host must win

Chapter 156 Popularity Must Die?

After unexpectedly winning the championship early, the Manchester United did not celebrate, because they immediately faced a more critical game: the Champions League semi-final against Juventus at home!
For Manchester United, they have won the Premier League title 11 times in 8 years, which makes the excitement brought by the Premier League title less intense.

Perhaps for new players like Yin Jun and Ferdinand, and players like Ruud van Nistelrooy who have not yet won the Premier League title, the Premier League championship is very attractive, but for Giggs, Scott For old Manchester United players like Ernes, Beckham, Butt, and Keane, winning the Premier League championship is really not a big deal, but a routine operation.

However, for all Manchester United players, holding the Big Ears Cup is absolutely attractive, because even for the old Manchester United players, the last time they won the Big Ears Cup was four years ago.And many Manchester United players have never won the Champions League.

The match against Juventus, the schedule is not too friendly for Manchester United. The arrangement of the match first, then away, considering the advantage of away goals, is not very favorable.

Although this season has the experience of double-killing Juventus at home and away, especially the 3-0 victory over Juventus in the away game, but it was still during the group stage, and everyone's attitude towards the game was not comparable to that of today's semi-finals.

Now that the two teams meet again, the experience of the confrontation more than two months ago does not have much reference value.

However, whether it is the odds offered by the major gambling companies or the predictions of the major media, they are more optimistic about Manchester United's victory at home.

For Manchester United today, it is very important to achieve enough goal difference in this home game and at the same time prevent Juventus from scoring away goals as much as possible.

Of course, the best result is to achieve a decisive victory at home, thus laying the foundation for advancing to the final.But the opponent is a giant team like Juventus, and it is undoubtedly a dream come true to want to complete all their achievements in one battle.

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When the game started on the night of May 5, the Manchester United people discovered that when Juventus played against the two sides in February today, it was like a different team.

The temperature at Old Trafford was less than 10 degrees Celsius. 3 fans came to cheer, including [-] Juventus fans. Watch the game from the VIP seats.

For Juventus, Davis, Tacchinardi and Montero are suspended.Lippi paid more attention to midfield defense, Camoranesi did not start, Conte and Tudor appeared in the middle, and Juliano replaced Montero as a central defender.

Juventus's starting lineup is 4321 in the Christmas tree formation. The goalkeeper is the teenager Buffon, Thuram, Ferrara, Iuliano and Bilindelli to form the defense. Zambrotta, Conte, Tudor partner three The two midfielders are Nedved and Del Piero, and Trezeguet is at the front alone.

On Manchester United's side, Ferguson can be said to be the best, forming a 4231 formation.Butters guards the goal, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Sylvester form the back line, the double defensive midfielder is the captain Roy Keane and the teenager Fletcher, and the three forwards are Yin Jun, Scholes and Giggs, Ruud van Nistelrooy as a single arrow.

Ferguson's employment is somewhat surprising. On the one hand, he put Beckham on the bench again, and on the other hand, he let the teenager Fletcher start, forming a defensive double midfielder with Keane.

The two giants are full of superstars, and they are definitely the top and most luxurious super lineups in Europe.

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Both teams had thoroughly studied their opponents before the game, and Manchester United, which was playing at home, put on a mad attacking posture from the very beginning, and the two sides frequently created threats, especially Yin Jun and Gary Neville. right road.

Juventus are obviously also mentally prepared for the difficulties they will encounter in the game. The defensive thickness of the Christmas tree formation makes Manchester United's offense seem to be very powerful, but it has never been able to create a threat.

The first threatening shot of the game was precisely a counterattack from Juventus. Trezeguet grabbed the first spot in the penalty area and pushed the ball to Del Piero who was inserted in the back row. He kicked directly to the goal nine meters away from the goal.But Manchester United's right-back Gary Neville stubbornly used his body as a shot to block and resolved a crisis.

Afterwards, the Red Devils quickly retaliated. Yin Jun changed direction continuously on the right to get rid of two defenders, then crossed the penalty area obliquely, and accurately sent the ball to the feet of Van Nistelrooy in the penalty area. The Dutch striker pushed the ball five meters in front of the goal. An empty goal, but unfortunately, Van Nistelrooy's shot hit the right post and went out of the bottom line.

Just 1 minutes later, Scholes took the ball at the front of the penalty area and got rid of Zambrotta, then volleyed vigorously with his right foot and the ball hit the post.

Two consecutive attacks have created threats, and Manchester United's offensive is frightening.

Manchester United's strong performance on the field undoubtedly verified that the major bookmakers are not aimless in their optimism about Manchester United. This team that can beat the mighty Real Madrid is indeed extraordinary.

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But just when more than 60,000 fans were expecting to see Manchester United score, the situation suddenly reversed.

Buffon made a big kick in the backcourt, Zambrotta and Conte flew consecutive headers in the frontcourt, Tudor got the ball in the middle, Piero bounced the ball on the left thigh of the penalty area, turned around and got rid of Ferdinand's marking with his right foot Shot, the ball hit Gary Neville with a slight change of direction with his left leg, Trezeguet stopped the ball in the middle of the abdomen, faced Wes Brown who stepped forward to intercept, and calmly pushed the right foot outside the instep 7 meters in front of the goal Score from the bottom corner.

A sudden goal made everyone in Juventus crazy.Not to mention the coaching staff on the sidelines, even everyone on the bench cheered and celebrated.

1:0, Juventus leads Manchester United away!

The goal hero Trezeguet rushed to the sidelines quickly, celebrating and cheering his goal.

Juventus players rushed to Trezeguet's side one after another, celebrating unscrupulously towards the fans and the camera.

Because of the fact that Juventus was double-killed by Manchester United in the second stage of the Champions League group stage this season, Juventus attaches great importance to Manchester United.After the start of the game, Manchester United's offensive was really too fierce, which made Juventus more firm in their hearts.

It is precisely because of this that Juventus is very happy now that they have scored first. They can carry out the defensive counterattack tactics to their heart's content.

If they can beat Manchester United in the away game, even if it is a small 1-0 victory, Juventus will also have the confidence to eliminate Manchester United and break into the Champions League final this season.

(End of this chapter)