Ever since the UEFA Champions League last eight draw was laid out, predictions and surmises started doing rounds about the probable finalists to play at the Allianz Arena. Out of the eight qualifiers, with the exception of the mighty Cypriots who had to take on the nine-time champions, each of the rest of the six clubs were handed a fair chance to qualify for the final four.
A passionate section of the fan boys believed and still believe that Bayern Munich can reach the final and bring home Europe’s most coveted club-level trophy, in front of its home crowd. On the other hand, a know-it-allsection of the fan boys held Michel Platini responsible for the ouster of most of the English clubs from the tournament.
The same set of fans also went on to predict an El Clasico in the final under the auspices of the UEFA chief. Aromantic section of fan boys believe that the draw was made so that Roman Abramovich’s blue army can finally hang out the ghost of Stamford Bridge-2009 to dry by eliminating Barcelona in the semifinal clash and go on to win their first-ever Champions League trophy.
TheHardTackle analyzes the key semifinal clashes in the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
The Backdrop
This game will unleash one of the fiercest continental rivalry – competitive, controversial, vitriolic and prestigious. Between them, Real and Bayern have won 13 European Championships. The rivalry they induced on and off the field has so far been wild and with no bars hold. The two teams met for the first time in the continental tournament in the semifinal of the 1976 edition, the Golden period of the Bavarian giants.
Bayern brushed Real aside over two legs and went on to win the Championship as well. The tie landed the Spanish giants in troubled waters, as one of their fans attacked Müller and the match official of that game. As a result Real were handed a five-year ban from participating in European tournaments, but somehow managed to get the punishment reduced to three away games.
Till date the two titanic teams have met each other 18 times in the continental tournament, Bayern winning 10 of those ties, while Real managed six victories. Bayern trumped Real in the last meeting as well when they ousted Los Blancos in the round of sixteen in 2007. Though past records apparently shifts the balance on Bayern’s side, Real do have their share of good omens too.
En route their last two continental triumphs Real defeated Bayern, in the semifinal of 2000 and in the quarter-final of 2002. Revenge was certainly sweeter for the Vikings in 2000, as it was the same Bayern side which thumped four goals in each of the group league games played between the two teams in that year’s Champions League.
Season Diary
On pen and paper, there is certainly not much to choose between the two sides. On domestic front, Real sit comfortably on top of La Liga standings and Bayern are just three points adrift from the Dortmund, the Bundesliga pace-setters. Good thing from Bayern’s point of view is that they have played against top teams right from the beginning, namely clubs from Premier League, Serie A and even a La Liga club, in this year’s Champions League. Their counterparts are yet to play a team from any of these top leagues of Europe.
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The leading star - Gomez
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Strength
Both teams have a number of quality players who alone can decide the fate of a match. Be it Casillas/Ramos/Alonso/Ronaldo/Ozil/Higuain or Neuer/Lahm/Schweinsteiger/Ribéry/Robben/Gomez, indeed this is the clash of the titans. Both teams have a good all-round attacking capability. Not only their wing-play is atrociously deadly, both teams can launch attacks down the centre of the pitch as well and have got world-class finishers in their armory. The playing style of both the teams is pretty much alike in terms of build up play with the exception of Bayern, who involve ball possession/retention into their tactical ammunition.
Good news for Real is that Di Maria is back from a lengthy injury lay-off and his addition will only make Real a more complete attacking package. The renaissance of Kaka only adds to their flair. For Bayern the fitness and presence of Schweinsteiger is immense. The purple patch hit by the trio of Ribéry, Robben and Gomez makes the tie doubly enticing.
Weakness
Real’s defense has not yet been tested against a quality opponent. Conceding two goals against APOEL at Santiago Bernabéu did highlight one such chink in the armor of the Galacticos. For Bayern, even though Alaba has been playing well in the left-back position, he is not defensively equipped enough to hold his own against the fiery Real wingers. The combination of Boateng and Badstuber in the heart of defense is like chalk and cheese. A lot will depend on Neuer and Lahm to marshal a relatively inexperienced defense against a lethal attacking lineup.
Prediction
Even though Bayern did not concede a goal against a very physical Marseille side, their defense is still questionable. Moreover, Real will have the advantage of playing the second leg at home. Real are likely to clear their first continental litmus test to set up a date with the winner of the other tie between Chelsea and Barcelona.
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Los Blancos is expected to get through
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Chelsea vs Barcelona
The Backdrop
The only other cross-border rivalry which can be termed as somewhat close to intensity of the Real-Bayern rivalry, mainly in terms of controversies, is the one between Chelsea and Barcelona. The rivalry, which is still in its nascent stage, has already produced enough melodrama both on and off the pitch. The two teams have faced each other 10 times in the Champions League and in terms of past records, there is not much to choose between these two teams as well.
However, out of the four times the two teams clashed in the knockout stages, Barcelona dispatched their British rivals thrice, over two legs, including the last two meetings. The most recent meeting between the two sides will always be remembered as a game where the match official took away the limelight by failing to judge a number of penalty decisions properly which could have gone in Chelsea’s favor and by sending Abidal off for a foul on Anelka which never happened. Bosingwa and Drogba were banned for two and three matches respectively for unprofessional behavior and Chelsea were fined for failing to curb these incidents.
Season Diary
Barcelona’s domestic dominance is likely to end this season as the defending champions are trailing Real Madrid by six points with only eight games in hand. Their oppositions from London are in an even more sorry state as possibility of missing out on next year’s Champions League action looms large. In the continental tournament, however, the defending champions have been at their best, dismissing Bayer Leverkusen as if theWerkself were some third tier side and then knocking out the Italian heavyweights, Milan. The team has gathered steam and is on course to reach their third Champions League final in four years.
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Can they defy the inevitable?
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Their oppositions are, however, living dangerously and inconsistently as ever. Their qualification to the knock out stage was decided in their final group league game against Valencia. In the first leg of round of sixteen, Chelsea made a hash of their chances of progressing to the next round by going down three goals to one. However, the Blues came back strong and lived to fight another day. If they meant business in their home game against Napoli, they lacked the eagerness against Benfica and only just managed to qualify for the semifinals.
Strength
Barcelona have taught the world about the oeuvre called tiki-taka. Ball possession, ball retention, one-touch pass; Xavi, Iniesta, Messi. They have been playing this way for some time now, and since age has not yet taken its toll on any of the architects, they can charm the world for a few more years to come. Chelsea, on the other hand, have made a positive impact since the departure of Villas-Boas, having won six of their last eight games. Drogba is amongst goals, Luiz has started to show responsibility at the back and even Torres has started to show a handsome fraction of his worth.
The fitness of Pique is very important from Barcelona’s point of view. The assimilation of youth products Cuenca and Tello has only made Barcelona stronger. As for Chelsea, Terry’s presence is humongous. Terry, who is apparently playing through pain barrier, may be rested in their upcoming Premiership games so that he can take part in this crunch encounter.
Weakness
Inability to break down resolute defenses and lapse of concentration of wing backs have been a cause of concern for the Blaugrana. Chelsea, however, have an insurmountable task at hand. Chelsea have been leaky in defense, throughout the season. The Terry-Luiz pairing failed to make a positive impact. Against Barcelona’s fast-paced, slick touch football, Chelsea would require defenders who have good acceleration. Also Chelsea’s build up play has been too slow, a chink which will be well exploited by Barça to retain the ball when Chelsea will try to hit on the counter.
Prediction
Barça have always qualified for the next round against Chelsea, if the second leg is played at Camp Nou. With the kind of form Messi is in, unless and until Chelsea do something unthinkable at Stamford Bridge, Barcelona look likely to make it to the final.
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The Holy Trinity - Xavi, Messi, Iniesta
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With the kind of rivalry the contesting teams share against each other, both the games can go down the wire, tagging a few immortals in the form of heroes, a few casualties in the form of anti-heroes. The emotion of the fans worldwide can be best summed up in the famous lyrics from Nirvana – “Here we are now, entertain us!”
