Although the two UEFA Champions League semi-finals were characterized as a 'youth storm' by the mainstream European media, it was Manchester United's home game against AC Milan that attracted more attention.

However, this is not necessarily a bad thing for the two teams of Valencia and Liverpool, even the slightest mistake in the case of high attention will be infinitely magnified, so in this case, the pressure will be much less, and it will also be very helpful for both sides of the game.

After the controversy over Mascherano's threat to beat Aillo, the Liverpool players did not give interviews to reporters at Benitez's request, focusing more on the first leg of the Champions League semi-final in the future.

At 8:45 p.m. on the 25th, 2:45 a.m. Beijing time on the 26th, Manchester United's home game against AC Milan in the 2006-2007 UEFA Champions League semi-finals kicked off at Old Trafford.

After 90 minutes of battle, United took advantage of the home advantage to win the game, but unfortunately they allowed Kaka to score two goals at Old Trafford, which means that the away team AC Milan got two away goals, which is a big hidden danger for the two-legged knockout round.

However, it is not Manchester United's difficult victory in the game, nor AC Milan who scored two away goals, but the two protagonists of the trio who have just been reported by the mainstream media in Europe.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and Kaka didn't show weakness with a brace!

If you look at the wonderful Cheng dù, Kaka's two goals are even more attractive.

In addition to Kaka's brace, Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick was completely different from what Iello remembered, and he clearly remembered that it was Wayne Rooney who scored twice to help Manchester United win at home.

Has history changed?

Thinking of this, Elo's confidence in Valencia winning the Champions League this season has increased a lot!

By the time I watched the game, it was almost eleven o'clock in the evening, so Iroh washed up and went back to his bedroom to sleep, because ...... Tomorrow night it's their turn.

You have to be mentally minded!

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Manchester is not far from Valencia, but for journalists, whether it is near or far, they must fly across the ocean to Valencia to report on this Champions League semi-final.

At the regular press conference before the game, Valencia, who played at home, was different from usual, this time with the participation of the club's general manager, Carboni.

On behalf of the club, he thanked Rafael Benitez for his contribution to the club.

Flores then spoke with confidence in the upcoming Champions League semi-finals.

The successive statements of the general manager and the head coach are also equivalent to salute first and then soldier.

The first leg of the Champions League semi-final at the Mestalla Stadium was naturally packed, and unlike usual, the number of Chinese fans poured in more than at any home stadium this season.

Similarly, the number of Chinese journalists who came to the scene reached the highest number of this season.

There are countless fans waiting in front of the TV or computer, and those who have not played football before are also watching the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final kick-off at 2.45am.

The starting line-up handed over to UEFA half an hour before the game goes like this.

The home team's goalkeeper is still Canizares, while the back line is Moretti, Ayala, Albiol and Del Horno, while the midfield is the strongest trio of Baraja, Albelda and Ballack, and the forwards are David Silva, David Villa and Elo.

Aside from the surprise of Moretti's move to right-back and Ayala's return to the starting line-up, there were no differences in the rest of the line-up.

Similarly, Liverpool also fielded their strongest line-up, with Reyna in goal, a line of defenders lined up, Arbeloa, Carragher, Ager and Reese, captains Gerrard, Mascherano, Xavi Alonso and Zenden in midfield, and Bellamy and Kuyt in the midfield, the standard four-four-two formation.

When Sky TV announcer Andy Gray got the starting line-up for both sides, the first thing he looked at was Valencia's starting line-up, which was not far from what he had guessed, and it was also the strongest lineup they could have at the moment.

Liverpool, on the other hand, had some changes in position, so he said into the microphone: "It seems that Liverpool, who are playing away, still have the idea of scoring points away from home, as we all know, Kuyt is a very hard-working striker, in addition to scoring when he should score, he also often appears in key positions when the team needs to defend, and the other striker Bellamy is also known for his speed in European football, and he is definitely a good counter-attacker, but ......"

As for why Andy Gray didn't finish his sentence, the reason is that Bellamy may have been a breakthrough point for Valencia to upset the balance on the field.

Because...... Bellamy had a hard time controlling his temper.

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In the pre-match tactical planning, Flores had a request for the defenders to make them unconsciously provoke Bellamy, of course, in this regard, in moderation, and not to be left by the referee.

At the same time, Benitez also asked Bellamy, "Craig, you have to know the importance of this game, this is the Champions League semi-final, I'm sure the fans want to see your goal more, and I also want you to focus more on how to put the ball in the opponent's goal, you know?" ”

Bellamy raised his head in disbelief, looked at Benitez in front of him, and nodded in a wooden voice.

Although a little stunned, but he is not stupid, if there is disharmony with the manager at this time, it must be himself who loses the opportunity, this season's Liverpool is a big Buddha, maybe after the season can win a Champions League title, what a good thing.

In addition to telling Bellamy to pay attention to his temper, Benitez also focused on Mascherano, because this game is his time to prove himself, and the person he is responsible for marking is - Iro!

The top scorer in the 2006-2007 UEFA Champions League, or the top scorer in Europe's top five leagues that year.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely prevent him from dying!"

These are the words of Maschénano to Benitez, concise and direct!

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There was no difference between this game and the usual Champions League matches, and after a series of rituals that were repeated every game, it was up to the captains of both sides to go to the halfway line near the sidelines and guess the ball at the referee's table.

In the end, Valencia won the right to pick the edge and lost the right to kick off.

For a moment, the players on both sides were on their sides, while the referee stood in the half-court arc of Valencia, his eyes on his watch, waiting for kick-off time to arrive.

The national commentators in the live studio are also making final preparations, waiting for the referee's whistle.

Beep~~~~~

With the referee's whistle, the 2006-2007 UEFA Champions League semi-final Valencia hosts Liverpool officially announced.

Liverpool kicked off first, but instead of taking advantage of the kick-off and attacking quickly, they played the ball back to the heart of midfield, Xavi Alonso, and the formation of the team dispersed.

This Liverpool team, under the management of Benitez, is more likely to keep the ball at their feet when they don't have a chance, so they are not weak in possession, and the Valencia players are not in a hurry to get up.

For example, the chance of a direct ball break and a counterattack against Inter Milan in the first leg of the 1/8 finals is too small, and you can't become fat in one bite, and the same is true for goals, you have to slowly adapt to the opponent's defensive rhythm to be able to kill with one blow.

Otherwise, if the counterattack is not successful, but the opponent seizes the opportunity to score first, it will be troublesome.

After all, Bellamy's speed is not negligible, and in a detailed number released by the famous football research institute CIES at the beginning of the year, Bellamy's 100-meter speed is only ranked behind Iroh by a disadvantage of 0.2s, so I have to guard against it.

Therefore, Flores put Moretti, who is good at defending, on the right side, and also sent in the veteran Ayala, experience is a valuable asset for the team.

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In the opening minutes, neither side rushed to use their housekeeping skills, but focused more on snatching control of the midfield, or rather, this was a mutual test of each other, and no one could afford to lose in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Although Valencia were a three-man midfielder, they did much better than Liverpool in terms of control, as Flores used David Silva in midfield rather than as a winger.

If Baraja is full-time defensive, Albelda is linked up in central midfield, and Ballack is responsible for cutting in and shooting from distance, then David Silva's role in the team is that of attacking playmaker.

Originally, Flores used David Silva as a pure winger, but because of Ballack's injury before, Angulo was useless, so he used the mentality of trying to put David Silva in the position of second striker and forward midfielder, but what he didn't expect was that the effect was unexpected, excellent vision and excellent reading of the game, often able to send fatal passes to David Villa and Elo.

So in this crucial Champions League semi-final, David Silva is registered as a right winger, but the actual position is the attacking playmaker!

With the change of David Silva's position on the pitch, so has Elo's position, he is no longer a pure left winger, and he has a lot of freedom in this game.

Speaking of which, I have to praise Mascherano's personal ability, one word strong!

Wherever Iello runs, he follows, with or without the ball.

Similarly, Iroh was defended by Mascherano without a bit of temper when he got the ball, he was physically strong and had a low center of gravity and quick turning, allowing him to make defensive moves at the same time as he made a breakthrough.

Overall, the opening minutes of the game were all about testing each other, and there was a clear indicator for both sides of the game, Valencia was the main attacker, while Liverpool ...... Main defense.

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