Ger McCarthy
Di Matteo's managerial stock increases
RdM spoke earlier in the week of the need for Chelsea to play two perfect games to have any hope of seeing off Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. Wednesday night's 1-0 victory was far from perfect but a dogged defensive effort and slice of good fortune meant the Catalans' left Stamford Bridge empty handed. Didier Drogba scored with Chelsea’s only strike on target yet there was much to admire in the West Londoners' organisation and defensive solidity throughout a 90 minutes dominated by the visitors. Di Matteo deserves credit for returning Chelsea to their effective best after Andre Villas Boas' attempts to introduce a more expansive game failed to win over the dressing room. There was a touch of Jose Mourinho's old pressing tactics in evidence. Chelsea may not qualify for the final but Di Matteo has made a pretty convincing statement in his job application.
Barcelona are still the team to beat
Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure as the rain teemed down on Stamford Bridge. It is now seven matches since Lionel Messi scored against an English side but Barca had 24 goal chances to Chelsea's 4 which suggests the dam may burst next week. That thought is unlikely to console a perfectionist such as Guardiola who must (1) quickly raise his side's spirits ahead of their weekend showdown with Real Madrid, (2) work on his team's finishing and (3) improve their defending at set-pieces. Yet there is clearly enough quality in Barcelona's approach play to suggest a Champions League final appearance remains a probability.
Bayern Munich are still in the hunt
Jupp Heynckes' side produced a barnstorming finish in Tuesday night's defeat of Real Madrid to give the German club a fighting chance of hosting this year's Champions League decider. Bayern's performance was in stark contrast to their two previous fixtures including a top of the table defeat to Bundesliga champions-elect Borussia Dortmund and a 0-0 stalemate at home to Mainz (albeit without a number of first team regulars rested for the Madrid tie). Failure to win either of those encounters all but ended the Bavarian's hopes of winning their domestic title and that made the display against Jose Mourinho's side as surprising as it was impressive. “We showed passion, lust and were hungry for success, which is exactly what you need in the Champions League semi-finals,” commented Heynckes. The timely return to form of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery has reignited Bayern's attacking threat while Mario Gomez's 12 goals in 10 Champions League appearances marks the German forward down as one of the most potent in the competition. A clean sheet is needed to progress but Bayern have demonstrated they possess the counter-attacking weaponry to spring a possible second-leg surprise.
Did Jose slip up?
Mesut Ozil's 53rd minute equaliser looked to have broken the spirit of Bayern Munich and their frenzied supporters in the Allianz Arena but Madrid's failure to build on that leveller ultimately cost the Spaniards. It is difficult to criticise Real too harshly considering the magnificent domestic season they are enjoying - top of La Liga and with Ronaldo in the form of his life - yet Jose Mourinho's decision not to shut up shop having scored a precious away goal went against the grain. The failure to counter-act Philipp Lahm's marauding runs culminated in the Munich captain setting up his side's winner. All season long, Mourinho has indulged a record-breaking Ronaldo on the left wing, where he is rarely asked to track back. One can imagine the three-way Portuguese conversation afterwards between Mourinho, CR7 and left back Fabio Coentrao.
No need for another El Clasico
ARE we so sure of another Clasico in the final now? The eternal rivals are set to clash in a pivotal La Liga encounter once again this weekend but familiarity has bred contempt over the past number of fixtures with multiple red cards and off-pitch skirmishes blighting the games. Real's scintillating European form in the early stages of the tournament suggested Mourinho's men were the only side capable of halting Guardiola. However underdog successes in the first legs means the predicted El Clasico final is not longer a certainty. Not a bad thing, we say.
Follow Ger on Twitter: @germccarthy74
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/W4LFIBzWVIA/post.aspx
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