If Chelsea’s setback at Everton over the week-end was not cause for alarm, the performance against Basel definitely revealed a problem – not the result as much as the uninspired, confused display of a Chelsea group that finished last season…
Category: UEFA Champions League
Champions’ League Reveals the Gap Between Elites and the Rest
Chelsea’s shock home defeat to Basel was the only real surprise of a first Champions’ League round in which the gap between the established elites of Europe and the rest of the contenders was apparent. Real Madrid’d rout of Galatasaray,…
Barcelona turn Manchester United into a mere irrelevance
From The Guardian, UK Barcelona slice teams to pieces, but at least they are generous with the anaesthetic. Sir Alex Ferguson felt no pain as the match ended. He did not flinch when a runners-up medal was placed round his…
Inter Prevails, Celebration Tamed
Two excellent individual efforts by Diego Milito made the difference in Saturday’s Champions League final to complete Inter’s dream season and place the Italian club on course to match Barcelona’s unprecedented achievement in 2009. The moment of glory did not…
Champions League Preview
Bayern Munich’s path to today’s Champions League final in Madrid reflects the German club’s status as the competition’s team of destiny. Their passage from group stage to the semifinals had a touch of miracle just about every step of the…
Champions League Final: Inter-Bayern
If Bayern’s passage into the Champions League final had the look and feel of a formality in Lyon, Inter battled, scraped, cheated, resisted and frustrated a superior opponent to capitalize on the first leg advantage and survived to reach the…
Champions League Notes – Semis
Bayern Munich and Inter Milan took important steps toward reaching the final of the competition, as Lyon missed an opportunity and the defending champion Barcelona was overpowered out of the beautiful game. Internazionale Milano – Barcelona 3-1 Mourinho’s tactic for…
Champions League Notes – Last 4 Set
The semifinals of the Champions League competition are set and include Bayern Munich, a surprise contender that received a tremendous boost from the return of Arjen Robben and eliminated Manchester United to join last year’s champion Barcelona, Internazionale Milano and…
Champions League Notes – Quarters
The first leg of the quarterfinal round delivered three entertaining matches and an exceptional one in North London that featured just about every form of soccer drama: a brilliant technical display, breathtaking pace, bravery, momentum shifts and an ending that…
Magnum Opus
A moment to reflect on yesterday’s truly fantastic, memorable match in North London. Not only did it live up to its billing, but it turned out to be even more dramatic, more clinical than imagined. A rare treat for anyone…
Champions League Notes – Last 8 Set
Spending hundreds of millions of euros on players provides no guaranty for success. Champions League glory continues to elude Florentino Perez’s Real Madrid and Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea, correctly so. Their elimination courtesy of Olimpique Lyon and Internazionale Milano demonstrated that…
Sensational Snejder, Chelsea out
Chelsea followed Real Madrid out of the Champions League competition, following a gripping match at Stamford Bridge that was decided by two dominant factors: the exceptional form of Wesley Snejder and the aggressive, physical play of Inter’s back duo, Lucio…
Champions League Notes-Round of 16
The first leg of the high level clashes in the Champions League is in the books. It was an exciting round that provided some great matches and even a few sub-plots, of course. Inter – Chelsea lived up to expectations,…
Champions League Match Day 6 Notes
Bayern Munich completed its come-back mission and knocked Juventus out of the Champions League in the process. Inter, Stuttgart and Milan can breathe calmly, for now, but Marseille missed a golden opportunity, while Fiorentina is beaming with confidence after snatching…
Champions League Notes & Preview
Qualification for 8 of the last 16 spots in the Champions League comes down to the final match day.