There was plenty of anticipation in the build up to the UEFA Champions League quarter finals, but there was more expectation of tough contests than a shower of goals.
The scoreline in Manchester United’s 1-0 win at Chelsea was more the expectation than the avalanche of goals that was witnessed. Going into the second legs next wek, only Chelsea amongst the defeated teams will realistically hope to overcome their deficit after two nights of carnage. Tottenham, Inter and Shakhtar will hope to restore some pride while picking themselves up off the canvas to finish off their domestic seasons.
United were somewhat fortunate to escape from Stamford Bridge with their lead intact, after Chelsea were denied at least one penalty in the closing stages. Torres was booked for a dive after going down in a challenge from Valencia, although there seemed to be some contact, even if not enough to warrant a penalty.
The same could not be said of a tackle from Evra on Ramires shortly before, where the United player seem to be doing his best imitation of a large pair of scissors trying to remove Ramires’s lower legs. A terrible tackle, and an equally terrible non-decision from the referee. So United escaped with a 1-0 lead which Chelsea will have realistic hopes of overcoming after their 2-1 win their last year.
The goal from Wayne Rooney is worth a few views – a superb swinging ball from Carrick out to Giggs on the left, a superb first touch and acceleration from the seemingly ageless 37-year old to take the ball to the goal line and Bosingwa out of the equation, followed by a deft pull-back to Rooney who nonchalantly slid it in first time off the post. Something from the training ground, with Chelsea filling in for the orange cones.
In Barcelona, the home side waltzed past Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1, although when Shakhtar pulled it back to 3-1 in the 59th minute through Rakitskiy, they were far from out of it. Barcelona had always been in control before then, with Iniesta opening proceedings in just the second minute and Dani Alves (34th minute) and Pique (53) adding to the party. Unfortunately for the visitors, before their fans could retake their seats, Barcelona slotted home a fourth a fourth through Keita, sucking the wind out of any comeback, while Xavi put the tie beyond doubt with a late fifth.
On Tuesday night, Real Madrid had spanked Tottenham 4-0, with the visitors starting disastrously. Adebayor started the scoring in just the fourth minute before Peter Crouch set a new Champions league record by receiving two yellow cards in just sixteen minutes. Down to ten men, and short up front, Spurs were unable to really pressure Mourinho’s side, and it was just a case of how many. Adebayor added a second before an hour, and Di Maria and Ronaldo sewed up the contest in the last twenty minutes.
The real surprise of the week came in Milan, where Inter were coming off a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of their neighbours AC Milan. They seemed on their way to making amends with a rapid goal from Stankovic in the first 30 seconds. An opportunistic strike from near the halfway line caught out the Schalke 04 keeper who had come off his line to clear an early attack. Matip equalised for the visitors, before Milito put Inter back in front after 34 minutes. Edu brought Schalke level again before halftime, but things were to get much, much worse for Inter.
Three more goals poured in during the second half for Schalke, including an own goal from Ranocchia, and the Italians had defender Chivu sent off for the second time in four days, leaving Inter with a mountain to climb in the return fixture next week. At least they’ll have some company on the climb.
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