Champions' League 2013/4

[Charlie Darwin]

This would never happen at FC Basel.

[Stuttgart88]

I watched most of the game in a pub with a German mate visiting from USA, a Bayern fan. We had no sound, maybe just as well for him.

What a comprehensive dismantling of the Guardiola ethos. From 7-1 winners over a Guardiola-inspired Barcelona to a 0-5 loser to a counter-attacking Spanish peer in the space of 12 months.

I'd ordinarily have been up for Bayern but I feared that Chelsea could do a job on them, so it's for the best as far as I'm concerned. Either winner tomorrow versus Real would be a better final. Very sad for Alonso, a class act in all respects.

[geysir]

This would never happen at FC Basel.

It would never happen because it's only one way traffic from Basel, as their top quality players are more likely to be captured by the leading EPL clubs for the proverbial peanut.
Such is life for the beleaguered, impoverished, supporter owned, clubs like Basel, trying to make their way in European competition against the mega rich monopoly clubs, but keeping their chin up at the same time.
Bloodied but never bowed.

[Crosby87]

What time is the CL final on, 7:30 local time?

[DeLorean]

19.45 local time.

[geysir]

Local to who?
It means the game starts at the usual champions league time wherever you are in the world

[BonnieShels]

Not strictly true. I was dealing with a 4hr gap not long after I got here. And then it became five.

[DeLorean]

Just back to Alonso, didn't he also give away a kind of silly free kick from which Milan scored in the '07 CL final? It kind of sticks in my mind because I think he had given away a few needless frees early on in that game. Remember also the time himself and Ramos picked up deliberate yellow cards against Ajax in order to miss the final dead rubber group match and have a clean slate in the knock-outs? To be honest, I think they were dead right despite the controversy at the time. For a while last night it looked like the tables would turn on them both. It was madness on Ancelotti's part leaving Ramos on as long as he did. I agree with you overall though Geysir, the punishment definitely doesn't fit the crime.

[Stuttgart88]

In fairness to Mourinho, his response yesterday to the perceived negativity – both in Madrid and at Anfield - was pretty comprehensive and wholly justifiable. Simeone obviously agrees and it appears Brendan Rodgers has now been magnanimous too. There’s been a lot of good debate in the media recently about the merit of defence vs counter-attack, possession versus discipline without the ball etc. The key would appear to be that the attacking team must have some incisive way to get through a well-drilled defence. Possession must be matched by purpose and tempo.

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Guardiola must be a certified nutter in that case! Jupp Heynckes was far more versatile.

During Barcelona’s heyday they were able to find gaps both out wide and when they played more narrowly. Messi and Iniesta were very adept at patiently prizing open tight defences. To a less accomplished extent Arsenal are much more effective with Aaron Ramsey getting between the lines and arriving late, something both Scholes and Lampard have excelled in. Without Ramsey the big sides find Arsenal easy to play against. Similarly Bayern lacked any penetration over the two legs because they were too lateral.

Whether Atletico lacked that ability to pick open Chelsea or whether they were simply a bit stage-struck remains to be seen.

Fascinating stuff.

[KK77]

Wouldn't feel sorry for Alonso at all myself. Three up and makes a challenge like he did knowing he would be out of the final. Harsh rule but easy enough for a player of his experience to use his brain.

[Dodge]

Wouldn't feel sorry for Alonso at all myself. Three up and makes a challenge like he did knowing he would be out of the final. Harsh rule but easy enough for a player of his experience to use his brain.

Don't think the rule is that harsh either.

Don't pick up 3 books in 12 games and there's no issue.

In Alonso's case he's only played 9 games so I've no sympathy at all

[geysir]

Don't think the rule is that harsh either.

Don't pick up 3 books in 12 games and there's no issue.

In Alonso's case he's only played 9 games so I've no sympathy at all

The rule certainly is not perceived to be harsh when one has a callous, cynical, dogmatic-rules-is-rules disposition
However it doesn't take a great leap of faith to recognise that Alonso was shattered after he made that tackle and will have to live with that foolish moment for years to come, which is about the sum of my first point.
Nobody here is asking anybody to feel sorry for Alonso, that nothing to do with an examination of a rule, which was my second point.

Sympathy or sorrow has nothing to do with an examination of a rule.
It has been mooted for many years, that if a player is still on the pitch at the end of the semi final game. he can play in the final and take the suspension out in another game. One player that comes to my mind is Dennis Irwin.
What's it to you if that rule came in? What's your agenda here? to preserve the sanctity of the Finals? or a missed opportunity to feel good about another's misery?

[Charlie Darwin]

Just the six defenders in the Chelsea XI.

[Stuttgart88]

Didn't do them much good.

[BonnieShels]

Only caught the last 5 min. I really like Atletico. But part of me wouldn't have minded Chelsea v RM either.

Should be a good final though. Geysir might finally enjoy one after last year's "snoozefest".

[Charlie Darwin]

I didn't realise that this will be the first Champions League final between two sides from the same city. I know when it was the European Cup the chances of it happening were practically none, but since they opened it up you'd think there'd have been a AC-Inter or something.

[BonnieShels]

AC-Juve was the first from the same country in 2003 wasn't it and since then we've had all English and all German finals.
Bar Madrid and Milan and London there's very few cities with a strong enough set of teams that would get there. Plus Inter and AC tend to be ying and yang quality wise so it always seems unlikely.

[pineapple stu]

Probably doesn't help either that capital cities have such an awful record in the competition, which is where you're that bit more likely to get a city derby.

[Charlie Darwin]

Probably doesn't help either that capital cities have such an awful record in the competition, which is where you're that bit more likely to get a city derby.

True, plus a lot of the big European cities only have one club that everybody gets behind. It was just the lack of an Inter-AC final that threw me. You'd think between those two, the Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal and possibly now the Madrid clubs you'll see more of it.

[KK77]

Killer blow for Chelsea to conceed right on half time. Gary Cahill was poor enough for the goal i thought and to be fair clever from the Madrid player to hold back and let him run off and follow the action. To be fair also Chelsea are in transition and as Jose said they have improved on last season so if he can get a few quid during the summer they will be up and running next season.