Wednesday, 21 May 2008

UEFA Champions League FINAL tonight. Tune in from 7:30 BST. (5:30 EST)

Is the English Premier League the best league in the world?

The debate continues, and I am sure that English Premier League fans will continue to say it is, the final of the Champions League is an all Premiership event so perhaps that gives weight to the argument?

;)

discuss it on the forums.

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=356

Manchester United beat Barcelona on their way to the final The first leg in Catalonia had been a 0-0 draw, but in the return leg at Old Trafford Paul Scholes scored the winner in some style.

Chelsea had to get past Liverpool to reach the final. In the first leg of the semi final at Anfield Chelsea were 1-0 down until an own goal from John Arne Riise in injury time made it a draw at 1-1.

The second leg went to Extra Time after it was all square at 1-1 after 90 minutes. A penalty from Frank Lampard and a goal from Didier Drogba saw the Stamford Bridge outfit make it through to the final in Moscow.

team news:

Nani is expected to be recalled for Manchester United to the squad after being suspended for the final day title decider in the league. Centre-back Nemanja Vidic sat out final training yesterday but staff at the club insist he is to fit to start. Ryan Giggs is expected to start the game amongst the substitutes so Ji-Sung Park is likely to start.

Paul Scholes, who missed the 1999 Champions League final is likely to start the match. Sir Alex Ferguson has a tactical decision to make, whether to play Owen Hargreaves in midfield or start with Carlos Tevez up front. Hargreaves may be used alongside Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes to counter Chelsea's midfield trio of Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack.

Defenders Ricardo Carvalho and John Terry are both expected to start the game for Chelsea, Ashley Cole got a late injury in training and is a doubt. The England International left-back hurt his ankle after a strong challenge from Claude Makelele and went off for treatment yesterday.

Manchester United squad: Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Heaton; Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Neville, O'Shea, Pique, Silvestre, Anderson, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Nani, Park, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Saha, Welbeck.

Chelsea squad: Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Belletti, Ferreira, Alex, Ben-Haim, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, J Cole, Malouda, Drogba, Shevchenko, Anelka, Mikel.

Here's the latest article from the Soccer site at BellaOnline.com. You can look forward to a full report on the Champions League final, last weeks UEFA CUP Final and a full round up of the European Leagues for the 2007-08 season.

English Premier League Finale

A lookback at the final weekend of the English Premier League Season. Winners and losers. and is the EPL the best league in the world?

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art56932.asp

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Alice Jones, Soccer Editor
http://soccer.bellaonline.com
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