UEFA Champions League 2007

The UEFA Champions League
By Scott Beaty, TheSportsStand.com (4/27/07)

The UEFA Champions League. It’s the most prestigious and the most coveted club competition on the planet. Every year, the top European teams battle to rightfully obtain the tile of ‘Champions of Europe.’ The Champions League is a tournament in which teams all over Europe qualify for by placing within the top two, three, or four of their domestic league, depending on which country they are located. Once the top thirty-two teams have qualified, there is a draw that places each team into their respective groups. Each one of the eight groups has four teams. After each team plays each other home and away, the top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage (or how Americans were refer to it as the playoffs). Throughout the three knockout stages leading up to the final, there are two legs played; each team plays a home leg and an away leg. Then if both teams have tied, or each won one game, the two scores are added up and the team with the higher cumulative score advances, if the aggregate (combined scores) is still tied, the away goals rule (or whichever team who score more away goals) determines the winner. If the teams are still deadlocked, then the two teams go into overtime, and eventually, if necessary, penalty kicks. All the way to the final these rules apply, but in the final itself, there is only one game and it is played at a neutral site.

Now that you know the rules of the tournament and how it works, let me tell you what has gone on this year, and what will happen (through the eyes of a self-proclaimed “semi-expert of world football”).

Up to this point, the finalist of last year’s final, Arsenal, has shockingly been eliminated by the Dutch champions, PSV Eindhoven. Also eliminated in the Round of 16, was the defending champion, Barcelona, in the battle of the most recent champions. Liverpool, the winners of the tournament in 2005, sent the champs of ’06 packing with a tied aggregate score of 2-2, but they grabbed two away goals at Camp Nou, in Barcelona. Barcelona only came away with a 1-0 victory over the Reds, which was simply not good enough to put them through. In the next round, there were not many surprises except for the 7-1 absolute thrashing that Manchester United gave AS Roma. Needless to say, Man U advanced.

The first leg of the semifinals is over. For a neutral observer of the game, it looks pretty good because all four teams still have everything to play for in the second leg. The Tuesday match featured AC Milan traveling to Old Trafford to visit the hosts, Manchester United. Five minutes in, Ryan Giggs swung in a corner and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was eventually credited with the goal, headed the ball onward, to the Milan keeper, Dida, who was very much off of his line. Dida was unable to cleanly save the header and the ball went up in the air and landed into the back of the net. Advantage Red Devils. The next goal was from Milan’s ever-dangerous Kaká. Minutes before the quarter-hour mark, the 25-year-old midfielder, burst through the gaping United defense and slid the ball past Edwin Van der Sar from an improbable angle. Putting his Italian side ahead, the Brazilian, again caused major problems for Man. United’s back four. The ball bouncing at his feet, Kaká juggled the ball over Gabriel Heinze and then headed the ball through the retreating Heinze and the oncoming Patrice Evra. Splitting the defensive duo, Kaká caused the two backs to collide and collapse, leaving him alone with Van der Sar and again he slid the ball coolly into the back of the net. Going into the half 2-1 down, Manchester United appeared to be in trouble. However, fourteen minutes after the restart, Wayne Rooney had something to say about that. A beautiful buildup by Michael Carrick, and a gorgeous flick by Paul Scholes, left Rooney just onside, and he put the ball past Dida. A half-hour expired before Rooney struck again to give United the win. Some space in the middle of the park, and a whole near post left open by the lack of awareness by the Milan keeper, gave Rooney an easy attempt on goal, of which he took full advantage. Rooney saved the Red Devils at home and helped them to a 3-2 victory, but can he will Man U to the final?

On Wednesday, Chelsea hosted Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London. Chelsea had a few chances within the first quarter-hour, but in the 29^th minute, the Portuguese international, Chelsea defender, Ricardo Carvalho, carried the ball to about fifteen yards before the half and then passed it downfield to their superstar striker Didier Drogba. Drogba took the Liverpool defender Daniel Agger for a run down the sideline and then stopped the ball on a dime to slot the ball into the oncoming threat of Joe Cole. Cole was outstretched and got a touch on the ball to redirect the low cross and give Chelsea the opening goal. To Chelsea fans, this goal made up all the time Cole had off due to injury. The game continued to be relatively even until halftime. However, Liverpool clearly realized that they had to take advantage of the away-goal opportunity. In the 53^rd minute, the Liverpool skipper, Steven Gerrard took a breathtaking volley, which required Petr Cech to make a brilliant save. In the end, it was not enough for the Reds to get anything positive out of the game. The match ended a one-nil victory to the Blues. Liverpool now need to get at least a 1-0 victory at Anfield, to force extra time, or any victory by two or more goals to put them through.

On to my predictions…I believe that the result at the San Siro in Milan will be 2-1, in favor of the home side. Though the aggregate, in this situation would be 4-4, AC Milan would have more away goals than the English powerhouse and they would advance to their eleventh European Cup final. In the Liverpool-Chelsea tie, I believe that at Anfield, where it is extremely difficult to travel to, Liverpool will get the result they need, with a 2-0 victory, thanks to the captain Gerrard, who will give the Reds both goals. In a repeat of the 2005 Champions League final, Liverpool will play AC Milan in Athens, Greece. Liverpool will again be victorious (3-2) for the sixth time in history. Clearly, there is bias in my opinion because I am a fanatic Liverpool supporter and live and die by my team. No matter what happens, I hope that you and I both will be able to enjoy the remainder of this football season, and always remember: You’ll Never Walk Alone!!!