United earn credible draw – Chelsea thrashed in Paris: Champions League Quarterfinal review
Mitchell Gunn-USA TODAY Sports
Champions League quarterfinal first legs began this week, which meant very tough matches on the fixture list for Manchester United and Chelsea. The Red Devils were set to host the current holders Bayern Munich, while Chelsea traveled to Paris to take on tournament dark horse Paris Saint-Germain. By the end of 90 minutes, both English sides would have it all to do but with different challenges and circumstances to over come.
Manchester United 1-1 Bayern Munich
It was never going to be easy for United when it came to this fixture, but they responded incredibly well. Current Champions League holders Bayern Munich, arguably the best side in the world, paid a visit to Old Trafford in a fixture that left many assuming a first leg demolition. The Red Devils responded well and earned a credible 1-1 draw in a match that saw them play incredibly effective counter attacking football against the Bavarians. The inclusion of Danny Welbeck into the United XI proved crucial and his pace kept Munich unsettled throughout. The German outfit managed to grab a crucial away goal and United will now have to perhaps put in their best performance of their entire season if they hope to defeat Bayern at the Allianz Arena.
Implications and second-leg prediction: Bastian Schweinsteiger was sent off during the match and added to the absence of Thiago Alcantara, Bayern will have an interesting question to ask on how they should deploy for the second leg. United will no doubt yet again look to hit the Germans on the break if they are to try to peg a crucial away goal, but questions will remain if Moyes’ men can hold the German’s to only one goal at their home ground. I think United’s European dream comes to an end as they will be ousted in Munich, but full credit must be given to them.
Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Chelsea
PSG are widely being considered a dark horse for a run at the Champions League and they put their credentials to the test against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. It must be said that they passed with flying colors as the Blues were thrashed 3-1. PSG started incredibly quickly and were on the board early, only to be pegged back by none other than Eden Hazard from the spot. Chelsea’s first half display was solid and it was an even match, one which Zlatan Ibrahimovic barely featured in despite being in the starting XI. PSG’s vaunted depth in quality would come to haunt the Blues as the introduction of Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore would give the match a new tempo and a directness that would spell disaster for the London club. It would eventually lead to a David Luiz own-goal and a wonder strike from Pastore late on in stoppage time to give the Parisians a credible 3-1 win in front of their home support.
Implications and second-leg prediction: Injuries picked up in the match by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti means that PSG’s depth will suffer for the second leg and it will certainly be a boost to Chelsea’s hopes in the second leg. However without having a class recognized striker, Chelsea may still yet struggle to break the Parisians down as they did in the first leg. Stamford Bridge is a fortress, but PSG is a good a side as any with just as much fire power and a back four that is on par with the Blues. I cannot se PSG not scoring and likewise I do not see Chelsea scoring three. PSG to advance.