FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.04.2008 18:30

Identical routes to the semi-final

Míriam Nadal/Sergi Nogueras

Barça and Manchester United have reached their semi-final with statistically identical records in the Champions League.

Two of Europe’s biggest sides are going head-to-head in one of the Champions League semi-finals. And in fact the Catalans and the English have taken identical routes to get there: the figures couldn’t be more equal.

Eight out of ten

Both teams have steamrollered their way to the semi-finals having won 8 out of their 10 matches so far in this season’s Champions League. As if that weren’t enough, in the quarter finals both Barça and Manchester United won both the home and away legs of their ties. The Catalans disposed of Schalke (0-1, 1-0) while the Red Devils put out Roma (0-2, 1-0).

Unbeaten

Moreover neither side has lost a game so far in this term’s Champions League, drawing the two games they didn’t win. Barça drew in the group stage with Olympique de Lyon (2-2) and Glasgow Rangers (0-0), while United drew in the group stage with Roma (1-1) and in the away leg of their last 16 tie with Olympique de Lyon (1-1).

Same goal records

To round things off, both Barça and Manchester United have been equally forceful in attack and sound at the back. So far they have each scored 18 goals, an average of 1.8 per game, and have the second-best defensive records in the competition at 5 goals conceded, behind only Chelsea on 4.