Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Real Madrid 2 – Bayern Munich 1 (Pens. 1-3) (Agg. 3-3) (Alternative highlights & Longer highlights.) It took Real Madrid just 6 minutes to take the lead on the night, David Alaba was penalised for handball (harsh?) and Cristiano Ronaldo buried the spot kick. Seconds later Bayern winger Arjen Robben spurned a glorious chance to grab a priceless away goal. On 14 the tie looked to be swinging the way of Los Blancos as Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his second from a Mesut Ozil assist. Bayern’s lifeline came on 27 as Arjen Robben sneaked home a penalty after Gomez had been fouled by Pepe. The second half was a lot more cagey, but Mario Gomez fluffed a great opportunity late on. In extra-time Esteban Granero tried to extort a penalty with a pretty poor dive.

Video of the Real Madrid 1 – Bayern Munich 3 penalty shoot-out. (Alternative video of the shoot-out.)

In the shoot-out, Bayern held their nerve with their first two penalties from David Alaba and Mario Gomez but Madrid missed through Galacticos Cristiano Ronaldo & Kaka. Casillas saved from Toni Kroos to bring Los Blancos back into it. And Xabi Alonso was the first Real player to score before Iker Casillas saved from Lahm. But when Sergio Ramos skied his penalty it was Bayern’s tie to win. And Bastian Schweinsteiger duly stepped up to send Bayern Munich into the final on home turf.

Post-match interview: Jose Mourinho.

Jose Mourinho: I want Chelsea to win Champions League final.

Pepe’s embarrassing dive v Bayern Munich.

ITV strikes again: Interrupts extra-time of Real Madrid-Bayern Munich.

Jose Mourinho reaction to Ronaldo & Kaka penalty misses.

Gif & Picture: Sergio Ramos’ rubbish penalty v Bayern Munich.

Sergio Ramos’s penalty miss v Bayern Munich: What really happened.

Both Manuel Neuer penalty saves v Cristiano Ronaldo & Kaka.

Real Madrid 2 – Bayern Munich 1* in slow motion.

Pre-match: Real Madrid arrive at the Bernabeu for Bayern Munich 2nd leg.

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Barcelona 2 – Chelsea 2 (Agg 2-3) (Champions League semi-final 2nd leg, April 24, 2012) (Alternative highlights & longer highlights.) After Didier Drogba was spotting chatting to Messi in the tunnel, the pomp before the kick off was made entertaining by a mascot who couldn’t stop starring at Lionel Messi. When the match got underway Lionel Messi had the first sight on goal by the Argentine screwed ashot wide. The home crowd had their hearts in their mouths when Gerard Pique was knocked out by Valdes. Moments later the fans were yelping for another reason as Petr Cech denied Lionel Messi from point blank range. Ten minutes from the break Barcelona’s presure finally paid off as an umpteenth attack was finished home from close range by Sergio Busquets. Immediately Chelsea’s match unravelled as John Terry collected a red card after kneeing Alexis Sanchez up his backside. On th estroke of halftime Chelsea looked dead and buried as Messi threaded a pass to Andres Iniesta on the left and the Spaniard rolled home a second for the Catalans. But deep into injury time Chelsea stunned the Nou Camp as Ramires was freed behind the home backline by Lampard and the midfielder chipped Valdes to put the Londoners back in pole position.

Two minutes after restart Cesc won a penalty under a Drogba challenge, but Lionel Messi incredibly only hit the Chelsea crossbar. In the final stages Barca threw the kitchen sink at the Pesnioners but Alexis Sanchez saw a goal disallowed for an offside, while Lionel Messi’s nightmare continued as he struck the post with a low shot. Deep into injury time Fernando Torres was released one-on-one with Valdes and the Spaniard kept his nerve to score one of the most memorable goals of his career as Chelsea reached the final.

Post match interviews: Pep Guardiola, Roberto Di Matteo, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech & Frank Lampard.

John Terry denies he should have been sent off at Barcelona.

Gary Neville has an orgasm over Fernando Torres goal (Chelsea) v Barcelona.

The Spoofs: Gary Neville has an orgasm over Fernando Torres goal v Barcelona.

Geoff Shreeves tells Branislav Ivanovic he will miss the Champions League final.

Bart Simpson analyses Geoff Shreeves telling Branislav Ivanovic he will miss the Champions League final.

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

Chelsea 1 – Barcelona 0 (Champions League semi-final first leg, April 18, 2012) (Longer highlights.) Barcelona went close within eight minutes, Alexis Sanchez ran through and clipped the ball past Petr Cech but on to the crossbar. Barcelona continued to press and Cesc Fabregas was guilty of missing a sitter after Cech had parried to the former Arsenal man. Andres Iniesta was next to go close, bamboozling Cahill and having a decent penalty claim for a push. Towards the end of the half Ashley Cole cleared another chance off the line from Cesc Fabregas. Despite all their domination, Chelsea took the lead on the stroke of half-time, Lampard robbed Messi and swept the ball out to Ramires who found Didier Drogba who lashed the ball past Valdes. Going a goal down wasn’t Barcelona’s only worry just before the break as Lionel Messi slipped and limped off. It was same again in the second half as Adriano had the first shot, saved by Petr Cech. And in the dying minutes Petr Cech made an excellent save from a Carles Puyol header. With their final attack Pedro hit the post and Busquets blazed over with the follow up.

John Terry squeezes Carles Puyol’s wrist.

Didier Drogba dives against Barcelona as Fernando Torres looks on in disgust.

Another Didier Drogba dive v Barcelona.

Post-match interviews: Roberto Di Matteo, John Terry, Didier Drogba & Pep Guardiola.

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Bayern Munich 2 – Real Madrid 1 (Champions League semi-final first leg, April 17, 2012) (Alternative highlights & Extended highlights.) Seventeen minutes into the match at the Allianz Arena, Bayern took the lead, Franck Ribery lashing home a poorly defended corner from Madrid. A much more open than expected first half saw Iker Casillas make a spectacular save from Mario Gomez. Eight minutes into the second half it was 1-1, Ronaldo hit Neuer when clean through but when Benzema crossed back in, the Portuguese forward simply turned it back in for Mesut Ozil to tap home. With 20 minutes to go, Mario Gomez blazed over when well placed. In the 90th minute Mario Gomez produced a predatory finish to give Bayern the advantage going into the second leg, after great work by Phillip Lahm. In the dying seconds Marcelo was hugely fortunate not to receive a red card for kicking Thomas Muller, Howard Webb showed the Brazilian just a yellow.

Jose Mourinho interview post Bayern Munich defeat.

Gary Neville reaction to Bayern Munich 2 – Real Madrid 1.

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Chelsea 2 – Benfica 1 (Agg. 3-1) (Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg, April 4, 2012) (Alternative highlights & longer highlights.) Ashley Cole won Chelsea a penalty in the 20th minute following a barge from Javi Garcia, and Frank Lampard converted the spot-kick to put the Blues 2-up on aggregate. Benfica’s job became that much more difficult when Maxi Pereira received a second yellow card in the 41st for a late lunge on Mikel in midfield. Stamford Bridge was aghast when Ramires missed an open goal from a yard out early in the second half. Five minutes from time Benfica were rejuvenated when a corner was headed home by Javi Garcia to give the visitors real hope, but Chelsea sealed their progress in injury time when Raul Meireles scored an emphatic goal on the counter-attack.

Post-match interviews: Roberto Di Matteo & John Terry.

Poll, GIFs & video: Which Chelsea miss was worse, Fernando Torres or Ramires?

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

Real Madrid 5 – APOEL 2 (Agg. 8-2) (Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg, April 4, 2012) (Alternative highlights & longer highlights.) Gonzalo Higuain flashed a header wide of the APOEL goal after three minutes, while less than two minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo had his first effort on target. In the 26th minute Real scored as Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his 7th Champions league goal in his 8th appearance when he met Marcelo’s cross at the back post. Kaka curled home a stunner in the 37th minute to extend Real’s unassailable advantage. Kaka hit the outside of the post before the break. Gustavo Manduca registered a moment he’ll never forget in the 67th minute when the forward raced through to score APOEL’s first goal of the tie. Fifteen minutes from time normal service was resumed as Cristiano Ronaldo smacked home a stunning free-kick to restore Real’s two-goal advantage on the night. Real extended their lead when Jose Callejon cut in from the left and beats Pardo at the near post, but an Esteban Solari penalty kept APOEL’s spirits alive. Angel Di Maria spotted the keeper off his line in th e86th and the forward netted with an audacious lob.

Post match interviews: Jose Mourinho.

Individual highlights: Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jose Mourinho: It won’t be a Chelsea-Real Madrid Champions League final.

Shocker: APOEL’s Paulo Jorge has two teeth knocked out at Real Madrid.

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Barcelona 3 – AC Milan 1 (Agg. 3-1) (Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg, April 3, 2012) (Alternative highlights & Longer highlights.) After Lionel Messi had missed a chance after five minutes, Lionel Messi chalked up his incredible 50th Champions League goal with a 10th minute penalty against the Rossoneri after the Flea had been brought down in the box. Just after the half hour Milan drew level on the night as Antonio Nocerino – signed for just €500,000 – clipped a low shot into the far corner after being set up by Ibrahimovic. Four minutes from the interval Barca won a second penalty when Nesta was punished for having a handful of the Busquets’ shirt, and Lionel Messi stepped up to score his second spot-kick of the night. In the 53rd minute Barcelona opened up a 2-goal cushion as Mexes half-blocked a Messi shot into the path of Andres Iniesta and the Spanish midfielder made no mistake from point-blank range.

Post match interviews: Pep Guardiola talks to Sky & the press.

Individual highlights: Lionel Messi.

Tiziano Crudeli & chums provide their crazy Italian commentary for Barcelona 3 – AC Milan 1.

Was referee Bjorn Kuipers correct in awarding Barcelona a second penalty v AC Milan?

Barcelona second penalty decision v AC Milan in slow motion.

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Bayern Munich 2 – Marseille 0 (Agg. 4-0) (Champions League quarter-final 2nd leg, April 3, 2012) (Alternative highlights) Bayern’s lead looked unassailable when Ribery crossed for Ivica Olic to stab in from close range in the 12th minute to put the Germans 3-up on aggregate. Bayern doubled their lead on th enight in the 37th minute when an end-to-end counter-attack was finished off by Ivica Olic’s close range finish.

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

AC Milan 0 – Barcelona 0 (Champions League quarter-final 1st leg, March 28, 2012) (Alternative highlights & Longer highlights.) The match was entertaining even before kick off as the San Siro unveiled a Pac-Man collage in the stands. When the action started Milan should have taken an early lead, but Robinho ballooned a shot over the bar. At the other end Lionel Messi fluffed a free-kick when he slipped at the wrong moment whilst Messi also had a goal chalked off for offside, but Barca thought they deserved a penalty when Alexis Sanchez was taken out by Abbiati from a free-kick. Milan again were wasteful when Zlatan Ibrahimovic missed a one-on-one opportunity with Valdes. Christian Tello came off the bench in the second half and flashed a shot into the Milan side-netting.

Individual highlights: Lionel Messi.

Post-match interviews: Massimo Allegri, Pep Guardiola & Lionel Messi.

Tiziano Crudeli’s mental commentary of AC Milan 0 – Barcelona 0.

Vote: Should Alexis Sanchez have won a penalty at the San Siro? (AC Milan – Barcelona).

Wednesday, March 28th, 2012

Marseille 0 – Bayern Munich 2 (Champions League quarter-final 1st leg, March 28, 2012) (Alternative highlights & Longer highlights.) Bayern broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime as OM keeper Andrade failed to Mario Gomez’s low shot after the Germans had launched a counter through Lahm and Robben. The Frenchmen looked dead and buried midway through the second half as Arjen Robben played a lovely 1-2 with Muller to break into the box from the right hand side before rolling a simple shot into the far post.

Post-match interview: Arjen Robben.