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Champions League

Dominant United too strong for Schalke

FC Schalke 04 0-2 Manchester United FCGoals in quick succession from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney broke Schalke's resistance and left United on the brink of a third final in four years.

Manchester United FC can all but smell the Wembley turf after taking a huge step towards a third UEFA Champions League final in four seasons with victory at FC Schalke 04.
United, appearing in their 12th semi-final, completely dominated a Schalke side new to this stage of the competition and got the victory their superiority deserved through strikes from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney. The winning margin would have been greater but for the brilliance of home goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who made a string of fine saves before United finally broke through with two goals in three minutes midway through the second period, leaving Schalke with a mountain to climb in next Wednesday's return.
First impressions can be deceptive and so it proved here when Schalke midfielder Alexander Baumjohann forced a save from Edwin van der Sar after 29 seconds. It was in the other direction that the traffic would flow, virtually incessantly, for the rest of the match.
United's defensive impregnability had been the main feature of their away performances but here it was all about their attack, with Rooney in inspirational form on the ground where he lived the nightmare of a FIFA World Cup red card against Portugal in 2006. The England forward set the tone in the third minute when picking up the ball on the left corner of the box and curling a shot that, via a slight deflection from Atsuto Uchida, was headed for the far corner until Neuer got a fingertip to the ball.

Champions League

Mourinho calls on Madrid to find will to win

José Mourinho has been quoting Albert Einstein to inspire his players, a tactic that may be working as Josep Guardiola prepares FC Barcelona to meet a side "in their form of the season".

 

A week on from guiding Real Madrid CF to Copa del Rey glory against FC Barcelona, José Mourinho is anticipating a "different game" when the arch-rivals contest the first leg of a much-anticipated all-Spanish UEFA Champions League semi-final. Though his team won that most recent meeting 1-0 thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's header, the Madrid coach says "my opinion is that there are no favourites" for the tie. Opposite number Josep Guardiola, meanwhile, fears the hosts are in their best form of the season.

Champions League

Rangnick braced for Schalke's 'biggest game'

FC Schalke 04 coach Ralf Rangnick is well aware of the magnitude of the tie with Manchester United FC but hopes to capitalise on the fact the visitors "have more to lose" than his side.

FC Schalke 04 coach Ralf Rangnick has described his team's semi-final against Manchester United FC as the biggest game of his, and many of his players' careers. By contrast Sir Alex Ferguson pointed to his squad's experience of this stage as a cause for confidence, along with their freshness, but admitted there was always apprehension with the final just one step away.

English Premier League

City beat Blackburn to consolidate fourth

Edin Džeko's first Premier League goal was enough to strengthen Manchester City FC's grip on England's final UEFA Champions League spot as they won 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers FC

Manchester City FC moved four points clear of Tottenham Hotspur FC in the race for England's final UEFA Champions League spot after a 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers FC.
Edin Džeko's 75th-minute strike was enough for Roberto Mancini's men at Ewood Park. It was the Bosnian international's first Premier League goal and consigned Blackburn to a tenth straight top-flight game without victory, with Steve Kean's side sitting just a point above the relegation zone.
City started well and David Silva hit the post with an instinctive effort early on. The hosts were struggling to contain the visitors, but held out until half-time and were markedly improved after the break. However, City remained dangerous and took the lead when Silva's scuffed effort was half-cleared to substitute Džeko, who placed his shot to Paul Robinson's left.

Champions League

Cool Van der Sar savours final straight

Edwin van der Sar aims to thwart an old adversary in Raúl González on Tuesday as Manchester United FC's phlegmatic Dutch keeper bids to write a glorious final chapter of his sporting life.

Sir Alex Ferguson jokingly replied "I don't know" in his best German when asked by a local journalist about his reported interest in signing FC Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, yet behind the smiles lay a more serious question: namely, how the Scot will replace Edwin van der Sar this summer?
Manchester United FC's UEFA Champions League challenge this term has been founded on a strong defence with the Premier League leaders yet to concede on their travels and Van der Sar, as assured as ever at the age of 40, has been key to that effort.
The Dutch keeper, who will retire at the season's end, belied his years once more on Saturday during United's 1-0 home win against Everton FC, pulling off a fingertip save to deny visiting midfielder Jack Rodwell with the game goalless. That stop helped United secure a success that leaves them on the cusp of another domestic title, one that would mean Van der Sar bowing out with a fourth Premier League winner's medal to add to the same number won with AFC Ajax.

Champions League

Figo forecasts thrills aplenty in latest Clásico

Former Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona winger Luís Figo tells UEFA.com why he expects the Liga rivals' UEFA Champions League semi-final tie to "go down in the history books".

The UEFA Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona is set to capture the imagination of the footballing world, yet for one man this mouthwatering tie will provoke a unique range of emotions.
Luís Figo excelled for both clubs during his glittering playing career, winning a pair of Liga titles and a European trophy with each. His switch from Barcelona to the Santiago Bernabéu in 2000 remains one of the most talked-about transfers in history, arousing a combination of disbelief in Catalonia and joy in the capital. Including the pulsating UEFA Champions League semi-final contest in 2001/02, the former Portugal captain has been involved in more than his share of memorable Clásicos.
Nobody therefore is better placed to evoke the modern-day rivalry than the 38-year-old. With the first leg taking place in Madrid on Wednesday, Figo told UEFA.com why he expects the latest heavyweight bout to be every bit as intense as the ones he featured in. "These are matches that will always be remembered," he said.
"They take place every year but they're remembered due to the history behind the fixture. There's a great rivalry between these clubs for football and also social reasons. That's why the rivalry is so big, but it's important to stress that it's only a football match and people need to look at it in that sense. The stronger team on the day will win."