Bayern Munich v Chelsea
Tuesday, 12 April 05, 01:52 PM · Comments (6)
Jose Mourinho will be in the Olympic Stadium, Munich tonight -- and Rui Faria will be wearing his hat.
A demolition of the German giants at the Bridge looked to be enough to progress until Michael Ballack cheated to earn a penalty in the last minute of the game.
4-2 makes this return leg tighter than first appears. An early Bayern goal will put the cat amongst the pigeons.
The home team welcome back first-choice strikers Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro -- a significant increase in fire power.
Bayern's over-rated England international Owen Hargreaves will be dropped in favour of Martin Demichelis, who was suspended for the first leg. Pundits claim Demichelis' absense from the first leg was key.
Chelsea's long ball game perplexed Bayern at the Bridge. Defenders Kovac and Lucio struggled to cope with Didier Drogba, who played the role of loan striker perfectly. Will Mourinho change a winning formula?
The emphasis will be on the hosts to attack, leaving the defensive door ajar. Barcelona will vouch for Chelsea's impressive counter-attacking prowess.
Three Blues defenders are one booking away from a UEFA suspension. Glen Johnson, Ricardo Carvalho and William Gallas will have to be careful. If one or more is forced to miss the semi-final we'll be stretched at the back. Robert Huth is the only fit replacement. He will start on the bench tonight.
Mateja Kezman will miss the game with tonsilitis. Mikael Forssell will replace him on the bench. His Bundesliga experience could be vital.
Midfield anchor and indispensable cog Claude Makelele will return after being rested against the Midlands Blues Saturday.
Bayern will be looking to win 2-0 but have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven Champions League matches. The Blues have yet to lose by two clear goals this season.
The Bundesliga leaders have hosted an English club on 14 previous occasions, losing just once.
Tonight the number in their losses column will double. Jose Mourinho will take one more step towards back-to-back Champions League titles.
*Related links:*
* I've nothing to hide, says Chelsea's mystery man in hat * Uefa takes aim again after Chelsea hold back their big guns * Uefa furious after Mourinho no-show * Mourinho: Referee must be careful * UEFA clear Ballack of cheating * Even without Mourinho on the touchline Chelsea will go out in Munich believing in victory * Shock 'em like we did Utd * Budget makes Bundesliga barren for businessmen but not fans
h3. Bayern Munich 3 - 2 Chelsea (Chelsea win 6-5 on agg.) · Match Reports
The Guardian Daily Telegraph The Official Chelsea FC Website BBC Sport ITV Football Sky Sports Sporting Life ESPNSoccernet The Times The Independent Evening Standard
*Related links:*
* Chelsea fury over Mourinho 'hounding' * Chelsea offer Mourinho private solace * Chelsea's twin peaks drive them on towards summit * Lampard delight after win * Madcap Mourinho's masterplan * Future looks bright for busy Drogba * Mourinho driven out but Chelsea march on towards European glory * Kaiser's plan undone by soldier Blues * Gallas in Blues warning * Blue heaven for Mourinho
h3. It's Chelsea v Liverpool · Update
Liverpool have drawn 0-0 with Juventus tonight in Turin.
A Chelsea v Liverpool Champions League semi-final! Who would have though it?
We've beaten them three times this season.
*Related links:*
* Defiant Liverpool dig deep to set up Chelsea showdown * England expects more fireworks from semi-final * Liverpool-Chelsea clash will swing the Euro-sceptic vote
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That was tight! In the end anyway…back from my hols so ready to comment and write again. I have one major concern and that is the defence….where has it gone? Did we fall asleep at the end, or were Bayern really still going for it? My concern is the way we seem content to sit back for periods of the game, which may work with Ferreira and Bridge fit, but without them we look suspect and always likely to concede a goal. I am worried that Arsenal, specifically Henry could capitalise big time if we continue like this. A good night but surely JM must be reading the riot act over the last 5 minutes, and even he might have to admit that as good as Huth is in the centre, Johnson is still far better as right back and should be trusted to keep playing and developing in that role whilst Ferreira is out of action. GJ
yeh man i almost pood myself then, was very tight, im wondering what hapened wiv our defense to. dont get me wrong im not critising but we still ave a lil to learn from this game. i really think gallas n terry is an immense artnership.cnt touch it, n is it true i herd gallas wil leave if he doesnt start playing in the centrE??good night,our defense is a lil dodgey widout ferria n bridge though.
Congrats, Chelsea!
Great game, controlled from one end to the other.
What are you boys crying about? Our guys started celebrating 2 minutes too early, that’s all. Who can blame them? Are you forgetting that Bayern’s goal #3 came in the 95 minute? It was already over!
The qualification has never been in doubt! Not for a second.
Congratulations Chelsea and Mourinho.
Good game until 89th minute.
Good luck.
6 Comments · Add yours
I have a feeling this will be a draw – but that’s still enough.
The number of fit defenders on a yellow is somewhat worrying; when we progress to the semi-final, we could find ourselves defensively short – which, considering we’re built on defence, is troubling. Let’s hope we play Liverpool in the sf; a strong defence isn’t quite so necessary! ;-)
Hello this is Philipp from Germany. As you british football fans probably know, Bayern is not the team we normally support in other parts of the Country. But I guess they’ll be very strong tonight, Striker Makaay is in worldclass shape, Pizzaro is even worther. So I hope for a good game. Cheers