A trip to Munich for the UEFA Champions League final awaits either FC Barcelona or Chelsea, who meet at Camp Nou this morning in the second leg of their semi-final. Join us bright and early from 4.45am AEST for minute by minute commentary.
They might have chased their opponents for long periods of the ninety minutes and managed only one shot n target, but Chelsea managed to grind out 1-0 victory in the first leg at Stamford Bridge by completely and utterly stifling Barcelona.
Through Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Raul Meireles, Chelsea managed to lock up the space in which Lionel Messi loves to drop into to receive and attack, and were able supported by strong performances from centre-half pairing John Terry and Gary Cahill.
The expectation is that Chelsea will not be able to get away with a similiar gameplan against a relentless Barcelona in front of nearly 100,000 parochial Catalans, but if Saturday’s El Clasico was anything to go by, the Blues might be in with a chance.
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid employed similiar lock-down tactics in the middle of the park and it paid divided, with the ball often falling outwide to Dani Alves and Christian Tello, who were unable to find the incision into more dangerous areas in the front third.
On top of that, Barca’s much-vaunted trio of Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi and considerably poor games by their standards in keeping with a tired, jaded expression that the side seems to have worn through the second half of the season.
But with their La Liga title defence in ruins, retaining the Champions League trophy is the only thing that Pep Guardiola’s men can salvage from the 2011/12, barring the far-less-important Copa Del Rey in May.
It would be no surprise to see the game unfold in a similiar fashion to last Thursday. Barcelona will monopolise possession, Chelsea will be compact and content to sit deep.
If Chelsea are able to replicate that defensive performance then they might be on their way to the Fussball Arena in Munich. If not, it might be a long night for the English team.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
So what you're saying is they got lucky ? I mean, good on them for making their chances count, but if you need 3 out of 3 shots on target to be goals to go through over 2 legs, you wouldnt want to need to do that too many times in a row ...
Roger Rational
Guest
'Av a bit of that Craig Foster! So much for your tippy tappy football now eh!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Well, how about that!
Matt F
Roar Guru
Yes whoever finishes 4th (unless it's Chelsea of course) will have a very nervous week in between the end of the EPL and the CL final. though as a Newcastle fan, I won't be worrying about it unless we actually make 4th spot. Long way to go yet.
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
Go You Mighty Blues! Death to keepings-off possession football and passing the ball into the net. Long Live exciting end to end goals and some brilliant lead up play! Over 2 legs Chelsea 3 shots on target = 3 goals. Boring Barcelona 28 shots on target = 2 goals Don't ever underestimate Chelsea in the final.
ItsCalled AussieRules
Roar Rookie
Newcastle are going fantastically well. They beat Stoke 3-0 to move into 4th place and an ECL spot. Well done Newcastle.
Colin N
Guest
It's like anything, one result doesn't tell anything from the strength of a team or a league. I personally maintain that Barcelona and Madrid are the two best sides in the World, but the Premiership is the best league from the quality of the top-six teams and the competitiveness. City and United are better teams than Chelsea, but they lost in the last-16 of the Europa League. Doesn't mean the Premiership is in demise, you just have to give credit to Bilbao for playing extremely well twice against an unmotivated United side, and they haven't reproduced those kind of performances since (They were very poor against Sporting a week ago in the semi-final first leg). Sporting did a Chelsea - won 1-0 at home, got a couple of away goals and held on once City pressed. Barcelona and Madrid, certainly the way football is structured in that country, will dominate in Europe for years to come it seems. I reckon City can challenge consistently and United will always be there or thereabouts, but the problem with the structure of Spanish football at the moment is that it won't allow other teams to break the Barce-Real duopoly. Another issue is that the press don't really care because the newspapers only seem to really care about those two sides. The only time their attentions on those two are diverted is when a story like Levante comes along.
Swampy
Guest
Brings into play a not so good scenario for Newcastle fans. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Swampy
Guest
This game just adds to the debate about Messi's performances when the chips are really down. English Football - news of its demise seems somewhat premature. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Amazing result... Go Chelsea
Stevo
Guest
Congrats to Di Mateo, the woodwork, Ramires, Drogba, Torres - well played Chelski. No Messi No Barca? Thanks for the commentary Chad. Back to bed!
souren
Guest
hala madrid
Chad Bennett
Editor
FULL TIME: Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea Well, what a turnup. After goals from Busquets and Iniesta put Barca ahead 2-1 on aggregate, a goal against the run of play by Ramires brought the scoreline to 2-1, putting Chelsea in front again. An uncharacteristic penalty miss from Messi rattled the bar and as the game went on Chelsea grew in defence. Barcelona were (correctly) disallowed a goal before Messi rattled the post, and then Torres finished off the title holders with a goal in stoppage time. On SBS Zdrillic and Foster are both lamenting the bad luck of Barcelona, but there can be nobody to blame but themselves. Not creative or incisive enough. But that is that, Chelsea are through to the Champions League final for the second time in four years! Real Madrid or Bayern Munich will join them by this time tomorrow. Thanks for reading, enjoy the rest of your ANZAC Day for those in Australia and New Zealand!
Chad Bennett
Editor
With Barca's ten outfield players camped in the Chelsea half, Torres was released into open space by Cech and he streaks down the field, skips around Valdes and plays into an empty net. Chelsea will be going to Munich, Barca have failed to defend their Champions League title in addition to their La Liga title!
Stevo
Guest
Torres UNBELIEVABLE!
Chad Bennett
Editor
90 + 1' Barca 2-2 Chelsea CHELSEA GOAL!!!
Chad Bennett
Editor
89' Barca 2-1 Chelsea Mascherano is crudely brought down by Meireles, and is rightfully yellow-carded. Disappointing stuff for the Portuguese midfielder, as he will miss the final now due to suspension, along with Ramires and of course Terry. If Chelsea hold on, that is!
Chad Bennett
Editor
88' Barca 2-1 Chelsea Beginning to look a little dire now. After the disallowed goal and the Messi post shot, it looked like Barca were beginning to turn the tide but Chelsea have settled, and are continuing to defend their lead.
Chad Bennett
Editor
85' Barca 2-1 Chelsea FIVE minutes of normal time now. Probably about four minutes of injury time. The crowd, who have been for large parts of the second half sitting in a sort of stunned silence, are now beginning to find their voice.
Chad Bennett
Editor
83' Barca 2-1 Chelsea Messi hits the post! From outside the area he turns a left-footed shot goalward, and Cech gets fingertips onto it and it crashes off the post! This might be Chelsea's night!