www.9jafans.com - Nigeria’s #1 Football Blog

Hostilities resume again in the most prestigious club football championship in the world as Inter Milan hosts Barcelona in the first semi final of the highly anticipated round. Bayern Munich and Olympic Lyon will lock horns on Wednesday in the second semi final tie.

Inter Milan Vs Barcelona

Undoubtedly the top draw of this round is the encounter between Jose Mourinho’s Inter and Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. The teams met in the group stage and the Catalans took the lion share of the points by defeating Inter in Spain while they held out for a draw at the San Siro.

This is therefore a test of character for the Spanish side as the motivation on the side of Inter would be unparalleled. While the Italian side’s been a major force in the Serie A, the same cannot be said of their performance in Europe. As a matter of fact, they’ve been ‘also ran’ in the UEFA champions’ league for the better part of four decades. Amazing reality considering the kind of money the Morratti family had expended in the last 13 years and yet they do not have anything to show for it in terms of the big one.

And in came the ‘special one’ Jose Mourinho! Not really for the Lega Calcio but for the European cup. He did achieve the former at the first try but the latter is the real deal for the Nerazzuris. Only that the Catalans are also a very interested party. They want to do what no other club has done since the modern era; win the cup back to back. So what gives?

One thing that cannot be denied is the tactical discipline of both teams. The managers are relatively young and Mourinho (a former interpreter to late Bob Robson during his stint at Barca) is renowned for his defensive and compact play while Pep is all about possession and more possession. What’s more? The two teams have ‘no nonsense’ players in their ranks. Lucio, Zanetti, Maicon and Cambiaso are as hard as they come in world football. Did I hear you say that Puyol, Pique, Keita and Alves are not pushovers too? You are absolutely right.

This tie is too close to call and it looks we are in for a very exciting time. With history and current form behind them coupled with the presence of the merciless Messi, I give this tie to Barcelona over the two legs. I know this is a hard call but I strongly feel that the hard tackles and desperate lunges that will come from Inter players will play right into the hands of Guardiola and his team.

Bayern Munich Vs Olympic Lyon

This is a tie that no pundit would have predicted at the beginning of this tournament. Bayern’s been off the scene for so long that many have long forgotten that they are three times champion of Europe. Serious activity in the summer meant the landing of the deadly Arjen Robben from Real. And for the worth of it, his decisive goals against Fiorentina and Manchester United have more than paid for his value. His onetime volley at Old Trafford meant that the Bavarians would again nurse the enviable dream of playing in the European finals.

Similarly, Lyon, a perennial champions’ league campaigner are also in delirium having achieved their first ever semis. And for all that people may say, Lyon is as good as any side in this championship. We shouldn’t forget that they knocked out Real Madrid in the last round and that’s not a mean achievement by any imagination.

If I don’t really have anything to look out for in the French team, the goalkeeping exploits of Lorris is worthy of mention. The safe hands is almost the dominant reason for the teams’ exploit this season. He might as well be the determining factor save for one critical fact. Bayern Munich seems to score critical goals at the right time and I don’t think Lyon can keep them off the track to reaching another finals.

Be Sociable, Share!

•