Champions League Quarter Final 1st Leg Wrap Up

Chelsea vs. Benfica 

Chelsea, the final surviving English club in the competition took a lead in their two leg quarter final show down with Benfica, winning at the stadium of light 1-0.  As the torch bearers for the English in the European competition, Chelsea have had the onus of " must succeed" put upon them. In the first leg against Portuguese opposition, they came up trumps securing an all important away goal. After a dismal display, in a dismal game against Tottenham at the weekend, the blues stepped up their game perhaps in response to my previously mentioned point and players like Ramirez and Torres had good games in a much unfamiliar line up. Solomon Kalou started off of Torres, Mikel was reinstated into the midfield, and Paulo Ferreira was brought in as right back.  The little Spaniard and creative attacking force Juan Mata had a quiet game, but former Benfica player Ramirez showed why he was signed from the Portuguese side. Another typical Chelsea performance from Fernando Torres as he did not score, yet help the ball well, skinned a few defenders and provided the chip cross that assisted to Kalou's goal.

The second leg will be at Stamford Bridge next week and I would gather that Chelsea will deal with the Portuguese side:  3-1 on aggregate.

Marseille vs. Bayern Munich

My pick for the most exciting duel in the quarterfinals proved to be far from actual. Let me just come out and say it, Marseille's starting keeper who for all he's worth is their third string, fluffed a strait forward save which deflated the side who where coping with the German powerhouse. Munich looked like the home side as they controlled most of the possession, with Lahm going walkabout on the right. The Spanish referee ruled with an iron fist, reprimanding four before the half. Ribery returned to his old side, and when his feet ensnared the ball the boos rained down possibly effecting his play as he was anonymous.  First string and French international keeper Steve Mandanda was out due to a suspension, and the second string keeper was dropped due to a poor performance.  On to the third Elinton Andrade  who turned to cellulose when a shot hit at him by Mario Gomez the naturalized German scoring machine, went right through him.  After this Marseille's stuffing was removed and Munich went on to win 2-0, with Arjen Robben adding the nail to the coffin pulling out old tricks from an old bag. 

If the French side couldn't  get it done at home, then they stand no chance in Munich next week, even with the return of Mandanda immanent. I say a 4-1 on aggregate.

AC Milan vs. Barcelona

When I saw the starting line-up for AC Milan I thought here goes another ransacking by Barcelona as most notably the absence of  center defender Thiago Silva was out due to injury. V for veteran was the name of the game as Alessandro Nesta at age 36 started in the back and Clarence Seedorf, who turns 36 this weekend started for the Rossenairi. My first instinct again was off as the game which in all due respect was rather toothless and finished in a 0-0 draw.  Messi had the ball in the bak of the net ( surprised?) but he was offside. Ibrahimnovich returned to his old stomping grounds with a point to prove, yet on another Champions League night  was missing from the spotlight. Milan should have changed the fabric of the game in the first few minutes when Ibra headed a looped ball strait to the former Real Madrid's Robinho, who skied his shot standing nearly 5 feet from goal. 

Milan heads to the Nou Camp next week and It smells like a case of " Sorry Charlie" as Barcelona are more clinical that Doogie Howser's prodigious hands. Barcelona progress 2-0 on aggregate.

"El Classico" And A Dani Alves Screamer (Video)

In the latest edition of the " El Classico," Real Madrid once again finds it impossible to defeat Barcelona in their Copa Del Rey second leg tie, at the Camp Nou. It was another frustrating evening for the "Los Blancos," and Jose Mourinho as they drew on the night, yet do not progress due to a 4-3 aggregate score from last weeks defeat.

Once again Madrid exploded out of the gates, with Gonzalo Higuain squandering a chance inside the first minute from a Barcelona defensive mix-up. Madrid looked like scoring first, yet couldn't muster a goal. I heard the great Ray Hudson talking on a radio show earlier in the day where he said that it's almost a detriment to score first against Barcelona. It's kind of like aggravating a tiger. The beast already want's your throat, pulling it's tail only increases this hunger.

The deciding goal was absolutely howitzer-ed home by the Brazilian fullback putting the game out of reach for Madrid. Check the video below, paying close attention to the celebratory dance starring goal scorer Alves and Eric Abidal...It's an absolutely classic jig, for an absolutely classic occasion.

Cesc finally signs for Barca!!! Thank Jesus! This and more...

Cesc has finally signed for his boy hood club of Barcelona, leaving the Arsenal for a fee of 35 million pounds. This makes me a jolly young lad, not for Cesc, but for my own personal reasons of never having the hear about this transfer deal ever again. This does bring the end of the longest transfer saga of all time, and  no matter what happens in this day, I will render it as a great one! It was Inevitable that cesc was going to get what he wanted, like a kid pouting in a toy shop. What bewilders me is why  he wants to go to a club where he won't necessarily get first team football. Xavi has a few goods years under his belt, at age 31, Andre Inesta, somewhat injury prone, but a fantastic player, who plain and simply starts when fit. It's the same situation of the Spanish National Team. Xavi, Inesta and Xabi Alonso start, not  Cesc. In terms of nostalgia, it's an inspiring transfer for the young Spaniard, but when looked at it seems a bit forced. With the emergence of future super-star, Thiago Alcantara, what's the point of Cesc?? Thiago is probably the person most disappointed with this transfer, also  Arsene Wegner and the Arsenal fans, but besides those few football fans can now rejoice over the end of the annoyingly arduous transfer saga, known as Cesc-gate.

After cast out at Liverpool, excess at Tottenham Robbie Keane has finally found some place to rest his head, and that is in the city known as La-la Land. The 31 year old Irish Captain signs for the Galaxy for a fee of $3.5 Million, a bargain considering this time-less relic still has some fantastic goals in him. The west coast giants are strengthening to prove their dominance over their east coast rivals, NY RedBulls who have been the DP procurers over the last few years.

Inside Edge :: FC Barcelona :: Control the Game :: @NikeSoccer

Transfer Talk 7/21/11

American Midfield Alejandro Bedoya  completes his move to Scottish side Rangers, pending a work permit, announced via twitter. Bedoya will join fellow American Maurice Edu at Ibrox come January of 2012, once the swedish season has ended. Ranger's are a team always in contention for a Scottish title, so if Bedoya establishes himself in the team, he will maybe get a taste of silver ware.

Reports today: Alexis Sanchez has signed for Barcelona pending official announcement. Once the most talked about transfer of the summer, it had hit the back-burner the last couple of weeks, until  current club Udinese announced  that the Chilean international is on his way to the Camp Nou, for a reported 26 million euro's, cash + 11 million in bonuses. 

Carlos Tevez's transfer to Corinthians has fallen through, with the Brazilian club announcing they cannot sign the bullish forward, deeming it "impossible." This leaves Tevez stuck at City until another offer comes in. At this point in proceedings the Argentine has to go. If he stay's at Manchester, when he clearly doesn't want to be there the potential for boiling points with club and manager increases 10 -fold.