Premier League season reaching the business end

Photograph from Flickr

As the calendar flicks over towards March, everyone involved in football starts to get that tingling feeling as the Premier League season starts to unfold. As managers start to feel the pressure, every game starts to take on greater significance.

Over the last twenty years the Premier League has seen many thrilling finishes, from West Brom's great escape when the last day saw four teams fight it out for one survival spot, to last year's stunning title victory for Manchester City over city rivals United on goal difference.

Ferguson v Mourinho: A Rivalry Renewed

Nine years ago Sir Alex and the 'Special One' met for the first time in a last sixteen clash in a spanking new Estádio do Dragão with the home side Porto coming out on top 2-1 thanks to two goals from the South African Benni McCarthy. 1-0 Mourinho. 

The victory was complete in the second leg as a second half equaliser and a dubious offside decision saw the Portistas win the tie 3-2 and spark memorable celebrations from their motivational coach. 

The next season saw Mourinho join the Abramovich revolution at Chelsea and he swept to successive titles, enjoying three wins, including a magnificent 3-1 victory at Old Trafford to set a Premier League record of 95 points in 2005. 

In the 2005/06 season Ferguson did notch up his first win over Mourinho, but still finished second best in the title race and had to wait until 2009 for his second triumph. That was the last time the two managers met as the Red devils won 2-0 over Inter Milan in the San Siro to cruise into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.  

Mourinho	Draw	Ferguson
6	5	2

Tonight they meet again in a clash of two of the three most valuable clubs in the world, not only in football, but in sport as a whole. 

Mourinho's Real Madrid got the better of the much-heralded Barcelona to win the La Liga title last campaign, but now sit 16 points off top and behind city rivals Atletico in third and in poor form.

Ferguson's United have dominated the Premier League this season and now sit 12 points clear of rivals Manchester City and on course to match their historic treble of 1998/99. The front two of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie are likely to be Real's biggest threat, especially with the home side's centre back Pepe just returning from injury and full-back Marcelo dropped for being overweight. 

Mourinho will place his trust in former United star Cristiano Ronaldo, a man who swapped Manchester for Madrid in an £80 million move four years ago. Even Sir Alex himself has admitted that he did not expect him to score the amount of goals that he has in Spain and that he is now reaching his peak. 

There have been problems aplenty at the Bernabeu this season, with Mourinho slated for dropping legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas and rumours of unrest in the boardroom surrounding the club. It seems likely that the great Portuguese will be on his way out sometime soon, probably at the end of the season and he has stated that he wants to return to England. 

But before these two great men can continue their rivalry on a more permanent basis, this pallet-wetting tie will decide which of these two huge clubs are still in with a chance of regaining the European title. 

Real hold the record of being champions of Europe nine times, while United have won just three. Ferguson himself has won two of those, but accepts that for a club of their size, they should have won more. At least the English team have been in the final three times in the last five years, the Galacticos haven't been there since 2002. 

The last time these two sides met was in an epic 2003 encounter when the defending champions saw off United 6-5 on aggregate, despite a 4-3 defeat in the second leg when future Galactico David Beckham scored twice off the bench. 

If tonight's match, and indeed the tie, even comes close to matching that night a decade ago then we will be in for a treat as two huge clubs and great managers go head to head. 

First leg prediction: Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester United

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United's spirit shows no sign of wavering

Manchester United fought back from two goals down at Villa Park to stun Paul Lambert's men thanks to two goals from substitute Javier Hernandez. 

In the week that marks his 26th year in charge at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson made a typically spot-on decision when he sent on the young Mexican at half-time. Chicharito was heavily involved with all three goals; scoring the first, hitting a shot that was deflected in by Ron Vlaar for the equaliser, before heading in the winner three minutes from time.  

After being pipped by city rivals Manchester City to the title on goal difference last season Ferguson would have made it clear that nothing but a league triumph will do this time round. He sent out a massive signal of intent when he signed Robin van Persie from Arsenal for £24 million in the summer and the Dutchman has rewarded him with 11 goals so far this year, as well as assisting the winner at Villa Park. 

Today was the eighth time that the Red Devils have come from behind to win this season and they started sluggishly today. Despite having plenty of possession they failed to create anything of note in the first half and Villa caught them out on the stroke of half-time with a beautifully worked opening goal. Andreas Weimann weighted his path down the line to perfection to Christian Benteke who cut the ball back for his strike-partner to fire high past David de Gea. 

The home side were at it again early in the second half when Stephen Ireland did well to find winger Gabriel Agbonlahor whose low cross was tapped in by Weimann.

Ferguson will be worried by the manner in which his defence was cut open for both goals as the speed of Villa's front three proved too much for Ferdinand and Smalling at the back. De Gea did not have much to do over the 90 minutes, but should have done better with Weimann's opening goal. 

It was old-timer Paul Scholes, recalled to the starting line-up after a five-game absence, who provided the spark that got United back into the match. His excellent long pass over the top to Hernandez was a reminder of the quality that he has always possessed, while the striker's finish showed that he has a great future.

After that the equaliser was coming and it came from a deep cross by Antonio Valencia that found Hernandez, whose volley was deflected into his own net by Vlaar. 

After Weimann had almost completed a hat-trick with a header, it was Chicharito who had the last laugh when he headed past Brad Guzan from Van Persie's free-kick to give United the points. 

Despite a great win, the red half of Manchester will not be overly pleased with the way their side played. The back line looked vulnerable through-out, while Wayne Rooney struggled to make an impact before being substituted. 

But there is a reason why United are one of the favourites to win the title this season, and they showed that today with a come-back from virtually nothing. It was the seventh time that they have come back from two or more goals to win since the inception of the Premier league in 1992/93, more than any other team.

However, United have always been able to get themselves out of trouble, and although they have weaknesses, their ability to shrug them off and still take the three points is what sets them apart. It will take a great team to beat them to the English games' top prize this campaign. 

Manchester City on the Brink

"As a team, I think it's going to be without doubt the most important game we've ever played in."

As said above by Pablo Zabaleta, this could be without doubt the most crucial game Manchester City have ever, and will ever, play. Their future lies on the line. Win today at home to Queens Park Rangers and the Premier League title is theirs; fail to win and Manchester United are victorious at Sunderland and it could be the most crushing result of their history. Without a title since 1968, the same year United first won The European Cup, the blue side of the city has never been so hopeful of ending the 44 years of hurt. 

Despite being underwhelming underdogs, United will be hopeful of securing a 20th league title. With so much at stake they are relying on the Blues to buckle under the pressure against relegation battling QPR today. The 'Rs' know that a point will all but confirm safety for them, while Sunderland have almost nothing to play for sitting comfortably in 11th place. 

After being eight points clear in the title race just weeks ago, the Red Devils are sure to be kicking themselves for letting that lead slip. Defeats to Wigan and City, as well as a 4-4 draw with Everton have left United wondering what might have been. The return of Carlos Tevez has been crucial to Mancini's team's return to form with four goals including a hat-trick against Norwich. Manchester City's reaction to losing their lead has been admirable but nothing but a win today will suffice. 

Another twist in the tale is the revisiting of former City boss Mark Hughes to the Etihad Stadium. After being sacked so acrimoniously by owner Sheikh Mansour he will be desperate for revenge to keep QPR up and help old team United win the league. However The Citizens will have other ideas and will be confident of sweeping the relegation candidates aside after dropping just two points at home in the league all season. Last year they ended a 35-year wait for a trophy with a 1-0 win over Stoke City in the FA Cup final and now are fingertips away from winning the biggest domestic trophy if them all. 

Considering they have won 6-1 and 1-0 against United this campaign City will feel a title victory over their old rivals is justified. Manager Roberto Mancini said: "We have played the better football, 100%, even if we don't win, we played the better football." 

Following last weeks impressive success over Champions League chasing Newcastle United people may think that City have the title in the bag. But on the other hand Manchester United have won 12 Premier Leagues under Sir Alex Ferguson and have plenty of experience in Ryan Giggs, 38 and Paul Scholes, 37. United have been there and done that; but despite this it might just be City's year.