UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGE

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CHELSEA - ATLETICO MADRID

The UEFA Champions League Final season 2013-2014 will be an all Spanish Football affair after Atletico de Madrid defeated Chelsea FC 1 - 3 in the 2º leg return semi-final match. Atletico de Madrid will face local City rival Real Madrid in Lisbon on the 24th of May.

The match was very even the first half with Chelsea FC putting in a more "offensive" starting 11 which included Hazard who was dangerous all match. 

Both teams tested each other out in the beginning and Chelsea FC was the first to be rewarded when Fernando Torres scored in the 35th min. It seemed that Chelsea FC would grow, but Atletico remained calm under the circumstance and kept attacking the right flank to later change the game to the other side, or deliver dangerous crosses with the goal area. The prize came in the 44th min when Adrian equalized for the important "away-goal". It was a psychological blow for Chelsea FC ending the half and lifting the spirits of Atletico.

The second half was much more Atletico de Madrid. In the 58th min Samuel Eto´o who had come on fouled in the penalty area and this gave Atletico the chance to punish. The second goal came in the 60th min when Diego Costa scored the penalty.

In the 63rd min Chelsea FC midfielder David Luiz hit the post, but the sealer for the Spaniards came in the 71st min when Juanfran crossed over to the right flank where Arda Turan got the ball then did his magic to knock a rebound into the net.  Chelsea FC then had no choice but to go all out and attack  and managed some chances, but Atletico goalie Courtois was very solid along with his defence which put in a marvellous match standing firm the last 15 minutes while Chelsea FC attempted to turn things around.

A historic night for Atletico de Madrid and for Spanish Football which gets two Clubs into the UEFA Champions League Final. 

 BAYERN - REAL MADRID 

If anyone would have predicated beforehand the final result most would have called him/her crazy. Bayern Munich hosted Real Madrid in the 2º leg return match of the UEFA Champions League semi-final & was "bulldozed" losing 0 - 4, that is 0 - 5 on total aggregate.

There was some doubt pre-match with Gareth Bale starting ahead of Isco but the Welshman put in a solid performance defending & even assisting in one of the goals. The sad news is that Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso received a yellow card (accumulation) and will miss the Final in Lisbon. Bad luck for the player who put in a "blinder" tonight & a huge loss for Real Madrid that will need to fill the important tactical gap. 

The first half by Real Madrid was exceptional, brilliant and totally unexpected by the Germans who were neutralized on all fronts. Special mention to young Real Madrid defender Carvajal who "whipped off" the field ( as in the last game ) Franck Ribery. He along with team-mates Pepe and Coentrao kept Bayern Munich at bay all night. But while Bayern Munich was weary of the dangerous Real Madrid counter-attacks they may have overlooked the "aerial" fire-power of the Spaniards. 

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos scored the first from a header in the 16th min and then repeated with another header goal in the 20th min. The Germans were totally rattled when the third goal came upon them when Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the 34th min to concluded a counter-attack that Gareth Bale elaborated and passed onto an incoming Cristiano. A goal the gave CR7 the all time goalscoring record in the UEFA Champions League competition surpassing 14 to go onto 15 goals. 

The Spaniards kept creating dangerous occasions often to let the Germans know that they cant get carried away with their endeavour to find goal. 

The final nail in the Bayern "coffin" came in the 89th min when Cristiano Ronaldo executed a free-kick that went under the wall as the Bayern Munich defenders jumped, Bayern goalie Neuer has wrong footed and surprised as the fourth goal raced in. For Cristiano Ronaldo it was his second goal tonight but his 16th goal in Champions League this season out of 10 matches.

REAL MADRID - BAYERN

The final result of the UEFA Champions League 1ºst leg away semi-final between Real Madrid & Bayern Munich finished in a 1 - 0 victory to REAL MADRID. Intense game between two giants of European Football with differing styles, at least shown tonight. 

After days of debate Cristiano Ronaldo started while Bale was left on the bench. This allowed Isco to start which seem to indicate that Real Madrid wanted the ball. All the contrary, Bayern Munich reached peaks of up to 70% of ball possession & boxed in Real Madrid most of the 1ºst half.

The first goal, and eventual winner, came from a counter-attack starting from Ronaldo, who passed to Coentrao who fought Karim Benzema to fire home in the 19th min.

The second half saw a more determined Real Madrid which managed to touch more the ball, but it was clear that tonight the defensive duties were to dominate, Excellent defensive work from Ramos and Pepe , plus great work from Coentrao, Carvajal, the goalkeeper Iker Casillas once again made a "miracle save" late in the second half to avoid Gotze equalizing for Bayern Munich. 

ATLETICO DE MADRID - CHELSEA

The first semi-final of the 1º leg away match in the UEFA Champions  between  Atletico de Madrid and Chelsea FC finished with a final 0-0 draw result.

They allowed from the start Atletico de Madrid all the initiative, filled up the midfield with men and then defended in a block (are a wall)

Said all the above, Atletico de Madrid had the possession of the ball and attacked all game naturally creating goal opportunities throughout the 90 mins. 

REAL MADRID - BORUSSIA DORMUND

The last of the three Spanish Football Clubs in the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals phase, Real Madrid, had its turn tonight. Real Madrid hosted German Club Borussia Dortmund with the home team winning an "undermanned" visting team 3 - 0.

GOALS:

BALE, ISCO , CRISTIANO RONALDO

BARCELONA - ATLETICO MADRID

Spanish Football Clubs matched, none other than FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid. The 1º leg match finished in a 1 - 1 draw result leaving the tie wide open for the return 2º leg game next Wednesday in Madrid. 

The action lifted in the second half with Atletico de Madrid putting the pressure on Barça & looking for the forced mistakes to steal the ball. In one of those occasions Diego Ribas found a ball and surprised everyone with a 25 meters crack at goal that found the back of the Barça net. A brilliant 56th min goal that put Atletico in front with an important away goal.

Andres Iniesta take over further and in one of his magical plays he found Neymar with a pass that turned into the equalizer in the 71st min.

From here FC Barcelona poured all their efforts into finding the winner but Atletico de Madrid goalkeeper Courtois made three match savers that once again.

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League Barça-matched to Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund.

The Spanish was the first tie of the draw and then came the rematch of last season between Real Madrid and Dortmund.

Barca-Atletico will be played on April 1 at Camp Nou (20, 45, TVE) and the return at the Calderon on Wednesday, April 8.

Real Madrid will play on Wednesday, April 2 at the Bernabeu (C + LC) and return on Tuesday 8 at the Signal Iduna Park (TVE).

The other pairings were PSG-Chelsea (round trip 2 8) and Manchester United-Bayern (1 and 9 April).