Champions' League 2013/4

[NeverFeltBetter]

Rooney was fairly worthless all night. That was one of his worst ever ****-ups though. RTE blamed it on the pass too, but he had time to take a touch if he wanted.

[Charlie Darwin]

That was an amazing chance. ITV commentary blamed it on a heavy pass. Not in my book. Gilt edged chance.
They were very eager to make excuses for him, RTE came to the same conclusion. It was just a poor effort.

[KK77]

I was shocked to hear Moyes accept they won't be in the champions league next season after the game. They are six behind Everton and have to play them Easter Sunday. Man U have three home games left against Sunderland, Norwich and Hull with Southampton away on the last day. Not impossible considering Everton have one or tricky ones like City at home and Souhthampton away. Sunderland away on Saturday could be tricky also.

[Stuttgart88]

So if Atletico draw Chelsea Thibault Courtois will only be allowed to play by Chelsea if Atletico stump up £5mm. The club says it can't afford it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26972498

So, that's nearly £125 per fan assuming 40,000 fans. Atletico should hold a fundraising event. I'm sure half of Madrid and half of London (England) would stump up! Not to mention the player himself and his teammates!

[NeverFeltBetter]

I was shocked to hear Moyes accept they won't be in the champions league next season after the game. They are six behind Everton and have to play them Easter Sunday. Man U have three home games left against Sunderland, Norwich and Hull with Southampton away on the last day. Not impossible considering Everton have one or tricky ones like City at home and Souhthampton away. Sunderland away on Saturday could be tricky also.

But getting ahead of Everton doesn't get United Champions League Football.

[Charlie Darwin]

geysir won't be happy with the result in Valencia.

[Closed Account 2]

His keeper did alright for him though, without him they could have been 5 or 6 down in normal time. Bundesliga bound next year... I wonder if geysir's love for Basel will still be strong after the boy called Sommer is gone.

[bennocelt]

Valencia were on fire from the get go, what a great attacking performance, does anyone know the name of the right winger who was whipping balls into the box all evening?

[KK77]

But getting ahead of Everton doesn't get United Champions League Football.

It might tomorrow evening!

[Closed Account 2]

Valencia were on fire from the get go, what a great attacking performance, does anyone know the name of the right winger who was whipping balls into the box all evening?

Feghouli?

[Neish]

Semi Final draw made:
Real Madrid v Bayern
Atlético Madrid v Chelsea

All Madrid final?

[Charlie Darwin]

Semi Final draw made:
Real Madrid v Bayern
Atlético Madrid v Chelsea

All Madrid final?
Depends how good Atletico's sub keeper is.

[DeLorean]

Bayern have to be pretty clear favourites against Real and Chelsea will be very confident with the second leg at the Bridge. An ultra negative Mourinho special in the first leg should put them in a good position.

Bob Paisley's record of being the only manager to win three European Cups is under serious threat. Only an Atlético Madrid victory can prevent it being equalled.

[DeLorean]

It might tomorrow evening!

I'm lost?

[KK77]

I'm lost?

Everton go fourth tomorrow if they win? I am wrong on the points though as they would go nine clear of Man U so i suppose it might be the Europa League at best for Man U.

[DeLorean]

Oh right, yeah they will. I think NeverFeltBetter meant that it's not as simple as just catching Everton, they will also have to catch Arsenal and Spurs who have pretty handy run-ins. They have no chance realistically.

[Stuttgart88]

Courtois is free to play according to UEFA.

I have a nagging feeling Chelsea will power their way through this, nicking goals from set pieces and being solid at the back. I watched the Atletico v Barcelona game again (highlights only) and Madrid shipped 3 or 4 gilt edged chances. There's a big risk they'll do the same against Chelsea and pay the price.

I actually think Bayern are les effective under Guardiola than last year, although results say otherwise. Lots of possession but they play in front of the opposition a lot.

[bennocelt]

Feghouli?

Yeah goggled it, was that side anyway, must be him or Vargas, but bloody brilliant

[Closed Account 2]

Vargas had hair but Feghouli had a shaved head if that helps?

[bennocelt]

Vargas had hair but Feghouli had a shaved head if that helps?

Then Feghouli, thanks for that, dont look at an awful lot of football on the box, so was a joy to see him play, look forward to seeing him in the summer in the WC

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Knew Chelsea would get the easiest possible game (again). No disrespect to Atletico Madrid.

Lucky, lucky, lucky manager is Mourinho.

[DeLorean]

They're only the easiest based on reputation. They were the most impressive of all the quarter finalists and have been pretty sh!t hot all season. If Chelsea beat them, they'll be in the final on merit.

[Charlie Darwin]

Now this is interesting. Cech has hurt himself and is signalling he needs to go off. Chelsea's next best goalkeeper... is playing for the other team.

[Stuttgart88]

A bit of a snooze fest so far. Chelsea sucking the life out of the game. Atletico must at least make sure not to concede.

[DeLorean]

Now this is interesting. Cech has hurt himself and is signalling he needs to go off. Chelsea's next best goalkeeper... is playing for the other team.

Liverpool could be the real winners!

[Charlie Darwin]

A bit of a snooze fest so far. Chelsea sucking the life out of the game. Atletico must at least make sure not to concede.
It's been horrid. Both teams are uncomfortable playing against conservative counter-attacking sides, but Atletico are at home and have to do a bit more than this.

[Charlie Darwin]

Terry struggling now too.

[Stuttgart88]

Liverpool could be the real winners!
They certainly will be if Terry is gone too.

They've done alright with the opposition losing key players of late.

[Stuttgart88]

It's been horrid. Both teams are uncomfortable playing against conservative counter-attacking sides, but Atletico are at home and have to do a bit more than this.
True, but 0-0 isn't bad for the home side.

[Charlie Darwin]

True, but 0-0 isn't bad for the home side.
Possibly, but leaves them pretty precariously poised for the away leg, especially if Chelsea score first. As Mourinho says: "If I score, I win. If you score, you don't know if you win."

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Such a repulsive way to play football. This Chelsea team makes Mourinho's Inter team look like the most entertaining team in history. And of course Real Madrid could rise above this, even with Mourinho.

Just goes to show you can pump all the money in the world into that football team but they will always have a small mentality.

[geysir]

Football wise that was dreary stuff for a CL semi final. I suppose Chelsea will be doing high fives but Atletico were dreadful by their standards, their football on the night was well below their standard, poor quality crosses, heavy touches, poor passing, a poor possession game and not more than couple of half chances created.
And Atletico have a big game at Valencia this weekend.

[DeLorean]

I quite enjoy watching Chelsea defend. We'll have the end to end stuff tomorrow night but I thought Chelsea were excellent. Without Hazard they're missing the pace and guile to make them a bit more dangerous on the break but they coped really well with an excellent Atletico team. Gary Cahill must be one of the most underrated players in Europe, he was immense.

[Charlie Darwin]

Football wise that was dreary stuff for a CL semi final.
Dunno about this, a lot of them (and finals especially) are dreary affairs, especially when Mourinho is involved. This was probably in the middle. Chelsea showed up to defend and Atletico were too conservative to commit properly to attack.

[geysir]

Dunno about this, a lot of them (and finals especially) are dreary affairs, especially when Mourinho is involved. This was probably in the middle. Chelsea showed up to defend and Atletico were too conservative to commit properly to attack.
From 2 teams competitively matched, this was one of the poorest semi finals in my memory.
Atl M´s issue wasn't a question of conservatism, it was more a question of lack of their usual quality, possibly CL SF jitters and nothing especially to do with the way Chelsea were set up, Atl M meet defences like that often enough in Spain, but rarely this season have I seen them play so technically poor.
There's always the 2nd leg.

[DeLorean]

Chelsea are a massive step up from anything Atletico play in Spain. Even the big two in La Liga can't defend like Chelsea, let alone the rest.

[DeLorean]

Cech out for the rest of the season, dislocated shoulder.

[Charlie Darwin]

From 2 teams competitively matched, this was one of the poorest semi finals in my memory.
That narrows it down pretty considerably. Last year's were matched on paper but in reality were poles apart, the year before Chelsea-Barca was a mismatch, the year before Schalke-United and Real-Barca were both unbalanced, Bayern-Lyon the year before. You're lucky to get one proper contest a year at semi-final level, and there's been as many snoozefests (United-Arsenal, Barca-United, Chelsea-Liverpool) as there has been real quality. I'd agree on Atletico being overawed and poor enough on the night though.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree with DeLorean wrt Cahill.

[BonnieShels]

It's been horrid. Both teams are uncomfortable playing against conservative counter-attacking sides, but Atletico are at home and have to do a bit more than this.


Such a repulsive way to play football. This Chelsea team makes Mourinho's Inter team look like the most entertaining team in history. And of course Real Madrid could rise above this, even with Mourinho.

Just goes to show you can pump all the money in the world into that football team but they will always have a small mentality.

I thought it was fascinating. There are as many ways to play football as there are to skin a cat. Watching Barcelona play is a proper snoozefest.

That Mourinho Inter side was breathtaking to watch at times. The 1st leg of the semi against Barcelona in 2010 (and in fact the games against Chelsea) were some of the best games in that edition of the CL, especially for the "purist".

The second leg against against Barcelona was a masterclass of defending and nullifying your opponent. Mourinho showed aginst that Barca team that he was going to beat them whatever way he wanted to. The final against Bayern was a bit dull but that wasn't Inter or Mourinho's fault; Bayern were poor and Inter too good.

Defensive football has its place and it gets overly criticised. I always feel that some people after a game like last night would rather that everyone played like a Kevin Keegan team; they score 4, we score 5.



I quite enjoy watching Chelsea defend. We'll have the end to end stuff tomorrow night but I thought Chelsea were excellent. Without Hazard they're missing the pace and guile to make them a bit more dangerous on the break but they coped really well with an excellent Atletico team. Gary Cahill must be one of the most underrated players in Europe, he was immense.

A man after my own heart. Cahill was immense last night but the whole team as a unit were great. And it was good for Atleti to come up against a team like that. The second leg will be a different kettle of fish.


From 2 teams competitively matched, this was one of the poorest semi finals in my memory.
Atl M´s issue wasn't a question of conservatism, it was more a question of lack of their usual quality, possibly CL SF jitters and nothing especially to do with the way Chelsea were set up, Atl M meet defences like that often enough in Spain, but rarely this season have I seen them play so technically poor.
There's always the 2nd leg.

If only Basel were in it. :P

I would say you were half right with the jitters idea, but combined with that brick wall that they faced it may seem inevitable that it was gonna end that way.


I agree with DeLorean wrt Cahill.

And I agree with both of ye. One that got away... (Can open, worms everywhere)

[shakermaker1982]

What team did Mourinho say were like a team from the 19th Century after trying to contain Chelsea a few months back?

Any journalist worth his salt should have just played that back to him at the post match press conference.

Did Abramovich bring him back to Chelsea to endure that?!

[Charlie Darwin]

What team did Mourinho say were like a team from the 19th Century after trying to contain Chelsea a few months back?

Any journalist worth his salt should have just played that back to him at the post match press conference.

Did Abramovich bring him back to Chelsea to endure that?!
West Ham. After the match, David Sullivan went on twitter and hailed Mourinho's 19th century football.

[geysir]

That Madrid goal was brilliant. This game tonight is a breath of fresh air compared to last night's stifling, Dickensian offering.
Strange though that Schweinsteiger is playing so far forward, playing the Ozil role, and Kroos is playing the Schweinsteiger role in front of the back 4.

[BonnieShels]

And the score to boot.

Bayern oh so one dimensional...

shakermaker, here...
http://balls.ie/football/son-west-ham-owner-tweets-valid-observation-chelseas-performance/

[geysir]

Amazing that Robben still manages to fool the officials with his one touch dives.

Where's Bale? We want Bale!

[BonnieShels]

Muller fell! Love when Bayern flip out over nothing.

[DeLorean]

Bale had a touch of man flu Geysir and that's why he didn't start. Isco was poor as an attacking threat but did decent work defensively.

Yeah BS I thought I must have missed the 'contact' when I saw Mullers reaction, kind of surprised with him, nothing in it at all.

[geysir]

That was just typical german hystrionics for the late penalty appeal.

I don't know if a goal will be enough for Madrid, of course (as anyone who knows anything about football knows) Basel managed to win their first leg against Bayern 1 nil, but got humped in Munich in the return leg. Madrid though will be a different proposition.
Modric was my motm, he's a player who partially impressed me in the epl but he's stepped up to another level in Spain to be one of the best examples of the modern day total footballer.

[Closed Account 2]

I thought it was fascinating. There are as many ways to play football as there are to skin a cat.

I agree, it wasnt a razzle-dazzle fest for those wanting scintillating open football, but you have to admire the defensive organisation of both teams. It didnt make it a thrill a minute, but the fact that two of the best teams in Europe limited each other to one or two half chances does indicate a good degree of defensive cohesion. I remember the 2003 final Milan v Juventus, again it wasnt thrilling compared to other finals but it was compelling in terms of defensive skill. Two of the best attacks in Europe caught in a game of chess. If I'm honest I would like to have seen Chelsea go for it a little more to make the game more open, and certainly without an away goal they could be in trouble if Atletico score first - but to be fair to them they had to make an early sub in bringing on Schwarzer, then after about an hour Terry got injured (another sub needed) and then Lampard got a yellow and in some ways was lucky not to get a second yellow just after for the hand ball - I think it was a case of them thinking survive the night and go for it in the second leg.


That Mourinho Inter side was breathtaking to watch at times. The 1st leg of the semi against Barcelona in 2010 (and in fact the games against Chelsea) were some of the best games in that edition of the CL, especially for the "purist".

Due to being in Rome for the derby and then the ash cloud and various train connections I had the pleasure of going to that game and it certainly was special, Milito was like a man possessed and then at the very end Pique nearly made it 3-2. I think that was probably the last evenly matched semi final tie that was a really great one to watch, maybe there is a case for Real Dortmund last year, but in a sense that was two lopsided legs netting out to an even-ish tie overall.

[Stuttgart88]

I loved the 2003 CL Final and also the 1994 WC Final but I thought last night's game was nothing like that unfortunately. I've no issues with tight 0-0 games but I was disappointed that Atletico had no answer to a very basic park the bus exercise.

Tonight was much different. There's a lot of pressure on Guardiola at this level. I think Real are firm favourites now and I think Bayern are less effective than under Heynckes, despite their amazing domestic results.