ManU v. Inter Milan: The first leg of the round of 16

I know what some of you are saying, "What the Hell is he talking about?" But tomorrow, the reigning European champions ManU travel to Milan to play in San Siro and face the other best team in the world.



On Tuesday, current European Champions ManU travels to Milan to play in San Siro against the other best club in the world (sorry Barca), Inter Milan. Both clubs are ahead on top of the tables in their domestic league with nearly insurmountable leads. Especially if Liverpool keeps losing out on points. No one is catching Inter in Serie A this year.

So that is why this game in particular is so important. I feel that whoever wins between these two clubs has absolutely the best shot at winning the entire Champions League. Stranger things have happened, but right now it is these two clubs who are way above everybody else.

Inter skipper Jose Mourinho had this to say about the match-up the other day:

"Before the draw I said that I wanted United and some people thought I was
crazy," Mourinho told MUTV.

"After all, why would I want the top team in Europe? But I wanted them
because it’s a big challenge and because it will be difficult.

"It’s a special draw for my players and I won’t need to motivate them for
this tie. The best matches to play in are against the best sides and the best
side at the moment is Manchester United."

This game is going to come down to a couple of things. How well is Rooney going to play after coming back from the hamstring injury? (so far so good). Can ManU hold off Ibrahimovic and Adriano, who's really been playing well? And how many free kicks is Ronaldo going to get a shot at (did you see that goal last game, wew). But above all else, can Inter score on a club that seamingly has not let any get into the back of the net all season.

ManU's D is a concern as the UK Telegraph reports:

Ferguson, whose team drew 1-1 in their only previous trip to Inter on their
way to a Champions League victory in 1999, was already going to be without
Nemanja Vidic due to suspension, but Gary Neville is struggling with a virus,
Jonny Evans is doubtful with an ankle injury sustained against Blackburn and Wes
Brown is set to miss several weeks with a metatarsal problem.

If John O'Shea is unable to overcome a heel injury, there are no other
obvious candidates to slot in alongside Rio Ferdinand in the centre of his
defence, with the diminutive Da Silva twins, who are both full-backs, and
Richard Eckersley, 19, with just two senior substitute appearances to his name,
the only other recognised defenders in the United squad.

After Saturday's victory – United's 16th in 17 matches in all competitions –
Evans was not prepared to rate his chances of featuring in Italy but Ferguson
knows how important his central defence will be tomorrow night, having
highlighted his belief that the main threat from Jose Mourinho's team is the
power of their front players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano.

United's goals against column is all the more remarkable given that Vidic is
the champions' only first-choice defender not to have a spell on the sidelines
so far this season but while absences have been regular, Ferguson has not been
hit by so many at the same time during the current campaign.

Goal. com is focusing on the other players in a match with two sides filled with the top players in the world:

Other Key Players

Midfielders Ryan Giggs and Javier Zanetti both started the last time Inter and Manchester United met in the Champions League, ten long years ago. The Red Devils went on to win the competition on that occasion, which was part of their treble winning season of 1999. Zanetti has constantly voiced his desire over the years to be drawn against them again and now he has his wish. Will the Argentine get his revenge or will the Welsh wizard add another victory to his long list of achievements?

Manchester United finally conceded a goal on Saturday evening as Blackburn Rovers ended United’s clean sheet record of 1,337 goal-free Premier League minutes. But Edwin van der Sar could return in midweek and his form has been exceptional of late. With an abundance of offensive ability involved, both he and Julio Cesar will likely be called into some spectacular actions during the match. Meanwhile, Dejan Stankovic is fully capable of helping out the offence with a sublime pass or by making a late run - the same goes for Paul Scholes (should he play).

This has all the makings to be the best game of the year, I'm not kidding, it's that big. On the betting side of this little match-up, I'm taking 100 points on the draw going at 2/1. I think ManU plays stifling D and Inter won't be able to put one past van Der Sar.