Tonight's second leg semi-final, that at Old Trafford provided so much drama and beauty, is breathtakingly poised. Although their first-choice centre backs, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, both did travel, they have not played together since the stonebuilt Serb dislocated his shoulder at the end of March. In eight subsequent matches, United have kept one clean sheet and conceded 11 times.

Ferguson must believe that Milan, who require the archetypal Italian scoreline, a 1-0 home victory, will score. Having seen Patrice Evra and Gabriel Heinze collide to provide Kaka with an open route to what should have been a decisive second goal, throwing in Vidic seems like an acceptable risk. Ferdinand, who has broken down with a groin strain in successive matches, is another matter. His susceptibility to aggravating the injury might play on his already suspect but improving concentration.

This is the third time Manchester United have faced Milan in the San Siro cauldron and on each occasion they have failed to score. In 1958 and 1969 the price was a European Cup final; two years ago it was the pain of admitting Carlo Ancelotti's side were playing football on a different plane.

They need a sweeping, confident display such as the Ryan Giggs-inspired demolition of Juventus in the Stadio delle Alpi four years ago, which was the last time United slew a big European beast in its own lair. There are obvious parallels with Ferguson's last semi-final against Ancelotti, in 1999. Then, having drawn at Old Trafford, United fell two goals behind to Juventus - scored by Filippo Inzaghi, who will lead the Milan attack tonight - and recovered to win 3-2.

It came at the cost of the loss, through suspension, of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane for the final. Should either Scholes or Cristiano Ronaldo be booked, they will suffer the same fate and so, incidentally, will Paolo Maldini.

This season there has been a waterfall of words expended on Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo, and rightly so. Plethora of superlatives have been showered upon and pundits n commentators alike will be forced to scour their dictionaries for yet another enticingly virtuoso display by the duo. Nevertheless, a trickle on some real heroes, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher and Wes Brown: squad players who stepped up in a way some did not think them capable. Fulfilling Ferguson's prophetic words of these so called fringe players who would win them championships.

All in all, mouth-watering clash of 2 truly European greats. This extremely biased n irrationally skewed author will stick out his neck n triumphantly predict a 2-1 victory for the Pride of Manchester. (5-3 on aggregate)

#7 out

p/s open invitation to all who wants to go watch the game tonight..
will leave around 0200 hrs. come for the game, if not, the company =)
destination undecided. contact any level 2 guys for further details..
joshua roared at 12:42.