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Who Goes to the Finals?
By Toyin | April 22, 2009
The last round served up some scintillating matches and absolutely separated the men from the boys as we usually say. The titanic encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea will remain etched in the memories of football fans for a long time to come. The one sided encounters between Barcelona and Bayern Munich was a sore embarrassment to the Germans and the Kaiser did not hide his disappointment at the performance of his team.
Against popular expectations, Porto nearly bundled Manchester United out of the champions league save for a touch of magic and individual effort from Ronaldo. In the end, the Dragon was slain right in its den!
Arsenal, the supposed weakest of the English team did a clean job of doing what even Manchester United could not do in four different encounters; that is beat Villarreal. They achieved this with a flourish with the young Theo Walcott running riot of Spanish left back Capdevilla.
In the last round when I did my analysis of the teams that are likely to proceed to the semi finals, I was about the only person in the world (LOL) who thought Bayern Munich could defeat Barcelona. For daring to believe this and putting it down in writing, I got a just reward: Raw egg on my face! Barcelona did not only scaled the hurdle of Bayern; they did it in such a stylish and humiliating manner scoring four goals in a first half that could be termed a master act of attacking, free flowing football. Now, they are undisputed favourite to clinch this most coveted of all European trophies.
Had Manchester United not been showing some cracks lately especially in the Premiership, they would have been tagged as joint favourites with the Blaugrana to drink from this cup. However, their recent tendency to throw up some unexpected performances, the latest being the loss to Everton at Wembley has not helped the cause of firm opinions on the likelihood of the defending champions making it again.
All the same, hundreds of millions of addicted fans all over the world are waiting with baited breath for the next round that will determine the two finalists. And like last year, three English teams are in it. This of course signify the fact that come rain or shine, one of them will be in the final; winning would then be another cup of tea entirely.
One authoritative occurrence is the fact that the four quarterfinals two leg encounters were absolutely won without any recourse to the usually emotional penalty shoot outs. While football itself invokes a lot of emotions from fans, the crescendo of the matter when penalty shout outs are involved is another thing entirely. Personally, I could hear my heart pounding as each player step forward to take what could be likened to a shot of a life time. At the end of it, the contrasting picture from the winner and the vanquished is not something that one would wish to be seeing week in week out. Except of course it’s one’s team who ends up the winner of such energy sapping encounters!
Since the UEFA Champions’ league began, especially the knock out rounds, I have been a bit accurate in my predictions but this particular stage is the toughest to call. But having made a promise that I would write on this previously, it’s not a time to chicken out of this exciting odyssey.
Barcelona VS Chelsea
Back in the heady days of the self declared ‘special One’ Jose Mourinho, these two teams confronted each other in explosive matches that even saw to the retirement a referee! I remember a younger Lionel Messi almost getting skinned by a frightened Asier Del Horn at Stamford Bridge. A world class match that saw Chelsea racing to a three goal lead in the first twenty minutes but only to be put on a cliff hanger by tow deadly strikes from the unplayable Ronaldinho.
Prior to the arrival of Jose Mourinho, Gianluca Vialli took a 3-1 lead to Nou Camp only to end up decapitated by the likes of Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert. The Dennis Wise captained side were always second to the ball and they endured a terrifying attacking display from the home team and eventually crashed out of the CL. This is the latest encounter and what a mouth watering one it’s posed to be.
After faltering in the match against Espanyol and in the La Liga and having their impressive 12 points lead halved by Real Madrid, Barca are back in full stride playing in a more exciting manner. It’s just like they are bent on confirming the proverb that a king’s palace that got burnt has left only left the room for a more beautiful and imposing one! They’ve played with gusto and blown apart any opposition that come their way. What is even more appealing to me is the humility of the coach Pep Guardiola. Despite the great season the team is having so far, he’s remained grounded reminding all that nothing’s been won yet!
Just this morning, to indicate the level of discipline and professionalism operating at the Camp, Pep barred the players from watching Nadal’s match! Full concentration for the job ahead unlike the circus of shame surrounding our national senior team who huffed and puffed to barely nick a point against Mozambique!
And the crust behind this disposition is not hard to see; a final appearance in the CL in Rome! It’s close; they can smell it and they are ready to go for it.
Did you ask ‘what about Chelsea’? More than any of the remaining four teams at this stage, Chelsea is the most desperate to win this championship. They came close to it just last time and it took an intervention of fate for them to throw it away!
Since the arrival of the travelling old man, Guus Hiddink, the team has picked themselves up from the slumber of the Scolari days and is playing football with passion again. A major part of this revival is Didier Drogba who’s in a form of his life. They played arguably the most exciting CL match to date against Liverpool and he was the tormentor in Chief.
What and Who Will Give?
Hmmm, Messi, Henry, Eto o, Iniesta, Xavi, Keita, Alves; fearsome force to face! Drogba, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Terry, Alex; not by any means pushovers! What give?
The sheer potency, power and speed of the attacking force of Barcelona could make any coach buckle in the knees. They are almost unstoppable in full flight and this is what Chelsea will contend against.
When in the last round I thought their defense will come unstuck against Bayer Munich due to the presence of Luca Toni, Miroslav Klose (who eventually missed the encounters), Lucas Podolski, Basten Shwensteigger and the Frank Ribery, I was dead wrong; they completely shut out Bayern and taught them how to play football! They didn’t stop at that; they scored five goals over two legs making light of the like of Lucio, Lahm and Demichelis.
Will Chelsea be able to contain them? I hope Guus Hiddink find the answer to this!
My Prediction: Barcelona to win over the two legs to appear in their second finals in three years.
Arsenal VS Manchester United
It’s almost unbelievable that this is the first time that SAF and AW would be locking horns in the CL. And it had to be at this most important stage. Two arch rivals and competitors that hate to lose against each other are now faced up in what could eclipse the master piece between Liverpool and Chelsea!
Arsenal struggled earlier on in the season with series of injuries and five loses within the first 14 matches of the new season; many, including 9jafans.com wrote them off as having any chance of making even the fourth and last champions league position in the EPL. How wrong we all are! They hauled themselves back into contention and overhauled a seven point deficit to Aston Villa at a stage to be leading them now by eight points in fourth place.
Should this ‘lowly’ achievement be the lot of a big team like Arsenal? Capital NO! If not for the penchant for miserliness and low profile purchases, Arsenal could be winning silverware year in year out! The exit of midfield gems Hleb and Flamini exposed them to early season ridicule from the likes of Hull, Stoke and Fulham. In the past four months however, they seem to have swung it around.
Playing a breathtaking attacking football at times, they have managed to hold their own against members of the ‘big four’ in the EPL save for the loss to Chelsea in the FA semi finals. They defeated both Chelsea and Manchester United and held Liverpool both home and away. This is by no means a stroll in the park.
Manchester United on the other hand prior to that humiliating defeat by Liverpool at OT steamrolled over all oppositions. They were almost impermissible in defense! They broke the records for the longest shut out in Premiership history and they indeed displayed all the mannerisms of a worthy champion. After the Liverpool match, they suffered a sucker’s punch to Fulham and they had to rely on the brilliance a teenager to get the max points off Villa at OT.
To underscore the importance of the CL matches coming up against Arsenal, SAF rested his whole gamut of world class player in preparation for a defining week. And just like Arsenal, they suffered the consequences of that decision by getting knocked out against Everton for the FA Cup finals.
What and Who Will Give?
Hmmm, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov, Tervez, Giggs, Schole, Vidic, Ferdinand and VDS; serious hurdle for any team in the world. Adebayor, RVP, Fabregas, Walcott, Nasri, Toure, Clichy and Almunia; not a bad side!
Any match between these two sides has always been exciting save for that FA cup final in 2005 (the last trophy won by the Gunners), where Arsenal were so defensive that it was almost a shame to watch!
Wayne Rooney particularly finds extra motivation to play against Arsenal and most often times than not, he seems to make the difference. With Adebayor’s lone goal giving Arsenal three points in OT two seasons ago and suffering the reverse last season, the Red Devils home’s not a great hunting grounds for the Gunners.
Having moved to Emirates three seasons ago, Arsenal has only dropped maximum points against any opposition in only two competitive matches; West Ham United and Aston Villa. On the flip side though, they have also drawn too many games at their new home. With all these under consideration, it becomes even more difficult to predict who will edge this tie.
My Prediction: Manchester United to shut out Arsenal at Old Trafford and winning on the aggregate over the two legs.
This is my take gentlemen. Let’s have the arguments coming in torrents. Cheers!
Topics: Biz Football, Crazy Fans, Hot Stars, Cold Sands, Premiership, Success Pills, The Gaffer, Who Will Win |
April 22nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I enjoyed this piece untill I got to your damning prediction: “Barcelona to win over the two legs to appear in their second finals in three years.”
The new vitalised Blue side will prove you wrong. This time around your just reward will not be egg in your face but something more refreshing, say raw pepper.
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Great article again and deep insight. I however dissagree that the arrogant and overconfident boys from Spain will beat Chelsea. Guus Hiddink knows how to deal with this kind of situation and ‘am absolutely sure the Blues will triumph!
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 pm
We are in for a very exciting time. I know that there will be a lot of surprises in these two encounters but whatever the case, I want Arsenal to beat Man U and of course go ahead to win the cup for the first. It’s a tall order but it can be and will be done.
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Nice piece marred with seemingly woeful predictions.
The finals’ between Chelsea and Arsenal. Just stay tuned!
April 24th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Arsenal is out, on that I agree with you but Chelsea will beat Barca. Chelsea is like the bully that eats ‘akpu’ Barcelona is the buttie from Ikoyi; no match!
April 27th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
chelsea all the way to the finals. there’s no stopping
April 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Lets keep our fingers crossed.
April 29th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
My prediction is Barcelona - Arsenal finals … it’s not unbelievable.
April 30th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I BELIEVE THE BATTLE IS NOT YET OVER, LOOSING IN OLD TRAFFORD DOES NOT JUSTIFY OUR CRASHING OUT OF THE TOURNAMENT.
ARSENAL IS FULL OF SUPRISES , SO DONT UNDER ESTIMATE THIER MIRACULOUS MOVE.]
GUNNERS FOR LIFE