"In mythology there is a new GOD: Lionel Messi" - what was displayed on a banner in Camp Nou when Barcelona played againts Real Betis in La Liga on 18/02/2006
"Braveheart". That was the main headline from Mundo Deportivo's website following last night's match.So where do we begin? Let's go straight to the action.
First half was seemed more of a cautious affair. As suspected, both teams played to their usual self and strong points. Barca attack and keep most of the possesion, Chelsea sat back, relied on their wings to do their goal hunting movement.
All in all, during the entire match the pitch didn't matter much (since it was vilified by the spanish press prior to the game), but it was still a poor pitch to compare with Premiership or world class standard. What so? According to the spanish press the Chelsea people went and watered the pitch for nine hours before the game started and even Barcelona couldn't train much (there was a talk where the Barca team wanted to train an extra hour on the field but then Chelsea and UEFA officials came in and orederd them not to do so..).
For like the first half an hour Barca had more chances than Chelsea, and most of the Barca movement were thanks to Messi drifting on the left, beating out and making a fool out of Asier Del Horno nearly all the time. Messi made a shot once at the Chelsea goal. I can't remember who made the movement, cutting in form the left-side of the goal area near the left corner of Chelsea's goal, as after that moment Ronaldinho received a ball and hit a strong & fast low shot past the Chelsea defence line, only for the ball to be saved by a quick reaction from Cech. As stated before, it was Messi who created most of the danger between the tow sides in the second half. There was this moment when he zoomed in the Chelsea goal mouth, then he squared the ball to Eto'o as Terry and co. scrambled up in front of them. Eto'o had a difficult angle to shot, then he passed it to Ronnie who had came up, but it all got fumbled up in the end, thanks to the pressure from the Chelsea defenders. But what was to come next would become the focal point in this entire match (both for during the match and after the match ended).
All in all, during the entire match the pitch didn't matter much (since it was vilified by the spanish press prior to the game), but it was still a poor pitch to compare with Premiership or world class standard. What so? According to the spanish press the Chelsea people went and watered the pitch for nine hours before the game started and even Barcelona couldn't train much (there was a talk where the Barca team wanted to train an extra hour on the field but then Chelsea and UEFA officials came in and orederd them not to do so..).
For like the first half an hour Barca had more chances than Chelsea, and most of the Barca movement were thanks to Messi drifting on the left, beating out and making a fool out of Asier Del Horno nearly all the time. Messi made a shot once at the Chelsea goal. I can't remember who made the movement, cutting in form the left-side of the goal area near the left corner of Chelsea's goal, as after that moment Ronaldinho received a ball and hit a strong & fast low shot past the Chelsea defence line, only for the ball to be saved by a quick reaction from Cech. As stated before, it was Messi who created most of the danger between the tow sides in the second half. There was this moment when he zoomed in the Chelsea goal mouth, then he squared the ball to Eto'o as Terry and co. scrambled up in front of them. Eto'o had a difficult angle to shot, then he passed it to Ronnie who had came up, but it all got fumbled up in the end, thanks to the pressure from the Chelsea defenders. But what was to come next would become the focal point in this entire match (both for during the match and after the match ended).
The sending off of Del Horno proved to be the 'change' of the entire game. It was around the 40th minute mark. Both Messi and Robben were justling for the ball on the left touchline, and they were moving forward towards the Chelsea corner. Robben held the ball until near the corner flag, when Messi won it back. As he was about to turn, in came Del Horno sliding and barging in towards Messi. At that moment, Messi jumped (perhaps trying to save himself from being hit by Del Horno straight on) and collided with Del Horno. As soon as they both were on the ground, deliberately both the spaniard and argentinian rolled over and acted their injury (you could tell it when you see them looking up at the referee).
Now, I'm not gonna debate whether it was supposed to be a straight red card or not, but I can tell you this. I was really suprised that the ref showed the red card (before ref made his decision the Barca players went and squared up gaints Del Horno, followed by intervention form the Chelsea players, and things really got heated between them). Of course, I'm not implying that he didn't deserved to get red carded, the barge he went in againts Messi is a definite yellow card. But it seemed it could go either way; yellow or red, and thus Terje Hauge showed red. This entire matter you can read up about various opinions on one of Xtratime's forums (a real hot debate), as it is what destitutes the description of the game.
Anyway, the first half ended scoreless.
It was the second half that really made the match fullfilling it's potential of it's hype.
Mourinho straight away put in Drogba for the ineffective Crespo, and what the hell, Chelsea were attacking through and through from the start! At this point Barca really didin't shift in their usual gear, they didn't pressurised Chelsea as much as in the first half, as they sat back and the Chelsea forwards were ploughing through the Barca midfield. I got pissed at this, as form the way Barca were playing, they were inviting Chelsea to attck the Barca goalmouth. Soon enough, Oleguer tripped Robben near the goal box, Chelsea got a free kick. Lampard took it.....ball flew past the players........GOAL. Scoreboard:
Anyway, the first half ended scoreless.
It was the second half that really made the match fullfilling it's potential of it's hype.
Mourinho straight away put in Drogba for the ineffective Crespo, and what the hell, Chelsea were attacking through and through from the start! At this point Barca really didin't shift in their usual gear, they didn't pressurised Chelsea as much as in the first half, as they sat back and the Chelsea forwards were ploughing through the Barca midfield. I got pissed at this, as form the way Barca were playing, they were inviting Chelsea to attck the Barca goalmouth. Soon enough, Oleguer tripped Robben near the goal box, Chelsea got a free kick. Lampard took it.....ball flew past the players........GOAL. Scoreboard:
Chelsea 1 - 0 Barcelona
59th minute. Motta (o.g.)
Motta was guarding Terry near the goalline as Lampard swerved in the freekick. As the ball came close to those two, Valdes frantically went in and tried to catch it, but he got kinda blocked by Motta who was too busy being preoccupied in guarding Terry and those two fumbled againts each other. The ball hitted Motta's knee, and it deflected into the goal.
Stamford Bridge erupted. Chelsea players celebrated. Even the commentator from Sky Sports was jubilated and said "UNBELIEVABLE!!!! 10 MEN CHELSEA HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD AGAINTS BARCELONA!!!"
That moment I got pissed and really dissapointed. For me (for sure as well as for other Blaugranas around the world witnessing what had happened), it was a time of disbelievement. Once again, our players had made careless, stupid individual mistakes that let in and handing over the advantage for the opposition.Crap man, crap. I sighed......the mistakes from last year's match didn't occur, and so far Barca could mustered up againts Chelsea's offense until that own goal by Motta changed the scope.Ironically though, Motta's own goal proved to be the springboard that brought Barca back into the game.
Rijkaard then changed Motta for Larrson, so the impetus for Barca was to attack more and more. Barca had Eto'o, Messi and Larrson as forwards, with Ronaldinho moving in the center. It was an important step by Barca and Rijkaard.
Barca then started pressuring the midfield as usual, and wave of Barca offence kept Makelele and crew busy, and they couldn't get through much (Lampard was invinsible throughout this time). Soon came, Carvalho tripped Larsson just outside the corner of Chelsea's goal box. Freekick for Barca. Ronaldinho took it.....a good cross heading towards the Blues's goal......I saw Marquez and Terry jumping.....one of them headed the ball.......it sailed through Cech as the Chelsea keeper flew and fell to the ground trying to parry the ball........GOAL. Scoreboard:
Chelsea 1 - 1 Barcelona
59th minute. Motta (o.g.) 72nd minute. Terry (o.g.)
Bizarrely identical moment between both goals. Both began by a set-piece taken outside the goal box, both freekick takers crossed in the ball well towards the opposition goal, and both goal went in thanks to the opposition's players.From that moment on, the game really became a non-stop action of world class football. It was a heart-pounding moment, edge of the seat stuff. Both teams came up and attacked all out. Even both sides of the supporters chanted and cheered on for their respective teams even louder. As soon as Barca leveled the score, moments later Messi hit a nice shot, a lob that just clipped the post bar! Had that gone in, it would have been 1-2 for Barca!
Soon after, there were more chances for Barca. Unbelievably, it was Terry's moment of greatness during this period of the match. I think he blocked at least two goal line clearances from Larrson and later from Ronnie. Some fantastic defending by Terry. The Chelsea defenders also displayed resilient and great defending as they blocked after blocked againts the many chances by Barca that came up.
Around this time, Mourinho swapped Robben for Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Rijkaard brought in Sylvinho for Van Bronckhorst.
Moments after Wright-Phillips came in, Drogba beat the offside trap, he went in close to goal and shot....only to be blocked by Valdes. That was such a crucial save by Valdes, as it would bring towards the outcome of the match in Barca's favour. Chelsea had a corner, Barca cleared it. Ronaldinho got the ball near the halfwayline, and then waltzed through towards the Chelsea goal. Wright-Phillips ran with him but couldn't shake him. Ronnie centered the ball to Larsson as he had overlapped towards the right corner of the Chelsea goal box as the Chelsea defenders hurried back in their goal area. The swede pass sideways to Marquez who had came up behind him, the mexican kicked an immaculate cross towards the Chelsea goal..........flew past Terry, Carvalho, Makelele,....Cech turned direction as the ball flew towards....a lurking Samuel Eto'o. Ferreira was behind Eto'o, and Eto'o jumped and headed a diagonal ball into......GOAL. Scoreboard:
Around this time, Mourinho swapped Robben for Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Rijkaard brought in Sylvinho for Van Bronckhorst.
Moments after Wright-Phillips came in, Drogba beat the offside trap, he went in close to goal and shot....only to be blocked by Valdes. That was such a crucial save by Valdes, as it would bring towards the outcome of the match in Barca's favour. Chelsea had a corner, Barca cleared it. Ronaldinho got the ball near the halfwayline, and then waltzed through towards the Chelsea goal. Wright-Phillips ran with him but couldn't shake him. Ronnie centered the ball to Larsson as he had overlapped towards the right corner of the Chelsea goal box as the Chelsea defenders hurried back in their goal area. The swede pass sideways to Marquez who had came up behind him, the mexican kicked an immaculate cross towards the Chelsea goal..........flew past Terry, Carvalho, Makelele,....Cech turned direction as the ball flew towards....a lurking Samuel Eto'o. Ferreira was behind Eto'o, and Eto'o jumped and headed a diagonal ball into......GOAL. Scoreboard:
Chelsea 1 - 2 Barcelona
We're all waiting for the second leg, and we'll be ready. Can't wait for it......
To end the post, here are some pics related to the match last night. I'm out.
59th minute. Motta (o.g.) 72nd minute. Terry (o.g.)
80th minute. Eto'o
That was such a beautiful goal. And prior to that, it was a beautiful movement by Barca. Superb and wonderfully impressive coordination of teamwork and precissive passing, leading up to a superb header by the African footballer of the year. Pure Barca!
And the match continued on with football. It was a great time afterwards. Supporters from both sides kept on cheering (although most of the Chelsea fans became a lil' queit and anxious). What was great was, once there was passing movement between the Barca players. As they passed back and forth to each other, the Chelsea players couldn't get a touch of the ball, and as the ball passed between the Barca players, the Barca fans kept loudly chanting "OLE!" ! Fantastic! Hell, even the Chelsea fans started BOOING loudly as this happened! Great stuff man, even got a war of chantings between the two sets of supporters! (....haha)
.........And the match continued on with football. It was a great time afterwards. Supporters from both sides kept on cheering (although most of the Chelsea fans became a lil' queit and anxious). What was great was, once there was passing movement between the Barca players. As they passed back and forth to each other, the Chelsea players couldn't get a touch of the ball, and as the ball passed between the Barca players, the Barca fans kept loudly chanting "OLE!" ! Fantastic! Hell, even the Chelsea fans started BOOING loudly as this happened! Great stuff man, even got a war of chantings between the two sets of supporters! (....haha)
Allright, I myself am exhausted in writing this game and it's outcome, so I'll leave it here. There's still another round to go (Camp Nou waiting). With score at 1-2, it's definetely not over yet for either sides, although the advantage is now obviously at Barca since they have the upper hands of scoring two away goals (such an important factor in the Champions League).
At the end of the day, I'm happy with the outcome at Stamford Bridge, but not sooo happy. Got mixed feelings. Two away goals againts a side as good as Chelsea is very good, but regarding that they had a player sent off, Barca could have got scored more goals. I still think that had Larsson managed to score or Messi's delicate chip didn't hit the post and just instead went in goal, it would really killed off Chelsea. Two players that I would key out for outstanding performances from last night's game are Messi and John Terry.
Now, Barca have to approach and prepare for the game in a fortnight's time just as they did for last night if they were to progress through the quarterfinals. Chelsea is definetely not dead yet, and for sure Mourinho will do all he can to make it hell for Barca and fire up his own men when they clash again on the turf of Camp Nou.
At the end of the day, I'm happy with the outcome at Stamford Bridge, but not sooo happy. Got mixed feelings. Two away goals againts a side as good as Chelsea is very good, but regarding that they had a player sent off, Barca could have got scored more goals. I still think that had Larsson managed to score or Messi's delicate chip didn't hit the post and just instead went in goal, it would really killed off Chelsea. Two players that I would key out for outstanding performances from last night's game are Messi and John Terry.
Now, Barca have to approach and prepare for the game in a fortnight's time just as they did for last night if they were to progress through the quarterfinals. Chelsea is definetely not dead yet, and for sure Mourinho will do all he can to make it hell for Barca and fire up his own men when they clash again on the turf of Camp Nou.
We're all waiting for the second leg, and we'll be ready. Can't wait for it......
To end the post, here are some pics related to the match last night. I'm out.
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