Neither of La Liga's two historic rivals grabbed an advantage at the Bernabeu in the first leg of the Copa del Rey. Madrid started as they normally do, fast and applying plenty of pressure early on. The club is currently in 3rd place in La Liga, separated from rivals Barcelona by a 15-point gap. Mourinho's side allowed Barcelona to dominate their side of the pitch for awhile, letting Messi pass the ball along the right flank while Fabregas graced the side netting. Cristiano Ronaldo did not see much of the ball, except for a very early chance from a free kick that was saved by Barcelona's keeper. Madrid's goalkeeper Diego Lopez, a recent addition to the squad and former teammate of Iker Casillas, did a great job in goal as well. The former Sevilla keeper may pose serious competition to Madrid's number 1, considering Casillas's recent injury as well as his rocky relationship with manager Jose Mourinho.

Barcelona played on counters throughout the first 45, getting flashes of possession in Madrid's 18-yard box. Mourinho's side made things harder for themselves by collecting fouls, slowing down the game before they could make it near the visitors' side of the pitch. The game itself was rather even, however, as both sides picked up a few dangerous chances. Ozil ran past a trio of defenders, after which Benzema got the ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, who couldn't get his timing right to reach the ball. A Barca free kick near the edge of the box got Xavi a shot that hit the crossbar. Madrid may have led in fouls, but Barcelona had a few problems of their own, delivering theatrics that would have put the corniest Broadway musical to shame.

It didn't take long for the visitors to come back from a scoreless half and net in a goal. It was a gift-wrapped present from Callejon, whose terrible clearance became a costly error for his team. Messi quickly stole the ball, feeding it to Fabregas, who netted it in the far post. Ronaldo came close to an equalizer with an instinctive header at the near post, but missed the mark just two meters away from the target. He got another shot again soon, but this time Gerard Pique slid in. Replays of the challenge show that it could have earned Madrid a penalty. The official's obliviousness wasn't surprising, however, as he fell for Barcelona's theatrics earlier, giving away set pieces. Pedro Rodriguez nearly made it 2-0 after a solo run; Arbeloa was the only player catching up, yet Rodriguez's shot still missed the far post from 6 meters out. As the match drew to a close, Barcelona tried the tactic of falling like flies once more, but to no avail. Though Dani Alves was at times guilty of theatrics, his defending was solid and consistent.

The visitors' performance in no way reflected their gap with Madrid - it was as equal a Clasico as it could be. Madrid found a late equalizer when Ozil's cross gave Varane a beautiful far post header off the pitch. The last chance for the La Liga front-runners to beat their 3rd place rivals was Jordi Alba's far post attempt, saved by the ever-dependable Diego Lopez.

The first Clasico of the year was perhaps a truer reflection of both teams than the league's standings. Madrid's thirst for the Cup is a mirror image of Barcelona's. Whichever team makes the final will undoubtedly get through on a chance goal or penalties. Winning the Copa del Rey is vital for Madrid, who fell from last season's top spot, spurring talk of Mourinho's leave. Barcelona has a shot at doubling the silverware this season. More trophies wouldn't hurt either team, though more is at stake for Madrid after Mourinho voiced a surrender on winning this season's championship.

A Taste of Europa

Javier Hernandez netted a double and came close to his first hat-trick.

Fergie's Red Army stormed past Fulham in the early minutes of the 1/16th of the FA Cup at Old Trafford. An easy penalty delivered by Ryan Giggs set the tone and became the team's anchor for the rest of the match. United's dominance in both halves wasn't as surprising as Fulham's lack of resistance. Dimitar Berbatov lacked the sort of speed and energy that was necessary to get more chances. The former United striker only reaffirmed that perhaps the best days of his career are long gone, having had only one or two productive moments on the pitch during the game. Manchester United not only showed great skill, but didn't lose their spirit when Mark Clattenburg failed to administer a second penalty after the ball made contact with Damien Duff's arm. The ever-controversial referee went on to explain his decision in a most theatrical way, leading ESPN to make a Billy Bowden reference. Rooney had plenty of opportunities in the first half, as did Nani, but the Reds would have to wait until the second half to add to the scoreboard.

Ryan Giggs should always be United's penalty-taker.

Another fiery 45 awaited Martin Jol's team. They didn't have to wait long for the goals to start pouring in - United scored twice in two minutes. Rooney picked up a ball from Anderson and beat two defenders to net one in. He then took advantage of a poor clearance by Hughes, playing the ball from the right flank to Chicharito. The latter soon got his double after a great pass from Giggs, running up on the left side of the box to net one in past a helpless Mark Schwarzer.

Martin Jol's scowl just about said it all. His team had barely tested the net and were rather dull on the attack. The goal of redemption by Aaron Hughes wasn't nearly enough to give Fulham a shot at the Cup. The game was well over for Fulham, but could have gone on for United had Clattenburg not whistled for Chicharito's rather soft infringement, disallowing what would have been Wayne Rooney's second goal.

Despite refereeing blunders, Sir Alex's United were a powerhouse. It's hard to forget that the last two wins for the Reds against Fulham in the FA Cup ultimately led to winning the competition. For 5-time Cup winner Fergie, this year's tournament may just bring home another trophy.


FA Cup - 4th Round (1/16th)
Saturday, January 26, 2013, 12:30AM (ET)

Manchester United vs Fulham - 4:1 (1:0)
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Newcastle upon Tyne)
Weather: rainy
Goals:
1:0 (PK) Ryan Giggs ('3)
2:0 Wayne Rooney (Asst. Anderson) (50')
3:0 Chicharito (Asst. Wayne Rooney) (52')
4:0 Chicharito (Asst. Ryan Giggs) (66')
4:1 Aaron Hughes (Asst. Giorgos Karagounis) (76')

Full Time Stats:
Shots on target: 12:5
Shots off target: 6:4
Fouls: 8:5
Corners: 6:5
Offsides: 3:1
Possession: 57:43

Ryan Giggs continues to be a significant player in cup games.

Manchester United go through to the 4th Round of the FA Cup with a tough 1-0 victory over the Hammers, thanks to a goal by Wayne Rooney. Sir Alex once again entrusted the pitch to Buttner, Giggs, Scholes, and Chicharito, all of whom took part in the first leg at Upton Park. As in the first match, the young talent that is Javier Hernandez provided an assist for the first goal, rolling the ball across the 6-yard box to Wayne Rooney from a position too close to the offside. Although no more goals were scored, United forced West Ham to play an open game, one in which a counter by the home side could have brought more danger to the net at any time. Hernandez played a better game overall, but hasn't quite gotten around to ridding himself of the awful offside habit when receiving brilliant passes. Rooney and Nani both tested the net, but neither were sharp enough to really give West Ham's keeper a big enough challenge. Nani, as usual, lacked the focus that was needed to direct his fiery shots on target. Nevertheless, Sir Alex has mentioned that the winger is not for sale, and although the match wasn't his greatest, it is evident that the 26-year-old player is capable of more. The Hammers defended set pieces well enough to prevent the Reds from increasing their 1-0 lead.

The Reds had a bit of a recurring error, the same one that usually gets them to concede as many goals as teams that occupy the middle of the table. The Hammers failed to score, but it is easy to see how they could have. The second half took off with a West Ham initiative. Manchester United failed to find space with the ball, losing it before they could create any chances. Taylor could have been the player to make the difference for the Hammers, but lacked swiftness on the receiving end. Ryan Giggs was another barrier to the visitors' success, taking care of the midfield as brilliantly as any younger player and keeping the visiting side back. Even when the Reds regained possession, they never quite had the same speed that carried them through the first half. It was Giggs's cross bouncing off a West Ham hand that gave Manchester a penalty, one of the easiest goal-scoring opportunities to use and to miss. Rooney opted for the latter, sending the ball straight up into the stands. One can only ponder how likely it would have been for United to have a 2-0 lead had Ryan Giggs stepped up to the spot. The legendary veteran got the ball to Chicharito, but for the millionth time, the young striker was well offside. There was no late finish for Manchester United, and Sir Alex's side had to make do with a slim victory to carry them through to the next round.

The Trio To Beat

Towards the end, it looked as though Robin van Persie may come on the pitch. Yet Sir Alex chose not to bring him on. The manager's decision can only be admired, as it is unwise to have the team rely solely on the highly productive striker. Nani, Rooney, and Chicharito will have many opportunities to step up their game. Perhaps RVP would have had a Giggs-assisted goal today, but as mentioned in my analysis of the first leg, Manchester United is not and never will be a one-man team. The Red Devils are set to face Fulham for the Fourth Round on January 26 at 12:30 (ET).


FA Cup - 3rd Round, Second Leg
Wednesday, January 16, 2013, 3:05PM EST

Manchester United vs. West Ham - 1:0 (1:0)
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
Goals:
1:0 Wayne Rooney (Asst. Chicharito) (9')

Full Time Stats:
Shots on target: 6:4
Shots off target: 5:3
Fouls committed: 7:7
Yellow cards: 1:2
Red cards: 0:0
Corners: 8:4
Offsides: 5:1
Possession: 55:45

Szczesny saves Dzeko's penalty.

Vidic and Evra celebrate their goal.

A full house at Old Trafford and three goals on the pitch were enough to make an exciting historic match-up. Sir Alex's strategy was spot-on - United was building up from the midfield and seemed in no hurry to score, but were keen whenever Luis Suarez got possession. There were always several players marking the Uruguayan striker. Despite the fierce rivalry and occasional booing of Luis Suarez by the home crowd, it was nice to see Evra and Suarez share a civil handshake, reminding us what the game was really all about. United were quietly putting on more pressure, but still hadn't tested Pepe Reina; there was a chaotic shuffle on the pitch from both sides. As soon as the visitors cranked up the speed, Danny Welbeck took advantage, getting the ball on the right and finding Tom Cleverley. Patrice Evra picked up the ball on the left of the box and presented van Persie with the perfect pass for a one-touch finish. As expected, RVP made his mark; the talented striker shows no signs of stopping. From a risky pass to the keeper to Gerrard's flub, Liverpool's mistakes were never-ending, giving both RVP and Welbeck ample room for opportunities.

United scored their next goal from a set piece, and once again, Robin van Persie's involvement was crucial. His delivery gave Evra the header that was taken up by Vidic near the net. But the skipper's goal was United's last trace of activity for awhile; three minutes later, Steven Gerrard tested the net. De Gea blocked the shot, but Sturridge was keen on the rebound. Another mistake would deprive the Red Devils of a possible 3 points. Sir Alex's team slowed down a bit after halftime, and the lack of attentiveness caused them to concede. Liverpool had some great defending, and Pepe Reina saved the team from a possible Kagawa goal. Nevertheless, Rodgers's team was still not fast enough to compete with the Red Devils. The problem was apparent in their passes and incomplete counters. United took away a well-deserved win and showcased their improvements, Welbeck and Kagawa among them. Sir Alex's side are only 3 days away from the second leg of their FA Cup match against West Ham, and today's game showed both their strong suits as well as potential weaknesses that could come back to haunt them in other tournaments.


English Premier League - 22nd Match Week
Saturday, January 13, 2013, 8:30AM EST

Manchester United vs. Liverpool - 2:1 (1:0)
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)
Referee: Howard Webb (Yorkshire)
Goals:
1:0 Robin van Persie (Asst. Patrice Evra) (19')
2:0 Nemanja Vidic (54')
2:1 Daniel Sturridge (57')

Half Time Stats:
Shots on target: 5:0
Shots off target: 3:1
Fouls committed: 7:6
Yellow cards: 0:1
Red cards: 0:0
Corners: 1:1
Offsides: 1:0
Possession: 57:43

Full Time Stats:
Shots on target: 5:3
Shots off target: 10:10
Fouls committed: 14:16
Yellow cards: 1:4
Red cards: 0:0
Corners: 3:1
Offsides: 1:1
Possession: 46:54

RVP celebrates yet another goal.

Cup games are perhaps full of more surprises than regular season matches. It's no surprise that West Ham gave Manchester United quite a challenge, but the lack of chances from the visitors did not exactly meet expectations. Ferguson's side had more of the ball during the first half and did well defensively thanks to Paul Scholes, challenging West Ham on set pieces. Yet United's goal did not come from a corner. Cleverley's brilliant finish into the far post came from an Hernandez pass. It didn't take long for West Ham to turn the tide in their favor. Joe Cole's return pumped up the fans and motivated the players. Though Cole didn't have too many chances to score on his own, he managed to deliver a great cross to James Collins, whose header flew past De Gea to tie the score. Pretty soon Sir Alex's side was giving away set pieces like Halloween candy. The odd line-up didn't help, either. Kagawa lost the ball, and Hernandez was barely visible on the pitch aside from his assist. Perhaps the most useless addition was Buttner, whose presence was highlighted in the last minutes of the game as he failed to repeat van Persie's feat from the same position.

The teams traded moments at the start of the second half, with Cleverley and Cole in the center of the action. Manchester United's carelessness on defending set pieces soon cost them another goal, a mirror image of Collins and Cole's previous combination. The exact same header from the exact same assist led West Ham from a 1-nil deficit to a 2-1 lead. Their performance had, no doubt, gotten many hopes up. The Hammers' last win against Manchester United was a smashing 4-0 in a Carling Cup match 3 years ago. Considering United's record in London for FA Cup games, the situation looked to be in West Ham's favor. But the Reds are also known for another feat - late goals, often in added time, that earned them the enduring title "Comeback Kings". Ferguson's double substitution seemed to be just the change that the Reds needed to get back in the game. Surprisingly, the ever-successful manager did not bring Kagawa off. Hernandez and Scholes left the pitch, and on came RVP and Valencia. Ryan Giggs also took the field, finding space to test the net but sending the ball high up. Nevertheless, the veteran's long pass from across the field fed Robin van Persie. The forward nestled the ball in the corner, scoring against West Ham just like did back in November. The Giggs-van Persie combination elicited comparisons to Beckham and Crouch, cementing another legendary duo in England's footballing history. With United scoring 13 goals in the last 10 minutes of matches this season, West Ham were statistically outnumbered.

Is Manchester United a one-man team?
As the buzz around Robin van Persie continues to escalate, both fans and commentators have emphasized the importance of his presence on the pitch for United. Not only does he score in nearly every game, but he also seems to be the go-to man when the Reds need a last-minute draw or a tie-breaker. The former Arsenal star is undoubtedly a plethora of talent, but without the help of his teammates, he wouldn't have a shot at scoring. Whether picking up a cross from Antonio Valencia or speedy back-heel passes from Wayne Rooney, van Persie sees the pitch remarkably well and can make the difference between a sloppy off-target shot and a superb finish. The fact that United can win or draw with different combinations of players is what makes the team one of the best. RVP has definitely strengthened the attack, but his teammates have given him the opportunity to showcase his talent.