márquez's clumsy challenge, with the resulting booking ruling him out of the second leg.
Classic encounters The talk in the build-up had been of classic encounters between the sides and the second half began at a pace worthy of the fixture. On 48 minutes Messi's shot was blocked, then Michael Carrick's tackle kept out Eto'o. Moments later Eto'o drove into the side-netting before Carrick did likewise at the other end. United breathed a sigh of relief when Bojan Krkić replaced the tiring Messi two minutes past the hour.
Evenly poised The home team could still not find a way through, with Van der Sar forced to push away Thierry Henry's fierce drive after the Barcelona substitute had cut inside from the left, and United looked increasingly dangerous on the break as the half progressed. Neither side, however, could break the deadlock, leaving the tie evenly poised for the return at Old Trafford next Tuesday.
A headed own goal deep into added time by Liverpool FC substitute John Arne Riise rescued a draw for Chelsea FC after Dirk Kuyt's first-half opener had looked like giving the home team a significant advantage in their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Riise, who has not scored for Liverpool all season, stooped low to try to clear Salomon Kalou's cross from the left, but his awkward header flew past Pepe Reina and into the top of the net – giving Chelsea an away goal they had virtually given up on getting. It could have been so different for Liverpool, had visiting goalkeeper Petr Čech not spectacularly tipped over a late Steven Gerrard drive before denying Fernando Torres seconds before the equaliser.
Both sides were slow to start and the cagey, tactical match predicted by many appeared likely to materialise. Chelsea seemed to have the upper hand thanks to a slightly more measured passing game, until Rafael Benítez's men created the first real opening of the tie. Xabi Alonso's long and hopeful ball over the top of Chelsea's back line found Kuyt, who beat the offside trap but failed to control properly and a combination of Čech and Ricardo Carvalho cleared the danger.
Still, Liverpool frequently struggled to find their rhythm as the half wore on and possession of the ball looked to be a luxury commodity. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard almost caught the five-time champions off guard with a dangerous crossfield pass which the well-placed Joe Cole, in two minds, was unable to get a true touch on. Torres was presented with an even better opportunity at the other end on 30 minutes after being released by Gerrard, yet the striker could only fire straight at Čech when clean in on goal.
Liverpool's fears were eased by the first goal of the semi-final in the 43rd minute. Kuyt capitalised on confusion between Claude Makelele and Ashley Cole after Javier Mascherano's miscued shot was skied over their heads, keeping both his eye on the ball and his nerve to drive the ball past Čech at the Kop end. The Dutchman's strike had a huge galvanising effect on the home side and on the match in general as the tempo was markedly increased, especially just after the break when the Reds made several threats to move further in front.
Suddenly the likes of Alonso and Ryan Babel could find each other with incisive interchanges that were previously beyond them, and the home crowd turned up the volume again. With Didier Drogba looking an isolated figure up front for Chelsea as he chased in vain a succession of long balls pumped in his direction, a goal for Avram Grant's team seemed more likely to come from midfield. Michael Ballack and Lampard combined to set Florent Malouda free in the box, where Mascherano's last-ditch block kept his effort off target.
The visitors did, however, force the pace as the clock ticked down, although Liverpool might well have doubled their advantage as first Gerrard then Torres tested Čech. Had either of those chances gone in, next Wednesday's second leg would have taken on an altogether different complexion – as it did, to the Londoners' benefit, when Riise beat Reina.
The scene could scarcely be more familiar at Anfield as Liverpool FC take on Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four seasons.
Chelsea have old scores to settle after two previous 1-0 defeats at Liverpool denied them their first appearance in a UEFA Champions League final, although the five-time champions also required a penalty shoot-out to prevail after extra time last season. In six meetings between these clubs in this competition, including the group stage, only three goals have been scored and Tuesday's encounter is tipped to be just as tight – with Chelsea happy to reverse history by playing the first leg away from home.
Liverpool's influential captain Steven Gerrard has recovered from a neck injury, though he was missing when Rafael Benítez rested the majority of his likely starters against Chelsea as Liverpool beat Fulham FC 2-0 away in the English Premier League on Saturday. The result left them within two points of securing a fourth-place finish and UEFA Champions League football for next term. Defender Sami Hyypiä and midfielder Javier Mascherano picked up knocks at Fulham but should be fit to face Chelsea.
Benítez gave the simplest possible analysis of his semi-final game plan when he said Liverpool will "try to score and not concede", adding: "We have experience in Europe, so if we can get a good result here, maybe it will be easier, but we know it will be tough anyway." The manager admitted: "I don't see it being a very, very open game because they are good in defence and we are good in defence." Benítez joked that he hopes Chelsea will be distracted by their bid to regain the Premier League crown, though he doesn't think they will be.
Chelsea maintained their bid to catch Manchester United FC with a 1-0 win on Merseyside against Everton FC in their last outing on Thursday, thanks to a Michael Essien goal. That put the Londoners three points behind the leaders whom they host in a potential title decider on Saturday. Ghanaian international Essien is suspended for the first leg but Frank Lampard returns to the squad after missing their last two league matches due to his mother being seriously ill. Midfielder Michael Ballack is battling to shake off a hamstring strain, as is striker Didier Drogba with a knee problem, so Chelsea manager Avram Grant has difficult decisions to make.
Check out here for earlier meetings between the two sides :
Grant repeatedly spoke of Chelsea's chance to "make history" as he played down the significance of the previous semi-finals, adding: "It's very exciting. We did everything to come to this point and it was not easy. The first game we drew against Rosenborg [BK] at home, then we needed to play against Valencia [CF] away when Valencia were on top form and everybody thought that we would lose against them [Chelsea won 2-1]. We share the same desire to be in the final. It will not be easy because Liverpool, as we know, are experts in the Champions League, but I am very optimistic."
Manchester United all but ended Arsenal's hopes of taking the title with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
The Gunners took the lead through Emmanuel Adebayor at the start of the second half, but were eventually beaten by a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and a fabulous free-kick from Owen Hargreaves.
With their title dreams hanging in the balance before the match got underway, it came as no surprise that it was the visitors who started the brightest and forced the pace of the game during the opening exchanges.
Cesc Fabregas flashed a couple of early efforts narrowly past the frame of Edwin van der Sar's goal, while Emmanuel Adebayor wasted the best of the Gunners' chances.
Wayne Rooney looked lively, if slightly isolated, up front for United and it was he who went closest for the Red Devils during a goalless opening period.
In a game which had promised goals throughout the first half, it took just three minutes of the second period for a breakthrough to be made.
Van Persie swung over a dangerous cross from the left, which Van der Sar then inexplicably let drift past him straight to Adebayor. The Togolese hit man appeared to bundle the ball home with his arm, but the goal stood and the Gunners had a deserved lead.
However, United's response was almost immediate as they levelled things up just five minutes later.
William Gallas was adjudged to have used his arm to cut out a Carrick pass, enabling Ronaldo to calmly dispatch a twice-taken penalty low into the corner of the net.
Once back on level terms United looked the most likely to snatch all three points, and duly obliged when Hargreaves curled a sublime free-kick past a stranded Lehmann on 72 minutes.
Nicklas Bendtner then went close for the Gunners with two far post headers, but Arsene Wenger's side were ultimately unable to force a second.
Despite being knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool in midweek, Arsenal showed little signs of a hangover in the first half.
They enjoyed a lot of possession, stretched United and will feel they could have made the breakthrough.
Adebayor rattled in a shot that Rio Ferdinand did well to deflect to safety before Park Ji-Sung glanced a header wide of the post following a cross from Hargreaves.
It was end-to-end stuff at this stage of the game and Adebayor sent his shot into Edwin van der Sar's arms following a one-two with Cesc Fabregas.
Then Wayne Rooney went close in a swift counter-attack in what was developing into an open game.
Rooney almost made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute only to see his effort scrambled away at the near post after Ronaldo had created the opening.
Alexander Hleb then released Adebayor 13 minutes later. He had a clear sight of goal but only succeeded in sending his effort into Van der Sar's arms.
United hit back and Rooney got away from Kolo Toure a minute later and fired in a shot. However, Jens Lehmann stuck out his leg and steered the ball away for a corner to Arsenal's relief.
Fabregas then got away down the left for Arsenal and tried to pick out Adebayor at the back post but Van der Sar was alert and made the interception.
Arsenal made the breakthrough in the 48th minute thanks to good work from Robin van Persie.
He got clear down the left and delivered a quick cross into the area.
While Ferdinand and Michael Carrick hesitated, Adebayor got beyond them to direct the ball into the net, though there was a suspicion that he used his hand rather than his head.
Either way, it was his 26th goal of the season and just the boost Arsenal were looking for.
They almost added a second a minute later when Van der Sar was forced to make a smart save and prevent an own goal from Ferdinand after he got his bearings wrong following a cross from Adebayor.
United drew level, however, thanks to Ronaldo's 38th goal of a remarkable season from the penalty spot in the 54th minute.
William Gallas was adjudged to have handled Carrick's shot and referee Howard Webb had no hesitation in the pointing to the spot.
Ronaldo lashed his penalty into the top corner only for Webb to order him to retake it after spotting an infringement.
Such is Ronaldo's confidence, however, he again made no mistake to bring United level at 1-1.
Carlos Tevez then went close to giving United the lead after stepping off the bench, his 30-yard shot go narrowly wide in the 65th minute.
Arsenal swept forward again though in the 68th minute and Wes Brown's attempted clearance from Gael Clichy's cross came back off the post.
Hargreaves then gave United the lead with a superb free-kick.
With the Arsenal defence perhaps expecting a Ronaldo thunderbolt, the former Bayern Munich man curled his effort up and over the wall and beyond Lehmann.
It was only Hargreaves' second goal since his £17million move from the Bundesliga in the summer and it was one to savour.
Arsenal were stung after seeing United suddenly regain the ascendancy, knowing their title hopes were fading fast.
They kept driving forward in the hope of securing a point at least but it was all to no avail.
Gary Neville believes Manchester United FC have a "great chance" of going all the way to the UEFA Champions League final after completing a 3-0 aggregate victory over quarter-final opponents AS Roma.
United's 1-0 success on Wednesday night confirmed a semi-final showdown with FC Barcelona and Neville had extra cause for celebration after appearing for the first time since March last year as an 81st-minute substitute for Anderson. "It's good to be back, it's been a long time and I'm happy to be able to play a small part in what was a great result for us," he said. "This puts us into the semi-final and two magnificent games against Barcelona."
"We've got a great chance," added Neville, whose comeback from damaged ankle ligaments had been delayed by a series of niggling injuries. "When you get to the semi-final anything can happen. We're playing really well. Two years ago and particularly last year [when United lost to AC Milan in the semi-finals] maybe we weren't quite ready but this year there's a determination to go all the way."
The English champions have not faced Barcelona since two thrilling 3-3 draws in the group stage of the 1998/99 competition – a campaign, which ended with United triumphant in the final at Camp Nou. Neville predicted an "unbelievable" showpiece of attacking football over the two legs, the first of which is in Barcelona on 23 April with the return at Old Trafford six days later.
"Barcelona will be unbelievable games," he said. "The atmosphere will be brilliant, not just in Barcelona but at Old Trafford. Both teams will go for it. We played two games against them in '99 and they both ended 3-3 and that's the type of teams we are. Neither is defensive, we both play attacking football and there'll be some great players on show – I just hope our great players can outdo theirs."
Another United player to make his first European appearance of the season was Mikaël Silvestre, missing since September after a cruciate ligament injury. "It's been a long time but it's good to be back and good to be back with a win," said the Frenchman, who featured at left-back in a United defence which managed a sixth clean sheet in ten games in the competition, following Daniele De Rossi's first-half penalty miss. "If he'd scored that would have made it hard," admitted Silvestre. "It's another win and another clean sheet so we did well, especially because we had some changes in the team – Gerard Piqué and myself were in the back four, so it's good."
Liverpool FC stormed into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the third time in four years after a stunning finish to the game brought three goals in eight minutes and a disappointing end to Arsenal FC's campaign.
Liverpool looked on course for victory as goals from Sami Hyypiä and Fernando Torres, wiping out Abou Diaby's 13th-minute opener, left them leading going into the final minutes. Emmanuel Adebayor turned the tie on its head with six minutes remaining after a sensational run from Theo Walcott, but Arsenal's away-goal advantage was fleeting as Steven Gerrard converted a penalty moments later before Ryan Babel completed the scoring in added time.
It left the home support in raptures, yet they had been quietened early on as the visitors began positively following the 1-1 first-leg draw in London. Adebayor appeared particularly threatening and Arsenal's attacking approach was richly rewarded when Diaby broke down the inside right channel, collected Aleksandr Hleb's pass and fired low towards Pepe Reina's near post. The goalkeeper seemed to have it covered but the ball cannoned off his knee and into the net.
Stunned by their dream start, Arsenal's fans at the opposite end did not immediately realise their side had moved ahead on aggregate, but that soon changed and they had more to shout about in the opening half-hour. The home team, marginal favourites at kick-off, looked anything but. Nervy and unable to retain possession, Reina came close to spilling a dangerous Gaël Clichy cross, his travails exemplifying Liverpool's struggle to settle.
Yet by the 30th minute the Reds were level. In their first serious assault on Arsenal's goal, Hyypiä escaped the attentions of Philippe Senderos to meet Gerrard's centre with a firm header, beating Cesc Fabregas standing on the goalline as it went in off the post. Anfield erupted and Liverpool grew in confidence. Arsenal had a further setback just before the break when Mathieu Flamini was carried off with an ankle injury, though the contest was all-square at the interval.
Liverpool set about changing that after the restart, Peter Crouch troubling Manuel Almunia with a low drive to get the crowd fired up. The towering England striker then almost inadvertently steered in Fábio Aurélio's wayward shot with his heel, following good work down the right flank by Torres as Rafael Benítez's men stepped it up. Arsenal were no longer the dominant force, and the match swung firmly in Liverpool's favour in the 69th minute when Crouch nodded on a long clearance by Reina and Torres expertly turned into space and fired the ball high past Almunia into the top corner – a stunning goal worthy of the occasion.
It was merely the start of the drama. Arsenal briefly put themselves in pole position when Walcott sprinted past four Liverpool players before teeing up Adebayor. A minute later the initiative was wrested from Arsène Wenger's team when Kolo Touré was adjudged to have brought down Babel and Gerrard converted from the spot. Substitute Babel then calmed frayed nerves two minutes into added time, racing clear on the counterattack and sliding the ball past Almunia to cap an incredible evening.
Sir Alex Ferguson hopes Rio Ferdinand can play in Manchester United's UEFA Champions League tie with Roma.
Ferdinand was rated a major doubt for Wednesday's second leg of the quarter-final after suffering a foot injury against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
The centre-half left the Riverside with his foot in a protective cast and there were fears that Ferdinand had broken a metatarsal.
United confirmed on Monday that the England international had only suffered bruising, but reports claimed he would miss the club's next two games.
However, Ferguson has revealed at a press conference that Ferdinand could be involved in his team for Wednesday's second leg.
"I'm hoping he will be playing tomorrow," said Ferguson. "His scan was clear, which was good news.
"That's the most important thing and therefore we hope we can get him fit for tomorrow."
Ferdinand's potential availability is a big boost to United, who hold a 2-0 lead going into the tie, as Nemanja Vidic is out for at least a further week with a knee injury.
If Ferdinand had been ruled out of Roma's visit, then Wes Brown and Gerard Pique would likely have been partnered in the heart of the defence.
Captain Gary Neville and Mikael Silvestre are also in the squad for Wednesday night and Ferguson has said one of the defensive duo could start.
The United boss added: "Neville and Silvestre will both be involved and one of them may start depending on Rio.
"The good thing is that they are both back and training very well with no interruptions, which is the best news we've had about Gary for a few months now.
"I'm very confident about his progress now and his ability to play in a match like tomorrow. They have both got good experience and that helps me in terms of making a decision."
The second installment of Arsenal's epic trilogy against Liverpool takes centre stage in the Premier League this weekend, live on ESPN STAR SPORTS
Wednesday night's 1-1 draw in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final set the scene for the second Emirates Stadium meeting in the space of four days, with just as much at stake for both teams on the domestic stage.
The Gunners have gone from five points ahead of Manchester United to six adrift in the space of just over a month and cannot afford to allow the leaders to extend their advantage any further.
Any title hopes that were still flickering in the most optimistic of Anfield fans' minds were firmly snuffed out by their recent defeat at Old Trafford, but ensuring they remain ahead of Everton in the race for fourth place is essential.
Should either manager opt to rest key players on Saturday with one eye on Tuesday's Champions League showdown on Merseyside, it will send a clear message as to where their ambitions and priorities truly lie this season.
Not that United will be too concerned by the plans of their rivals, given their position at the summit of the league and the fact they already have one foot in the Champions League semi-finals after their 2-0 midweek win away to Roma.
A trip to Middlesbrough on Sunday awaits for Sir Alex Ferguson's side, live on Sky Sports 1, but Gareth Southgate's side have produced some of their best displays against the 'big four' this term.
Arsenal took just one point from their two meetings with Boro, Liverpool were held at the Riverside and Chelsea were fortunate to scrape a 1-0 success against Southgate's men at StamfordBridge last time out.
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Blues boss Avram Grant remains a man under pressure, despite Chelsea being in contention for silverware on two fronts, with Wednesday's 2-1 defeat against unfancied Fenerbahce in Istanbul giving more ammunition to his critics.
A trip to Eastlands to face fading ManchesterCity could provide the tonic Grant requires, but the home side will be fully motivated after their 6-0 battering at StamfordBridge earlier in the season and having performed so ineptly at Birmingham last weekend that they managed to raise the hackles of the normally unflappable Sven Goran Eriksson.
Despite last weekend's Merseyside derby defeat leaving them five points adrift, Everton still retain ambitions of overhauling their neighbours from across StanleyPark and will see the visit of relegated Derby on Sunday as a home banker.
Eight other teams are jostling to avoid the two remaining places in the bottom three, with current occupants Fulham and Bolton in danger of being cast adrift and handed the unwanted tickets into the Championship.
With Sunderland the visitors to Craven Cottage on Saturday, Roy Hodgson's men must halt a recent Black Cats resurgence that has seen them record back-to-back victories against Aston Villa and West Ham.
Bolton travel to Villa Park on a miserable sequence of eight defeats and three draws from their last 11 games, but Martin O'Neill's men have not won in their last five and are on a run of three consecutive defeats.
Wigan manager Steve Bruce will put all sentiment aside as he comes up against his former club Birmingham, who he left in somewhat acrimonious circumstances earlier in the season, in a vital six-pointer at the JJB Stadium.
The visitors are four points clear of the drop zone in 17th spot, while Bruce's charges are just one point better off and need to recover from consecutive defeats away to Blackburn and Portsmouth.
Fears that Kevin Keegan's dream return to Newcastle was in danger of descending into a nightmare have eased substantially with successive wins against Fulham and Tottenham.
A hat-trick of wins when Reading visit St James' Park would make the Magpies all-but safe, however the Royals are equally eager for the points to preserve their hard-earned Premier League status into a third campaign.
The final fixture of the weekend sees Blackburn play host to Tottenham who, despite claims to the contrary, appear to have switched off somewhat since their Carling Cup final triumph at the end of February.
Rovers retain hopes of securing a UEFA Cup spot via their league position, but have a seven-point gap to make up on Everton in fifth.
Arsenal v Liverpool
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League home games, with their last defeat on home soil coming against West Ham on 7th April, 2007. Arsenal have won each of their last four home league clashes with Liverpool and are unbeaten in seven home games against the Reds in the Premier League. They have scored 12 goals in total in their last four home league games against Liverpool. The Merseysiders have won just one of their last six away Premier League games.
Aston Villa v Bolton
Seven of the last nine league meetings between these two sides have ended in draws. Villa have failed to beat Bolton in their last six league meetings. The Trotters have won just one of their last 18 away league fixtures. The Villans have won just one of their last four home league games. This is Villa's best points tally from 32 games since 1997. Bolton were last relegated in 1998, and that season they had five points more from 32 games than in this campaign.
Blackburn v Tottenham
Rovers' 2-1 win against Tottenham earlier this season was their first league victory against Spurs in eight meetings. Four of the last six league clashes involving the two sides have ended in draws. Benni McCarthy has scored in the last two games against Tottenham. Mark Hughes' charges are unbeaten in six home league games, while Spurs have won just one of their last seven away league games, losing five of those matches. Tottenham's league games have produced an average of 3.63 goals per game this season.
Fulham v Sunderland
Fulham have won all three home Premier League games against Sunderland, with the Black Cats netting only one goal in total in those games. Sunderland have scored seven 90th minute goals this season, three of them giving the Black Cats a win. Fulham have lost only one of their last four league games. Sunderland have won their last two Premier League games, and have not won three in a row since December 2000. The Whites have thrown away 27 points from winning positions this season, with those points they would be in seventh place.
Manchester City v Chelsea
Chelsea have won their last five Premier League games against Manchester City and have conceded only one goal in their last 11 Premier League meetings against the Eastlands outfit. Chelsea have scored in their last seven Premier League away games. City have tasted victory in only one of their last seven Premier League games at Eastlands. This is the first time in Premier League history that ManchesterCity have lost fewer than 10 of their opening 32 games.
Newcastle v Reading
Despite two successive wins, Newcastle have never had as few points after 32 games as they do this campaign (35). Reading were 12 points better off this time last season. Reading have scored more away goals than Liverpool and Spurs this season, but only Derby have conceded more on the road. The Magpies have won just one of their last seven Premier League games at St James' Park. Reading have won just one of their last 16 away league encounters, at Middlesbrough.
Wigan v Birmingham
Wigan and Birmingham have met on three previous occasions in the Premier League and the Latics are still looking for their first win. Five of the 10 meetings between the two sides in all competitions have ended in draws. The Blues have won just one of their last 14 away Premier League fixtures and they have shipped more than one goal in nine of those 14 games. Wigan are unbeaten in four home league games, keeping clean sheets in all those four games. Birmingham's Stephen Kelly is the only outfield player in the entire league to have played every minute of every game this season.
Middlesbrough v Manchester United
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Middlesbrough and if the visitors were to win this game, it would be their 50th league victory over Boro. Seven of the last 10 goals scored in this fixture have come in the first 45 minutes. Middlesbrough have only won two of their 12 Premier League fixtures at home against United. United have never failed to score at Middlesbrough in the Premier League. Only four teams in Premier League history have had more points from 32 games than United do now, including last season's title-winning Red Devils side (78).
Everton v Derby
Everton have lost just one of their last six Premier League meetings with Derby. The Toffees' Lee Carsley played for Derby in their last away victory at Everton, back in February 1998. Everton have lost just one of their last 10 league games at GoodisonPark. The Rams have now gone 20 Premier League games without an away win. Derby will set a new record for games without a win (27) if they fail to triumph at GoodisonPark. Derby need four points from their last six games to avoid equalling Sunderland's record for fewest points in a season (15).
Paul Scholes has seen plenty during his 14 years as a Manchester United FC player but he believes Cristiano Ronaldo tops the lot.
The 33-year-old midfielder began his United career in the same youth team as David Beckham before graduating to the senior ranks in 1994, during an era when Eric Cantona was the darling of Old Trafford. Yet Scholes says winger Ronaldo, scorer of 35 goals in all competitions this season, deserves to stand alone for his "amazing" contribution.
"I think I've been quite lucky to have played with a lot of top, top players," said Scholes. "Cristiano has to be at the top now, purely for what he has done this season. To score the amount of goals he has done from his position has been nothing short of amazing. It is not just that – it's his making of chances as well and the threat he poses to other teams."
One of life's shy souls, Scholes has always been happy to see the attention deflected elsewhere but his own contribution to United's superb recent run should not be overlooked. Since returning from a knee ligament injury in late January, Scholes has gradually rediscovered his best form, a point his manager Sir Alex Ferguson acknowledged on the eve of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final visit to AS Roma. "He has been out for three and a half months, but now we can see the form coming back and we are delighted with him because, as you know, he is one of the great players," said the Scot.
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Scholes is expected to make his 99th appearance in the UEFA Champions League at the Stadio Olimpico and says he is looking forward to it as much as he did his first, a 2-2 draw against FC Barcelona on 19 October 1994. "It's a competition that everybody wants to win and every game is massive, especially at this stage. I look forward to it now as if it was my first game," said the former England player.
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