2011 UEFA Champions League final - Brilliant Barca down United dream

CONVINCING: Barcelona's players celebrate with the European Cup

BARCELONA turned on the style last Saturday, overcoming Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley Stadium to regain the UEFA Champions League.  It is a third title in six years for the La Liga champions, who now are equal holders for the most Champions League’s (three, with bitter arch rivals Real Madrid).  After the match, Pepe Guardiola confirmed he would be staying with the Catalans for another season, and on the evidence of this performance, he would have been crazy to think about leaving the Nou Camp.  Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who have made everyone look ordinary in the Premiership this season, were made to look distinctively average by Barcelona’s fearsome attack, which would have anyone quaking in their boots. 

      Like the 2009 final encounter between the sides in Rome, it was the English champions who started the stronger.  Javier Mascherano, playing as an emergency centre-back, seemed uncertain against Wayne Rooney in the opening exchanges.  Ferguson had shocked Dimitar Berbatov by leaving his top scorer this season out of the squad, which will raise serious questions over the Bulgarian’s long-term future at Old Trafford.  From the 15^th minute onwards, Barcelona started launching raid after raid on Edwin van der Sar’s goal.  Only some desperate defending from Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand kept the scoreline at 0-0 until the 27^th minute.  Xavi was given the freedom of the Wembley pitch, and played in Pedro, who stayed cool under a late attempted block from Vidic to beat Van der Sar, in his farewell football appearance.

HOPE: Given to United by Rooney, but it was a false dawn

     If anyone questioned the resolve of Manchester United, then the response was fantastic.  Barcelona carelessly gave possession away from a cheap throw-in and Rooney combined superbly with the off-colour Ryan Giggs to produce a stunning strike from the edge of the area, which left Victor Valdes with no chance.  Finally, Rooney had been able to produce on the biggest stage of all, after his peripheral roles in the 2008 and 2009 Champions League finals.  With the scoreline at 1-1 at half-time, the game was firmly in the balance.  What happened after the break highlighted the gulfing class between the two teams.

      Ten minutes into the second half, and with the United defence rocking, and Van der Sar having to be at his best to deny Daniel Alves, Messi seized his moment.  He stepped away from Ferdinand, and fizzled a shot which an unsighted Van der Sar couldn’t keep out.  The Dutchman will be disappointed to have not done better, but Messi wasn’t complaining.  That was the Argentine’s 53^rd goal of a staggering season.  With Darren Fletcher sill nursing a stomach bug, and Michael Owen not quite having the ultimate killer instinct he used to have at Liverpool, Ferguson’s substitute options were limited.  His only main weapon was Nani.  The dynamic Portuguese winger came on in the 68^th minute for the injured Fabio, and made an immediate telling impact.  Sadly, it was the wrong kind of impact.

      Nani gave away the ball on the edge of his own area, and a deadly Barcelona attack was never going to not punish this careless act of possession.  David Villa producing another beautiful goal, curling a shot in that gave Van der Sar no hope of keeping his attempt out.  That was that, Barcelona had completed the ultimate football performance.  There was time for Paul Scholes to make a brief cameo before he announced his retirement from the game today, and for Nani to create a late moment of panic for the untroubled Valdes.  However, this was undoubtedly Barcelona’s night, Barcelona’s season and Barcelona’s best performance ever.

     There was a nice touch at the end of the game.  Club captain Carlos Puyol allowed left-back Eric Abidal the chance to lift the European Cup.  Abidal had undergone life-saving liver surgery just 70 days ago!  His comeback to lift football’s greatest club competition prize is a story full of emotion and miracles.  For United, it isn’t the end of the world, but Ferguson knows he must come back next season, with a stronger and better squad, otherwise Barcelona will dominate European club football again.  There could be no complaints in the greatest final performance since AC Milan’s 4-0 demolition of Barcelona themselves in the 1994 final.  The class of Barcelona 2011 is quite possibly the greatest team to have graced the game.  They thoroughly deserve to be champions for such a special occasion and on this evidence, Guardiola has the ability to produce a side that can dominate European football for the next decade.

2011 Spanish Grand Prix - The smiling assassin does it again!

SPRAYING: The victory streak continues for Sebastian Vettel

RED BULL’s Sebastian Vettel recorded his fourth win from five races in 2011 yesterday.  The ‘Smiling Assassin,’ used the ‘undercut’ to overtake Fernando Alonso and then hold off a quicker McLaren of Lewis Hamilton to take the honours at the Spanish Grand Prix.  Vettel now has a 41 points lead at the head of the driver’s standings.  However, he was made to work hard for his victory in Barcelona.

     For the first time in 2011, Vettel was beaten to pole position by his team-mate, Mark Webber.  However, neither Red Bull was leading into the first corner.  In a brave and special start, Alonso delighted his local fans by charging up the inside from fourth on the grid to claim an unexpected lead.  Vettel edged past Webber, but at least his start wasn’t as bad as Jenson Button.  Wheelspin and being put on the marbles through the first three corners had Jenson down to tenth on lap one from fifth on the grid.

     It was clear that Alonso was holding up Vettel, Webber and Hamilton, and he did a great job to keep them behind for the first 20 laps.  However, Vettel smartly pitted a lap earlier than Fernando, got a clean lap on fresh tyres and went past Alonso, when he came in for his second pitstop a lap later.  Hamilton went longer on strategy at the Circuit de Catalunya to also leapfrog Alonso. 

     Once the Ferrari got onto the harder, ‘prime’ tyre, the Spaniard’s pace was hopeless.  He ruined Webber’s afternoon, and it allowed Button, on a three-stop strategy to everyone else’s four-stop to produce two spectacular passes on one lap against the Ferrari and Red Bull driver.  Tyres once again dictated the pace of the Grand Prix, but the neutrals were treated to a tremendous Grand Prix by this, despite the lack of effect the DRS system had in Barcelona.

    Part of this was down to the hard-charging pace of Hamilton.  Curiously, the one second advantage that the Red Bull drivers had in qualifying had disappeared on raceday.  In fact, the McLaren package looked quicker in race trim, which will give both drivers firm encouragement.  Unfortunately for Lewis, the speed of the Red Bull through Barcelona’s fast-sweeping corners was enough to keep him away from producing a serious attack.  Having been beaten in similar fashion in China last month, this win will mean more to Vettel – his 13^th overall in his F1 career, although he needs to work on his ‘diabolical’ Crazy Frog impression!

LIFT: Felipe Massa gets a ride home after a rare DNF

    Button finished third, after producing a charging drive from his horrid first lap.  Webber looked flabbergasted and drained after his fourth place result.  On a track where he has traditionally had the edge over Vettel, to finish over 40 seconds behind his team-mate will leave the Aussie scratching his head.  Despite leading early on, Alonso went onto be lapped, which shows just how far the Ferrari is off the pace.  Ultimately, fifth was the best that Fernando could hope for, unless dramas happened ahead.  Team-mate Felipe Massa had a poor weekend.  The Brazilian was bitching about understeer all weekend, and was only running tenth when his gearbox packed up with five laps to run.  Hamilton, Button and Webber, along with Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguesuari survived a steward’s investigation for not slowing down under a yellow flag, when Heikki Kovalainen crashed his Lotus.  All received a reprimand from the driver steward, Mark Blundell.

    Michael Schumacher put in his best performance of 2011 so far, finishing a creditable sixth, ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg.  Rosberg was hobbled for the majority of the race by radio transmission problems.  Nick Heidfeld produced a sterling drive from the back of the grid to wind up eighth for Renault, right on the tail of the two Mercedes cars at the finish.  Heidfeld didn’t run in qualifying, after a spectacular exhaust fire almost left his car in a fiery mess during Saturday morning practice.  Sergio Perez earnt the first points of his F1 career, as the Sauber cars took the final points positions.  Kamur Kobayashi’s drive was particularly impressive to tenth, considering he lost time with a first lap puncture, following contact with Alguesuari.

     With Monaco just six short days away, the question remains, are Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull just totally unbeatable.  It will take a mighty effort, but Lewis Hamilton looks like he might just have a say in this championship before the Fat Lady starts singing.

F1 classic races - Spain

IN A new series, I will be looking back at six classic races every weekend from the country about to stage an event in the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship.  This is my selection, of races in Spain between 1991 and 2010.  Enjoy the archive!

1991

WINNER: Nigel Mansell (Williams Renault), 2^nd: Alain Prost (Ferrari), 3^rd: Riccardo Patrese (Williams Renault)

F1’s first visit to Barcelona came in September 1991.  It will be remembered for one of the most iconic pictures in Grand Prix history.  Championship rivals Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna went wheel-to-wheel down the long start-finish straight, wheels almost touching sparks flying at nearly 200mph.  Mansell went onto claim the place from Senna and in a race he needed to win, to keep his slim championship hopes alive, did so.  Senna spun in the last corner, then struggled with fuel consumption and limped home a disappointed 5^th.  Pole-sitter Gerhard Berger dropped out with engine problems and with Michael Schumacher also spinning away a possible podium chance in only his fourth Grand Prix start, Alain Prost came through from 15^th at the end of lap one to finish second.  This was because he took the brave decision to start the race on dry tyres on a damp circuit.  However, this was the day when two true Grand Prix legends refused to back down and gave the neutrals a spectacular moment to remember, that is still talked about today.

1994

WINNER: Damon Hill (Williams Renault), 2^nd: Michael Schumacher (Benetton Ford), 3^rd: Mark Blundell (Tyrrell Yamaha)

FOUR weeks after Ayrton Senna’s tragic accident at Imola, Damon Hill gave the whole Williams Renault team a huge boost, with a great victory.  Hill capitalised fully on a rare technical glitch on the formerly invincible Benetton Ford of Michael Schumacher to claim his fourth F1 win.  Schumacher dominated qualifying and disappeared in the early stages with a series of blistering early laps.  However, the young German hit trouble shortly after his first pitstop, when he got stuck in fifth gear for the rest of the race.  Incredibly, he still finished second, less than 20 seconds behind.  Late engine failures for JJ Lehto and Martin Brundle handed Mark Blundell a shock podium finish, ultimately the last time we’d see a Tyrrell on a Formula One podium.

1996

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Jean Alesi (Benetton Renault), 3^rd: Jacques Villeneuve (Williams Renault)

FORCEFUL: Schumacher passes Villeneuve on his way to victory

IN THE torrential rain of Spain 1996, Michael Schumacher proved again just why he was the best.  Schumacher destroyed the competition to win the Spanish event by over a full minute from Jean Alesi.  The 1996 Ferrari was not a good car, but Schumacher could still produce drives that would startle anyone, and this was a prime example.  Rookie Jacques Villeneuve did well to finish third, in a race that saw just six of the 20 cars finish the race.  Retirements included Rubens Barrichello, robbed of a certain podium by a clutch failure on his Jordan Peugeot and Damon Hill, who spun three times in the first 11 laps, and ultimately – ended his race by crashing into the pitwall.  Hill could only watch on in awe of his main rival’s total exhibition of driving in such foul conditions to record his first of what would be many victories at the wheel of the Scuderia.

1997

WINNER: Jacques Villeneuve (Williams Renault), 2^nd: Olivier Panis (Prost Mugen Honda), 3^rd: Jean Alesi (Benetton Renault)

TYRES were the main factor in the outcome of the 1997 event on the Circuit de Catalunya and nearly saw a giantklling upset.  Had it not been for Eddie Irvine’s inability to use his mirrors whilst being lapped, Prost and Olivier Panis might well have won this event.  Panis only started 12^th, but his more durable Bridgestone tyres and solid Prost chassis saw him charge through the field.  This came on a day where Heinz-Harald Frentzen squandered a front row starting position and finish in a very poor 8^th for Williams.  To make Frentzen look even worse, his team-mate Jacques Villeneuve was easier on his Goodyear tyres and went onto take the chequered flag, though if it hadn’t been for Irvine’s ignorance, he probably would have limited defence against the charging Panis.  Two weeks later, Panis season and career effectively ended with two broken legs in a sickening crash during the Canadian Grand Prix.  Jean Alesi scored a much-needed rostrum for Benetton, as Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard, suffered significantly from the abrasive track surface, which destroyed their tyres.  Schumacher salvaged fourth, whilst Coulthard was overtaken by Johnny Herbert on the last lap and had to settle for a disappointing sixth.

2001

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams BMW), 3^rd: Jacques Villeneuve (BAR Honda)

SOMETIMES, sport can be just utterly cruel for no particular reason.  Mika Hakkinen was the victim of this fate in 2001.  In the first event since traction control and launch control devices were allowed back into the sport, the Flying Finn was in complete command.  He followed Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari closely through the first two stints and then took the lead at the final round of pitstops.  Although helped by a strange vibration from Schumacher’s Ferrari, Hakkinen proceeded to pull out a minute advantage, having lapped the entire field.  Then, on the last lap, his clutch packed up through turn three.  It exploded three corners later, leaving the ailing McLaren on the side of the grass.  You just had to feel for Hakkinen, and even Schumacher had to console his rival afterwards.  Michael knew how lucky he had really been on this day.  David Coulthard was a victim of the new technology and started from the back of the grid.  He recovered to fifth, but was accused by Ron Dennis of suffering ‘brain fade’ afterwards.  This allowed Juan Pablo Montoya to collect his first points in Formula One, with a second place drive, and Jacques Villeneuve to earn the first podium in F1 for the BAR Honda outfit.

 

2003

WINNER: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), 2^nd: Fernando Alonso (Renault), 3^rd: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)

BEFORE 2003, Spain was never interested in Formula One.  Crowds were mundane at Barcelona and little interest was credited until Fernando Alonso turned up.  His fans from his native Oviedo descended on Barcelona and saw the youngster push Michael Schumacher all the way.  Schumacher held on to win on the debut of the new F2003-GA, but Alonso won the plaudits of many for his outstanding drive.  Kimi Raikkonen’s championship lead was cut, after he pressed ‘self-destruct’ on the grid and clattered into Antonio Pizzonia’s Jaguar on the grid, whilst David Coulthard tangled with fellow Brit Jenson Button and ended in the gravel pit, making it a miserable day for McLaren.  Although Schumacher had taken the expected victory, this was the day when everyone sat up and took notice of Fernando Alonso’s ability as a Grand Prix racing driver.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals, 2nd Leg - The dream final

THE destination is Wembley on May 28, and it is the final that all the neutrals really wanted.  English league leaders Manchester United will take on La Liga champions and the best side in the world, possibly even ever, Barcelona.  It will be a repeat of their 2009 final and here’s hoping it will be a better contest than it was in Rome, when the Catalans romped to a 2-0 victory. 

     There is distinguished history within the setting for both teams too.  Barcelona won their first European Cup at Wembley in 1992, when a Ronald Koeman free-kick beat Sampdoria in extra-time.  Manchester United achieved a similar feat in 1968, with a Bobby Charlton inspired team overcoming Benfica 4-1, likewise in extra-time at Wembley.  Sir Alex Ferguson will lead his side out on Europe’s premier stage for the fourth time in his reign as boss – whilst Pepe Guardiola was in the Barca team that won the 1992 Wembley final, and will become the youngest coach ever to win the Champions League twice should he succeed.

     In midweek, both teams made light work of their second leg semi-finals, after handsome wins in the first games last week.  Barcelona drew 1-1 with Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, in a game that was only slightly better behaved than the first game was.  Jose Mourinho didn’t even turn up; he watched the game in a hotel room and he will be doing that more often next season; now that UEFA have given him a five-match touchline ban for his insulting comments at the post-match press conference last week.  For the record, Pedro put Barcelona infront in the second half and although Angel di Maria did equalise on the night, Barcelona were the better team throughout both games.  The eight point margin they have over Madrid currently in La Liga is very good value.

EASY: Anderson beats Neuer to put the seal on an easy tie

     Manchester United had the opportunity to rest the likes of Giggs, Vidic, Ferdinand and Rooney and still beat hapless Schalke 04 4-1 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.  The 6-1 aggregate win didn’t flatter United; in fact, they could have won 16-1, if they’d put all their chances away!  Schalke are below midtable in the Bundesliga, and despite accounting for Benfica, Valencia and Inter Milan in the competition this season, they have been shown up for their real quality in these two matches.  Schalke are the worst ever side to have competed in the semis of the UEFA Champions League.  There can be little doubt about that.  Antonio Valencia, Darren Gibson and two goals from the dynamic Anderson registered on the evening for the home side, and despite Jose Manuel Jurado’s bullet strike before half-time, the German side offered very little resistance throughout.  Even the unflappable Manuel Neuer made two mistakes for two of the goals on Wednesday, which summed up Schalke’s performance, forgettable!

     The dream final has been set-up then, and let’s hope the 2011 UEFA Champions League final lives up to the spectacle that it promises to be.

UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals, 1st Leg - Favourites on course

MANCHESTER United and Barcelona look all set to stage the 2011 UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium on May 28.  This is after both team’s earnt crucial and almost match-winning advantages in the first legs of the two Champions League semi-finals.

     Goals from Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney in Gelsenkirchen saw Manchester United canter to a 2-0 win away from home, at Schalke 04.  United completely dominated the match from start-to-finish, which clearly must show how bad Inter Milan are, if Schalke (10^th in the Bundesliga) can dismantle them in the quarter-finals.  In fact, had it not been for a man-of-the-match performance from German no.1 Manuel Neuer, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team could have won by a cricket score.  The second leg at Old Trafford should be nothing more than a formality on Wednesday.

OFF: Pepe looks astounded at his dismissal from 'El Classico'

     24 hours later, we saw the ridiculous and the sublime in the latest ‘El Classico’ saga at the Bernabeau.  The contest between Real Madrid and Barcelona seemed more akin to a wrestling match, rather than a football game.  However, it should be the brilliance of Lionel Messi which is remembered, as Barca take a 2-0 advantage back to the Nou Camp for a bruising second leg tomorrow night.  Three players were sent off, though one of those was only on the pitch.  Barcelona’s reserve goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto saw red, for being the main figure in an unsavoury touchline brawl as the players disappeared for half-time.  In the second half, Pepe became the fourth Real Madrid player to see the red card in an ‘El Classico’ game this season.  His challenge on Dani Alves was late and high, but only warranted a yellow card.  Alves’s spectacular acrobatics and the number of Barcelona players crowing the inadequate referee from Germany, Wolfgang Stark, sealed Pepe’s fate.  In fact, why don’t we give Alves a gold medal for his somersaults, rolling antics!  He is an unsporting player if there ever was one; such a shame for his undoubted talent.  Seconds later, Jose Mourinho had too much to say to the UEFA officials and was promptly sent away from the touchline and locked behind a security gate.  Mourinho’s bitter post-match press conference might land him in further hot water with the authorities and when you start blaming UNICEF for your defeat; then this suggest that Mourinho is a very sore loser.

     Enough of the bickering, let’s remember Messi’s genius, which lit up this drab and silly semi-final.  He escaped the attentions of Xabi Alonso to finish off Ibrahim Afellay’s cross with fifteen minutes remaining, giving Barcelona the crucial away goal.  Ten minutes later, Messi went on a weaving run; leaving four defenders for dead and slotting past Iker Casillas to score one of the greatest goals ever seen in Champions League history.  Can anyone stop Messi?  Well, he’s Manchester United’s problem now!  The second legs this week are nothing more than playing through the motions now.

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals, 1st Leg review - All over bar the shouting

THE midweek games in the UEFA Champions League produced plenty of goals and saw three out of the four ties virtually settled, with the second legs still to come.

CRUCIAL: Rooney scores the only goal at the Bridge on Wednesday

    The one tie that remains in the balance is the all-England affair, although it is advantage Manchester United after the first leg at Stamford Bridge.  Wayne Rooney can’t seem to stay out of the headlines at the moment.  This time, he did so for the right reasons.  Rooney struck the winner in United’s 1-0 success at Chelsea, to earn the Red Devils their first win in West London since April 2002.  The only goal came in the 23^rd minute.  Michael Carrick picked out Ryan Giggs with a beautifully-placed long ball.  Giggs made Jose Boswinga look silly, and by skipping easily around the back of the Portuguese defender, his pass told Rooney how to finish the silky move.  Duly, Rooney delivered and this time, he kept his celebrations to a far more dignified manner.  Chelsea struggled all night and seemed to lack the fight they should have shown, considering this is their only trophy chance this year.  Fernando Torres still looks bereft of confidence and although Patrice Evra produced a goal line to deny Frank Lampard and Ramires was denied a certain stoppage time penalty, there could be no complaints over the final outcome.  It sets up Tuesday’s second leg at Old Trafford perfectly.

DIFFICULT: Crouch's red card was a real letdown in Madrid

     However, Tottenham’s chances of progressing further look impossible, after suffering pure misery in Madrid.  From the moment Aaron Lennon was withdrawn at the last minute with a throat infection, Tottenham’s night went from bad to worse, eventually losing 4-0 in the Bernabeau.  Manchester City loanee Emmanuel Adebayor headed Real Madrid infront in the fourth minute, although Luka Modric could have dealt with the contact better on the line.  Ten minutes later, Peter Crouch got himself stupidly dismissed after two crude challenges on Marcelo.  Marcelo’s reaction to the red card was disgusting, but Crouch’s behaviour couldn’t be defended either, despite receiving some sympathy from Jose Mourinho.  A second header from Adebayor shortly after the restart had Madrid in control and as the game wore on; their movement on the ball was simply too much for a tiring Spurs outfit.  A beautiful strike from Angel di Maria painted a very grim picture with 18 minutes to go, and there was time for Cristiano Ronaldo to notch a fourth, producing the terminal blow.  Surely, Real won’t need to worry about the second leg this coming Wednesday at White Hart Lane.

     Another tie that is as good as over is the Barcelona v Shakhtar Donetsk quarter-final.  From the moment Andreas Iniesta walked through the Ukrainian defence in the second minute, the gulfing class was evident.  Barcelona won 5-1 through goals from Daniel Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Xavi.  At the San Siro, the draw seemed to favour Inter Milan, but they were stunned by Schalke 04, who inflicted a 5-2 loss on the defending champions.  Dejan Stankovic produced a brilliant strike in the first minute, his speculative effort from 55 yards leave Manuel Neuer rather red-faced.  Afterwards, Schalke ran riot, as their great character won through.  Some will be wondering why they are limping around in the mid-table region of the Bundesliga.  Amongst the dismantling of Inter was a 70^th Champions League goal for the incredible Raul.  Cristian Chivu, who had been sent off in last week’s Milan derby, was dismissed for two yellows in this match too. 

     Real Madrid, Barcelona and Schalke 04 are all but through to the semi-finals, but the English quarter-final remains right in the balance.  The football world’s attention switches to Old Trafford for a belting second leg this week.

UEFA Champions League last 16, second leg - Three out of four for England

THE second legs of the last 16 took place in the UEFA Champions League in the last fortnight.  Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Chelsea all booked places in the final eight, but England was denied a full quota by an inspirational Lionel Messi and a scandalous referee decision.

ORDERS: Van Persie receives a shock red card as Arsenal crash out

     It was heartache for Arsenal last Tuesday, as the Gunners lost their 2-1 first leg advantage over competition favourites Barcelona.  Barcelona overturned the deficit in Spain to win 3-1, with Lionel Messi the destroyer again, scoring twice.  When you consider that Arsenal didn’t have a single shot on target in the 90 minutes, there can be no complaints that the better side won and deserved to go through.  However, Arsene Wenger’s side were given a cruel twist of fate in the second half.  The game was tied at 1-1, through a Messi goal and an own goal from Barcelona shielding player Sergio Busquets.  Robin van Persie, only just back from a short injury lay-off was flagged offside, and kicked the ball away about half a second later.  The Dutchman claimed that he couldn’t hear the whistles, which is understandable, considering there were 90,000 spectators in the Nou Camp.  However, experienced Swiss official Massimo Busacca wasn’t interested and gave Van Persie his marching orders.  Wenger and Samir Nasri have since been charged and banned for one match each by UEFA following post-match comments.  With only ten men, Arsenal had little hope and a beautifully executed goal by Xavi, followed shortly afterwards by a Messi penalty had Wenger’s men down and out.

     One side who would have enjoyed Barcelona’s victory were Tottenham Hotspur.  Arsenal’s insult was completed by Tottenham’s progression to the quarter-finals, at the expense of AC Milan.  The Serie A leaders dominated the match at White Hart Lane, but failed to create many clear-cut chances and consequently, failed to overturn Peter Crouch’s sole winner at the San Siro three weeks earlier.  The 0-0 draw was good enough to see Spurs through 1-0 on aggregate.  After all the heroics and entertainment of Tottenham’s inaugural Champions League campaign, this game was a damp squib in all sense of the words.  However, Tottenham’s defending display was fantastic, and by limiting Milan to a single desperate goal-line clearance from a scuffed Robinho shot, they managed to comfortably nullify the Italian threat. 

     Despite an increasing injury crisis in defence, Manchester United made it through into the quarter-finals for the seventh successive season, seeing off Marseille 2-1 at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.  After a goalless draw in France, it was always going to be a tense night for the 2008 winners and injuries during the match to John O’Shea and Rafael only made things harder.  Sir Alex Ferguson has his new goal poacher Javier Hernandez to thank for further progression in the Champions League.  The Mexican scored a brace to make sure that Wes Brown’s late own goal was of little consequence.  Marseille will rue the lack of adventure they showed in the home game between these two sides.

     Chelsea made it through into the quarter-finals, following a comfortable, if uninspiring 0-0 draw against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.  This meant that the two Nicholas Anelka goals in the first leg in Denmark were easily enough.  Chelsea’s performance wasn’t great in midweek and the lack of goals in the team since the arrival of Fernando Torres might worry Carlo Ancelotti.  Nevertheless, at least they have something to fight for this season.

STUNNER: Inter fought back to beat Bayern in Germany

     Reigning champions Inter Milan somehow managed to keep Italian interest in Europe alive, by beating Bayern Munich 3-2 in Germany and therefore, advance on the away goals rule.  Despite an early Samuel Eto’o strike, quick fire goals from Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez seemed to have ended Inter’s title defence.  However, Leonardo has managed to install some impressive battling qualities into the side and they kept fighting, aiding by Bayern’s ability to miss a host of chances.  Wesley Snejider drew Inter level on the night, and in stoppage time, the inconsistent Goran Pandev produced a stunning strike to win the tie.  It was Pandev’s first ever Champions League strike for Inter and left Bayern’s players and fans especially numb afterwards.

    There weren’t any issues for Real Madrid, who comfortably saw off Lyon 3-0 at the Bernabeau to make the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.  Karim Benzema netted again against his former club and there were also strikes from left-back Marcelo and Angel di Maria.  Jose Mourinho’s quest to become the first coach ever to win the Champions League with three different clubs still remains, but Real, like Chelsea are bound to face harder challenges in the latter stages.

     The remaining quarter-final births were taken by Shakhtar Donetsk and Schalke 04.  Shakhtar are a very dangerous side and they ripped apart AS Roma over two legs, to win 6-2 on aggregate.  Philippe Mexes was sent off and Jeremy Menez missed a penalty to complete Roma’s dreadful night.  Schalke might be very inconsistent in the Bundesliga, but they seem to be saving their best form for this competition.  They came from 1-0 down to see off Valencia 3-1 in Gelsenkirchen and advance 4-2 on aggregate.

     The quarter-final draw has pitted Chelsea against Manchester United in an all-English tie, whilst Tottenham play Real Madrid, Inter Milan test themselves against Schalke 04 and Barcelona’s next opposition is Shakhtar Donetsk.  Wembley is getting ever closer and I think this competition is only going to get even more tastier now.

UEFA Champions League last 16, first leg - North London stun giants

THE

 UEFA Champions League returned from its winter hibernation and both North London sides took massive strides into the quarter-finals.  Last week, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur produced outstanding performances at the Emirates and the San Siro respectively to slay two of the ultimate giants in European football, Barcelona and AC Milan.

CELEBRATION: Villa got Barca off to a dream start, but Arsenal fought back

Last season, a Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona were simply too strong for Arsenal in the last eight.  This time around, Arsene Wenger’s young guns proved that they could match the Catalans at their own game and created a historical night that their fans will never forget.  Although Barcelona might still have a narrow advantage for the second leg, the 2-1 win gives Arsenal every chance of knocking out the best attacking side in the world.  Barca played some beautiful football in the first half and fully deserved a half-time lead, when Messi thread through David Villa; the Spaniard scoring with impeccable ease.  Messi missed two golden opportunities in the match and for this, the La Liga leaders were punished by two quick fire strikes in the last fifteen minutes.  Robin Van Persie continued his scoring streak by scoring from an almost impossible angle against a very uncertain Victor Valdes.  With eight minutes to go, the Gunners broke away in the style that Barcelona do to most teams.  Cesc Fabregas found Samir Nasri, who cleverly cut the ball back for substitute Andrei Arshavin to finish off a rasping move.  For Arshavin, who had been massively out of form since Christmas, this will be a real tonic and would have got him back in the good books of most supporters.  The ultimate winner was football; this should be the perfect example for all kids to watch and be educated on.

SHOWDOWN: Gennaro Gattuso v Joe Jordan, seconds out!

Back in October, Tottenham came mighty close to upsetting defending champions Inter Milan at the San Siro, narrowly losing 4-3.  Four months later, they returned to Milan and continued their epic European tale with a 1-0 victory against AC Milan, leaving them in pole position for a place in the quarter-finals.  Like Arsenal, their winning goal came from a counter-attacking move, with Peter Crouch converting Aaron Lennon’s pass as the Milan defence was caught square-on by their fast-forwarding opponents.  Despite missing Gareth Bale through injury, Spurs were rarely under threat from a Milan side, that despite leading the Serie A title race, look a pale shadow of legendary sides that used to spend tingles down opponent’s backs.  The match will sadly remember an act of lurid behaviour from Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso.  After an early caution, Gattuso had a bust-up with Tottenham first team coach Joe Jordan during the game.  At full-time, Gattuso completely lost the plot and head butted Jordan.  The Italian seemed up for a fight, had it not been for the quick reaction of the Milan substitutes.  UEFA has since banned him for four matches, so hopefully we’ve seen the last of Gattuso in Europe this season.

Chelsea may be having domestic troubles, but there were no problems in Europe this week, as they coasted to a 2-0 away win in Denmark against FC Copenhagen.  Once again, Didier Drogba was left on the bench by Carlo Ancelotti, but this time, both Fernando Torres and Nicholas Anelka looked very threatening against a defence that looked terrified to tackle their opponents.  Anelka scored both goals, one in each half and Torres was desperately unlucky not to break his Chelsea account either.  The Blues will have no problems in going through from the return, and have to still be considered as a major threat in this season’s competition, despite their lack of form and confidence in the Premiership.

When both managers afterwards admit that the game was poor, then it doesn’t take a genius to work out that a diabolical game was witnessed.  Marseille and Manchester United played out a tame and lethargic 0-0 draw in the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday night, which will have to go down as one of the most boring games in the history of the European Cup.  Didier Deschamps team seemed happy to not concede an away goal, which was disappointing as they were the home side.  Sir Alex Ferguson was content to keep things tight and not face a disadvantage for the second leg at Old Trafford.  Neither goalkeeper was significantly troubled, as this knockout tie turned more into a Sunday League kick-a-bout.  The way United’s players looked afterwards in the post-match interviews, they’d realised that an opportunity to finish the tie had been badly missed.

FORWARD: Bayern took a giant step, after Gomez's late winner

In the other four games, Italian hopes in the competition are hanging by a thread.  Despite dominating their match against Bayern Munich, Inter Milan were beaten 1-0 at home by the plucky Germans, in a repeat of last season’s final.  Mario Gomez, who previously couldn’t hit a barndoor, let alone the net in his career, can’t stop scoring at the moment.  The German international struck again in injury time to leave Louis van Gaal’s side in complete control of the tie.  Claudio Ranieri resigned as AS Roma coach at the weekend, after letting a 3-0 lead slip to lose 4-3 to Genoa in Serie A.  In the Champions League, Roma have it all to do too, after tripping up 3-2 at home to Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk.  On his first return to Spain since leaving Real Madrid, Raul scored a priceless goal to earn Schalke 04 a creditable 1-1 draw in the Mestalla against Valencia.  Raul’s old club stumbled to a 1-1 draw themselves, in France against Lyon.  Jose Mourinho’s side are favourites now to finish the job, but need to be wary against Lyon, who knocked them out at this stage last season.

Some games delivered in quality, others didn’t, but the battle to reach Wembley in May is now well and truly on.

Ronaldo calls it quits

AFTER a series of serious injuries, Brazilian football superstar Ronaldo has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34.  At a press conference in Brazil, the ex-Barcelona, PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan striker was in tears, as he admitted to giving up the games he loves due to lack of consistent fitness.

The announcement came after his current club; Corinthians were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores last weekend.  He leaves the game as the most successful goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history and a winner of the prestigious World Player of the Year on three separate occasions.  Although recent years have seen a dramatic fall from grace and younger readers may not know Ronaldo that well, his talents at his peak were awe-inspiring.  On his own, he could beat teams’ hands-down and the 2002 World Cup finals in the Far East was a prime example of this.  Since he made his professional debut in 1993, the Brazilian has gone on to score over 400 goals and has the distinction of having represented both Milan clubs and Spanish sides Barcelona and Real Madrid.  Sadly, he never made it to apply his trade in the Premiership, but Serie A and La Liga saw a striker when at his best, destroy opponents and leave them dazzled.

Ronaldo first made his name with Cruziero in 1993, and after scoring 12 goals in just 14 appearances, was a shock inclusion in the Brazilian squad for the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA.  Although he got a winners medal, he never played in the tournament.  However, the experience he gained from going and learning from other deadly finishers Bebeto and Romario would turn out to be valuable.  After the finals, Romario advised Ronaldo to make the move into European football and his first destination was Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.  Despite the first of many knee injuries, Ronaldo was top scorer in his first season in the Eredevisie in 1995 and attracted the attention of both Barcelona and Inter Milan.

WINNER: Ronaldo scores the penalty that wins the 1997 Cup Winners Cup

He moved to Barcelona in 1996, tutored under the guidance of Sir Bobby Robson.  Ronaldo scored the winning penalty that beat PSG to win the 1997 European Cup Winners Cup for his new side, top scored in La Liga and won the FIFA World Player of the year award for the first time.  A year later, after contract negotiations stalled with Barca, Inter Milan forked out £19million for Ronaldo and it would turn out to be money well spent.  He scored 59 goals in 99 games for Inter, including netting in the 1998 UEFA Cup final.  However, 1998 was to be a dark year for Ronaldo personally, as form and injuries began to take its toll.

After scoring four times in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo suffered a series of dangerous epileptic fits in the lead-up to Brazil’s final showdown with France.  After some farcical confusion over the Brazilian team sheet, he played, but looked like he’d just rolled out of the bed hungover.  France won 3-0 and Ronaldo’s mysterious lack of performance was blamed for Brazil’s shambolic final.  Less than a year later, he ruptured a knee tendon playing for Inter in Serie A against Lecce and three more surgeries were required in the next three years.  He only just regained fitness in time for his glory hour, the 2002 World Cup.

TARGET: Ronaldo turned the 2002 World Cup into his own

Ronaldo saw the 2002 World Cup as the chance to seek redemption for the shambles of 98.  It was his tournament.  He scored eight goals, finding the net in every game except the quarter-final against England and scored both goals in the 2-0 final win over Germany in Yokohama.  Had it not been for Ronaldo’s goal scoring abilities, Brazil won’t have won their fifth trophy.  He won the World Player of the Year in 2002 and secured a world record transfer from Inter Milan to Real Madrid for £39million.

At Madrid, Ronaldo was loved and won the La Liga title in his first season at the Bernabeau.  He scored twice on his debut and scored one of the finest ever hat-tricks in football to knock Manchester United out of the UEFA Champions League in 2003.  Injuries hampered his form at Madrid, but an impressive 83 goals in 127 games is an incredible strike rate.  He fell out of favour with Fabio Capello due to her excessive weight issues and was sold to AC Milan in January 2007.  Before then, Ronaldo appeared in one more World Cup finals and although his body was starting to adapt to the constant injuries he picked up, Ronaldo broke Gerd Muller’s 32-year record and became the top scorer in FIFA World Cup history, when he got the opener in Brazil’s 3-0 last 16 win against Ghana.  He ended up scoring 15 goals at the World Cup, 62 for Brazil in total before retiring from international football after Brazil’s quarter-final exit, at the hands of arch-enemy France.

END GAME: His final club move was to play for Corinthians

Once again, injuries would ruin his experience at the San Siro.  Ronaldo only featured 20 times for AC Milan and eventually was released at the end of the 2007/08 campaign.  He returned to Brazil, to see out his career with Corinthians.  The team’s cup exit has bought this retirement decision forward.  In an interview with a Brazilian newspaper last October, Ronaldo had already decided to retire at the end of the Brazilian season, once his contract expired.

Although he never managed to win the UEFA Champions League, Ronaldo won pretty much everything else in his career and despite become a pale shadow of his previous in recent seasons, he was the greatest player in the world at the turn of the millennium.  His legacy on the game and for Brazilian football can never be forgotten.

British Success At The Euros

So, England has had a miserable sporting summer so far, but recently, our athletes managed to lift the doom and gloom with their outstanding performance at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona. 

Team GB arrived back at Heathrow airport on Monday 2^nd August with their best ever haul of medals at the Euros, 6 gold’s, 7 silver and 6 bronze.  That is seven more than the previous overall best, set in Munich in 2002.  With this success, hope will undoubtedly rise for the Olympics in London, now just two short years away. 

The heroes of the championships from a British perspective with Mo Farah, who after years of suffering, clinched a spectacular double gold in the long-distance events (5,000m and 10,000m).  The Kenyans may not be too frightened by Farah, but at least we now have someone who can compete against them at the highest level.  Another success story was that of team captain and Sheffield’s golden girl, Jessica Ennis.  Ennis, who cruised to World Championship glory in Berlin last summer, beat the Olympic champion on her way to another record-breaking gold in the woman’s heptathlon.  There was also a very surprising gold for Andy Turner in the men’s 110m hurdles and a Welsh 1-2 in the men 400m hurdles, Di Greene leading home Rhys Williams.

As ever, there was the odd failure that letdown the team’s overall performance.  4^th in Berlin in 2009, William Sharman was amongst the favourites to win the men’s 110m hurdles, but whilst Turner clattered his way to the gold, a false start in the semi-finals put paid to Sharman’s dreams.  Diabolical and unacceptable changeovers saw both 4x100m relay teams miss out on final berths.  Although the men have a history of dropping the baton (Sydney 2000, Edmonton 2001, Gothenburg 2006), the women’s failure was something of a surprise.  The main international star was France’s Christophe Lematre, who charged to three gold medals, in the men’s 100m, 200m and part of the French squad triumph in the 4x100m relay. 

The likes of America, Jamaica and Kenya may have been missing, but Team GB rose to the fore, and alongside Russia, has proved to be the best that Europe has to offer.  With the Commonwealth Games in India likely to be decimated by withdrawals due to security threats, athletics attention will now turn to the 2011 World Championships in Seoul, Korea.

London 2012 is getting ever closer and our athletes have shown what they can do, and made us all proud to be British. 

2010 Spanish Grand Prix - Untouchable Webber Produces Classy Win

Australian Mark Webber took full advantage of Red Bull’s Racing clear car advantage, to deliver a dominant victory at the Spanish Grand Prix.  After the excitement of the races abroad, Formula 1’s return to Europe brought its usual Spanish procession, which lacked the drama in Barcelona, on a circuit which all the Grand Prix teams know via the back of their hands.  That won’t bother Webber though, who produced an untouchable lights-to-flag drive, which puts him firmly back in the title hunt.

Having started from pole, most pundits and fans were predicting a Red Bull cruise into the distance, and that is exactly what Webber delivered.  However, his team-mate Sebastian Vettel wasn’t so lucky, as he had a dodgy pitstop, which cost him second place to the prudent Lewis Hamilton, then had to make another stop in the closing stages, to sort out a loose rear wheel.  Even then, his problems weren’t finished, as his brakes were very critical and on the verge of destroying.  Fortunately, he limped home like in Bahrain to get some crucial points and he received an added bonus in the dying stages.  With two laps to go, Hamilton was robbed of a deserved 2^nd spot, when a left-front tyre exploded on his McLaren, going through the flat-out Turn 3 on the Circuit de Catalunya.  Lewis was powerless to stop the impact with the barriers, which left him in the tyres and helped his arch nemesis, Fernando Alonso into second spot.

Beginning from 4^th spot, Alonso had a solid race, keeping in touch with the leaders, and he benefited massively from the problems of his rivals.  To the delight of his home crowd, he brought his Ferrari home to get in between the dominant, though not yet invincible Red Bull’s.  However, Ferrari will need to increase their development rate, if they are to harbour any thoughts of a strong championship challenge.  At least Alonso cut Jenson Button’s points lead to a meagre three points, as the world champion produced a poor drive to 5^th, over a minute behind Webber.  Button’s race was badly compromised behind Michael Schumacher, as the seven-time champion made a return to some form, with a good result to 4^th.  However, his defensive tactics, severely criticised by Button afterwards suggest that Mercedes have gone backwards, not forwards with their new aerodynamic package.  Team-mate Nico Rosberg had a nightmare weekend, being outqualified by Schumacher for the first time in 2010, then being squeezed onto the grass at the start by Robert Kubica’s Renault.  A terrible pitstop, brake concerns and a frustrating race in traffic, particularly behind Nico Hulkenberg’s sluggish Williams left Nico stranded in 13^th, his first blank of the championship.

Felipe Massa had a very lacklustre weekend again, almost unheard of on his way to 6^th place, his main highlight saw a brief brush with backmarker Karun Chandok which damaged his front wing.  Chandok had another incident later on with Jaime Alguesuari, which removed the angry Indian from the race, and earned Alguesuari a drive-through penalty.  Nevertheless, homeboy Alguesuari produced another sterling drive to score another point for Toro Rosso, whilst team-mate Sebastian Buemi continues to suffer, connecting on lap one with the other Spaniard in the field, Pedro de la Rosa, then retiring later on due to hydraulic traumas.

Adrian Sutil produced another consistent drive for Force India, earning an excellent 7^th place, holding off a late charge from Kubica, who bagged 8^th on a difficult weekend for Renault.  Despite qualifying back in a woeful 17^th, Rubens Barrichello showed his crafty experience to bring home two points for Williams in 9^th, leaving Hulkenberg at sea in 15^th, despite the young German outqualifying him by five spots.  Lastly, Virgin Racing earned their first double finish through Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi, though it was Lotus’s Jarno Trulli who triumphed in the Class B scrap, between the new teams.

There isn’t long for Mark Webber to celebrate, as the team’s head quickly off to the glamorous principality of Monaco, but off the back of such an untouchable weekend, he has thrown his name back into the mix, and given Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and the rest something to think about….F1 2010 is boiling up very nicely indeed.