Key Matchups in the Champions League Final

By: Daryl | May 21st, 2008

Moscow final matchups

It’s Chelsea vs Man Utd today, so heree’s a breakdown of the key head to head battles between players, management and billionaire businessmen.

Ashley Cole vs Cristiano Ronaldo
They’ve gone at it a few times (back when Ronaldo was more of an orthodox right winger) and Cashley’s defensive skills held up surprisingly well. You still have to back C-Ron to give the lad a roasting now though, especially as Cashley’s carrying an ankle injury. But should C-Ron drift over to the left there’s an arguably more interesting battle vs occasional right back Michael Essien in the offing.
Prediction: C-Ron

Didier Drogba vs Nemanja Vidic
Maybe it will actually be Ferdinand marking Drogba. Maybe not. But Nemanja Vidic did a very silly thing and provoked Drogba this week, accusing the Ivorian of diving. Two top top players, but the smart money is on Drogba going out to prove a point to the Serbian.
Prediction: Drogbacite

Frank Lampard vs Paul Scholes
Not a direct head to head since neither man is fond of a tackle (and Scholes is incapable of timing one correctly) but in terms of attacking midfielders, these are your guys. Both will try a few long rangers and both will be looking to play that defence splitting pass.
Prediction: Draw

Michael Ballack vs Owen Hargreaves (if Hargreaves plays)
The two former Bayern teammates will face each other in midfield. Hargreaves will be responsible for defensive midfield duties, Ballack will be responsible for arriving late in the box and scoring. The form he’s been in lately I don’t think anyone can stop him. Both men will also be arguing over free kicks with Drogba and Ronaldo respectively.
Prediction: Ballack

Ricardo Carvahlo vs Wayne Rooney
These two have a bit of history, after Rooney stomped on Carvalho’s dangly bits during the 2006 World Cup. But though Carvalho’s had a good seaso, Wayne Rooney 2008 is a slightly calmer and (very slightly) more sophisticated model who won’t be doing anything silly in a big game like this.
Prediction: Rooney

Petr Cech vs Edwin van der Sar
Cech is arguably the better keeper, but van der Sar is the man in form. The big half-man half-giraffe just doesn’t seem to make mistakes, which used to be what we said about Cech.
Prediction: VDS

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Avram Grant
Fergie obvioulsy has a lot more Champions League experience than Grant, and 100% more Champions League final experience. But Grant has been around the block, and what he’s achieved at Chelsea this season in the face of some pretty overwhelming unpopularity deserves some recognition. The big question is: will Fergie overthink things and come up with a wonky formation? Or will h trust his attacking players and let them go for it?
Prediction: SAF

Roman Abramovich vs Malcolm Glazer
The two owners who will watch their playthings do battle. They’re sort of like the two old guys from Trading Places, while Chelsea and Man Utd are like Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd. Not sure which is which though.
Prediction: They both win, because they’re both obscenely rich

Don’t forget to enter our Champions League Final Predictor Contest (while there’s still time) and read today’s LiveBlog of the big game.