UEFA Champions League semi-final predictions

OK, the UEFA Champions League is now in semi-final stage. The line-up is:

Manchester United v AC Milan
Chelsea v Liverpool

Teams named first play the first leg at home. First leg will be tomorrow & Thursday morning. The second leg takes place in the middle of next week.

English sides have done very well this season, with 3 of them in the semis. Milan will hope to prevent an all-English final. So, how will the sides fare? Here's my forecast for both legs:

Manchester United v AC Milan:

This is seen as a battle between youth (Man Utd) & experience (Milan). Man Utd have been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks, particular in defense. But they will look for inspiration at their spectacular demolition of Roma in the quarter-finals. Playing the first leg at home, they will be expected to take the game to Milan. They will certainly hope to get revenge on the Milanese for their defeat to Milan 2 years ago, when both sides faced each other in the round of 16.

Milan will be more street-wise than the comparatively naive Roma, & will hope to get at least an away goal to take home for the second leg. If they can keep Cristiano Ronaldo quiet, I think they will have a great chance of progressing. And over the 2 legs, I think their experience will make the difference. Verdict: Milan to go through.

Chelsea v Liverpool:

This is a replay of the Champions League semi-finals 2 years ago, which Liverpool narrowly beat glamour London side Chelsea & went on to win the trophy in such spectacular fashion in the final. In fact, since that semi-final tie, relations between both clubs have soured somewhat, particularly as Chelsea have been aggrieved with the manner in which they bombed out (losing to a goal which they feel should not have stood).

This game is expected to be a very close affair, as both sides know each other so well. Liverpool will be confident with their chances of going through, since they've been in good form of late, both domestically & in Europe. Also, they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup semis in 2006, so they feel they the edge when it comes to facing Chelsea in knock-out games. Chelsea thirst for revenge for that semi-final defeat, & I think this extra motivation will spur them on to the final. Verdict: Chelsea to go through. I tipped the Londoners to win the tournament, since Barcelona were eliminated in the round of 16. I will stick to this prediction.
Both semi-finals will be very tough & very competive. But in the end, I think the final will be between Milan & Chelsea, with Chelsea emerging victorious.