Champions' League Quarter-Final Draw Familiarity Breeds Contempt
Today’s Champion’s League Quarter-final draw in Nyon has thrown up some very exciting ties. It has given football fans the opportunity to relive some of the most memorable matches of recent years.
The draw has thrown Chelsea and Liverpool together for a fifth consecutive year in the Champions League. At this point Chelsea and Liverpool have played so often both domestically and in Europe that they know each others’ strengths and a fierce rivalry has grown. A new chapter will be added to this rivalry on April 8th and April 14th when they compete for a place in the semi-final. The last time these sides met in the Champions League was in the semi-final of last year’s competition. Chelsea eventually prevailed in what was one of the games of the season. The 2008 semi-final had everything: a Riise own goal, a Lampard penalty, extra time, a Babel consolation wonder goal and pre-match remarks from Benitez on Drogba’s diving.
This season’s contest promises to offer the same excitement. Liverpool look a resurgent team since their mauling of Real Madrid in Anfield and a classy show against Manchester United in Old Trafford. Bentiez has signed a new five year deal which will end the sub plot about his future which has often overshadowed the action on the pitch. Liverpool are full of confidence at the moment, they have a great record in Europe and Benitez will make his side very difficult to beat over two legs. Also if Gerrard and Torres can remain fit the Merseysiders will fancy their chances of emulating their performances in 2005 and in 2007 of beating Chelsea on the way to the final.
Chelsea look like a different prospect since the arrival of Guus Hiddink in February. Key players have started to deliver and Chelsea are a different outfit with a fit, motivated Didier Drogba leading the line. Chelsea have been in good form recently and are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions. Chelsea will also be encouraged to have the second leg in Stamford Bridge, the same format as when they defeated Liverpool last season. Which ever team progresses to the semi-final it promises to be an excellent night of football.
Today’s draw has made the prospect of an all English final for the second year in a row very likely. Arsenal vs. Villarreal is a rematch of the 2006 semi-final which The Gunners won 1-0 on aggregate and Riquelme missed a penalty in the final minutes to send the game to extra time. Manchester United vs. Porto is a rematch of the 2004 quarter-final when the footballing world was introduced to José Mourinho as he sprinted down the touchline with his coat flapping after Costinha scored in the 90th minute. Mourinho’s Porto went on to win the competition that year. Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich has thrown together two of Europe’s most attacking teams. Bayern progressed to the quarter-final stage after inflicting a record 12-1 aggregate defeat on Sporting Lisbon. While Barcelona have scored 78 goals in La Liga this season, so expect goals galore in the Allianz Arena in Munich on April 8th.
My predications, for what they are worth: Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona to progress to the semi-finals. But before I head to the book makers I can contemplate the unspeakable a Manchester United and Liverpool Final in Rome on May 27th.
The draw has thrown Chelsea and Liverpool together for a fifth consecutive year in the Champions League. At this point Chelsea and Liverpool have played so often both domestically and in Europe that they know each others’ strengths and a fierce rivalry has grown. A new chapter will be added to this rivalry on April 8th and April 14th when they compete for a place in the semi-final. The last time these sides met in the Champions League was in the semi-final of last year’s competition. Chelsea eventually prevailed in what was one of the games of the season. The 2008 semi-final had everything: a Riise own goal, a Lampard penalty, extra time, a Babel consolation wonder goal and pre-match remarks from Benitez on Drogba’s diving.
This season’s contest promises to offer the same excitement. Liverpool look a resurgent team since their mauling of Real Madrid in Anfield and a classy show against Manchester United in Old Trafford. Bentiez has signed a new five year deal which will end the sub plot about his future which has often overshadowed the action on the pitch. Liverpool are full of confidence at the moment, they have a great record in Europe and Benitez will make his side very difficult to beat over two legs. Also if Gerrard and Torres can remain fit the Merseysiders will fancy their chances of emulating their performances in 2005 and in 2007 of beating Chelsea on the way to the final.
Chelsea look like a different prospect since the arrival of Guus Hiddink in February. Key players have started to deliver and Chelsea are a different outfit with a fit, motivated Didier Drogba leading the line. Chelsea have been in good form recently and are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions. Chelsea will also be encouraged to have the second leg in Stamford Bridge, the same format as when they defeated Liverpool last season. Which ever team progresses to the semi-final it promises to be an excellent night of football.
Today’s draw has made the prospect of an all English final for the second year in a row very likely. Arsenal vs. Villarreal is a rematch of the 2006 semi-final which The Gunners won 1-0 on aggregate and Riquelme missed a penalty in the final minutes to send the game to extra time. Manchester United vs. Porto is a rematch of the 2004 quarter-final when the footballing world was introduced to José Mourinho as he sprinted down the touchline with his coat flapping after Costinha scored in the 90th minute. Mourinho’s Porto went on to win the competition that year. Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich has thrown together two of Europe’s most attacking teams. Bayern progressed to the quarter-final stage after inflicting a record 12-1 aggregate defeat on Sporting Lisbon. While Barcelona have scored 78 goals in La Liga this season, so expect goals galore in the Allianz Arena in Munich on April 8th.
My predications, for what they are worth: Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona to progress to the semi-finals. But before I head to the book makers I can contemplate the unspeakable a Manchester United and Liverpool Final in Rome on May 27th.
posted by Rich @ 4:53 PM
27 Comments:
At March 24, 2009 at 8:59 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Not very 'Rich' analysis, if I do say so myself
At March 24, 2009 at 9:28 PM ,
Anonymous said...
FEED THE SCOUSERS...LET THEM KNOW ITS CHRISTMAS TIME!!
At March 24, 2009 at 9:31 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Time comes for an irish liverpool fan to take some responsibility for his life...prepare the groundwork...procure the neccessaries...your wok, your juicers!! I think it is these fans and these fans alone that know that answer to;
Anal men or Anal Women?
At March 24, 2009 at 9:35 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Whos Rich when hes at home?? he sounds like a loser who doesn know what hes on about does he even like football??...United will bounce back and do the business 94 style when a similar dip in form and spree of red cards were thrown at them...
At March 24, 2009 at 9:46 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Time to kick some black ass
At March 24, 2009 at 9:47 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Do I have 'cunt' tattoed across my forehead?
At March 24, 2009 at 9:50 PM ,
Anonymous said...
THIS IS A RACIST SITE AND I WANT NO PART...I hear the contributors particularly rich love to shambok blacks on a regular basis...whats the bleedin shtory with that wha?
At March 24, 2009 at 9:55 PM ,
Anonymous said...
What’s up, corpse?
At March 24, 2009 at 9:57 PM ,
Anonymous said...
CRANK...full on adrenaline junkie buzz...Im gonna kick some black ass
At March 24, 2009 at 10:04 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Its a stye my life...the people I deal with are filth and scum...the only thing thats human about me is me fondness for celtic Mystiscism...clanaid, faine leasta...do you like them artists?
At March 24, 2009 at 10:07 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Did you notice a sign out in front of my house that said Dead Nigger Storage?
At March 24, 2009 at 10:09 PM ,
Anonymous said...
What now? Let me tell you what now. I'ma call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' niggers, who'll go to work on the homes here with a pair of pliers and a blow torch. You hear me talkin', hillbilly boy? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass.
At March 24, 2009 at 10:11 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Pulp Fiction
At March 24, 2009 at 10:12 PM ,
Anonymous said...
In your Liverpool slums
You look in the dustbin for something to eat
You find a dead rat and you think it's a treat
In your Liverpool slums
In your Liverpool slums
You shit on the carpet, you piss in the bath
You finger your grandma, and think its a laugh
In your Liverpool slums
In your Liverpool slums
You speak in an accent exceedingly rare
You wear a pink tracksuit and have curly hair
In your Liverpool slums
In your Liverpool slums
Your mum's on the game and your dad's in the nick
You can't get a job cos you're too fucking thick
In your Liverpool slums
At March 24, 2009 at 10:17 PM ,
Anonymous said...
My name is Giselle, a Latina with a tight body covered with sweet olive skin. My eyes are fiery and induce lust any man or woman they gaze upon. I drive busses for my daddy’s company when I need to earn a few extra bucks. One cold night in January, I was assigned a senior high school trip, this is the story of how I made the best of it…
At March 24, 2009 at 10:19 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Yes, he happens to be a dwarf. Or midget. I don't know what he's called exactly But, uh, he's a little guy. Little Billy Barty. God rest. But thin fingers. Not the fat sausage fingers. "Little people." That's what they like. Yes. Uh, right. Little people.
So "fuck stick." That's it?
At March 24, 2009 at 10:26 PM ,
Anonymous said...
What you lookin' at? You all a bunch of fuckin' assholes. You know why? You don't have the guts to be what you wanna be? You need people like me. You need people like me so you can point your fuckin' fingers and say, "That's the bad guy." So... what that make you? Good? You're not good. You just know how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don't have that problem. Me, I always tell the truth. Even when I lie. So say good night to the bad guy! Come on. The last time you gonna see a bad guy like this again, let me tell you. Come on. Make way for the bad guy. There's a bad guy comin' through! Better get outta his way!
At March 24, 2009 at 10:32 PM ,
Anonymous said...
scarface...lesbian
At March 24, 2009 at 10:36 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash. You've been busted, you lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me, with a history of high speed passes over five air control towers, and one admiral's daughter!
At March 24, 2009 at 10:41 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Hey, look friend, let's just cut the shit. Now we both know why I was transferred. Everybody thinks I'm suicidal, in which case, I'm fucked and nobody wants to work with me; or they think I'm faking to draw a psycho pension, in which case, I'm fucked and nobody wants to work with me. Basically, I'm fucked.
At March 24, 2009 at 10:43 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Lethal Weapon...Riggs...wat a hero
At March 24, 2009 at 10:47 PM ,
Anonymous said...
I shot a kid. He was 13 years old. Ohhh, it was dark, I couldn't see him. He had a ray gun, looked real enough. You know, when you're a rookie, they can teach you everything about bein' a cop except how to live with a mistake. Anyway, I just couldn't bring myself to draw my gun on anybody again.
At March 25, 2009 at 12:47 PM ,
Anonymous said...
the 2008 semi final between chelsea and liverpool did not have everything cos it consisted of 2 teams incapable of playing good football, some random stuff happened but to say a match had 'everything' implies that the match itself was actually good. who is this fuckin rimmer? sounds like someone who watches sky sports news and just looks at the goals the following morning cos he was out blowing some bloke when the matches were on
At March 25, 2009 at 6:36 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Hey Billy. Billy! The other day, I went up to my girlfriend, I said, "Y'know I'd like a little pussy". She said, "Me too, mine's as big as a house!"
At March 25, 2009 at 6:40 PM ,
Anonymous said...
Don’t worry ma’am…. I’m a police officer
I don’t think he gives a shit!
At March 25, 2009 at 9:29 PM ,
Anonymous said...
I like turtles
At March 27, 2009 at 12:38 PM ,
Anonymous said...
How do you know Liverpool have just won the Champions League? The man in the Liverpool jersey stands up, walks over to his TV and turns off the Playstation! Zing!!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home