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A last-gasp strike from Mario Gomez has handed Bayern Munich a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.The hosts delighted the fans at Allianz Arena on Tuesday when they the opened scoring through Franck Ribery in the 17th minute, but Real Madrid showed great resilience and pulled back a vital away goal through Mesut Oezil early in the second half.
Bayern, however, assumed pole-position in the tie when Gomez slotted home a 90th-minute winner and they kept intact their record of never having lost to Real Madrid at home. It was the visitors who settled quickest and began to control possession. With seven minutes played, Bastian Schweinsteiger gave the ball away in his own half and Angel Di Maria took the opportunity to slip a pass through to Karim Benzema, but the Frenchman's effort was tipped over by Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
The crowd was incensed when Ribery saw a claim for a penalty turned down in the 15th minute but frustration turned to elation just two minutes later as the Bavarians took the lead. Toni Kroos' corner was not dealt with by Sergio Ramos and the ball fell to Ribery who rifled a low shot past Iker Casillas from 12 yards. Bayern remained solid and were getting a lot of joy in the wide areas but Jose Mourinho's men regained their composure to end the half on a brighter note.
Real's best chance during this spell came as Benzema cut inside of David Alaba to the right of the goal but he could only muster a tame effort straight at the 'keeper, who held comfortably.With five first-half minutes remaining, Gomez burst in on the left-hand side of the area but his shot was kept out by a diving Casillas. Real began the next period in a similar vein and drew level in the 53rd minute.The Bayern defence was caught ball-watching as Benzema's mis-hit shot committed Neuer to the far post.
Cristiano Ronaldo managed to reach the effort and cut the ball back into the danger area for Oezil to tap into a vacant net.Mourinho's men were beginning to pose a great threat on the counterattack as they limited the hosts to a number of speculative crosses into the box.But that almost paid dividends for Bayern when Kroos whipped in a fantastic free kick from wide on the left after 71 minutes. Ramos failed to clear the danger and was fortunate that Gomez could not keep his instinctive shot below the bar, blazing over from just outside the six-yard box.
The visitors became more conservative as they looked to hold on for a draw but Bayern continued to pile on the pressure and reaped the reward in the 90th minute.After missing two headers earlier in the game, Gomez remained positive and was on hand to slide the ball into the back of the net from close range after some superb play on the wing by Philipp Lahm created space for a cross. The result means Bayern take a slim advantage into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 25.
Real Madrid's Pepe: Coentrao not to blame for Bayern winner
The left-back was beaten to the byline by Philipp Lahm, who then crossed for Mario Gomez to slot home and give the Bavarians a crucial 2-1 advantage ahead of their trip to Spain
Apr 18, 2012 12:59:00 AM
By Mark Doyle
Real Madrid defender Pepe has refused to pin the blame on team-mate Fabio Coentrao forBayern Munich's winning goal in Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat at the Allianz Arena.
Coentrao committed himself to a tackle on Philipp Lahm in the closing stages of the game in Bavaria and was left prone on the turf as the Germany captain skipped past him before whipping the ball over for Mario Gomez to nick a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
However, Pepe resisted the temptation to point the finger at his Portugal team-mate during a post-match interview.
"Fabio Coentrao is not to blame for the goal," the centre-half is quoted as saying by his club's official website. "We're all to blame. Football is a collective sport.
"We controlled the match and we're sad about the last minute, but we're also happy because it was important to score and we did."
Indeed, Mesut Ozil's 53rd-minute strike, which had cancelled out Franck Ribery's first-half opener, means that Madrid need only win 1-0 on home soil to book their place in the final and Pepe is anticipating a very different game in the Spanish capital next Wednesday.
"[Real Madrid legend] Juanito once said that 90 minutes at the Bernabeu is a very long time," the defender mused. "And we have the quality with which to turn the score around."
However, before Bayern's visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid must travel to Catalunya this weekend for their crunch Clasico clash with Barcelona.
A Didier Drogba goal was enough to lift Chelsea to a 1-0 win over Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Alexis Sanchez hit the bar early on and Cesc Fabregas had a weak effort cleared off the line for the reigning champions before Drogba delighted the Stamford Bridge crowd by finishing a smart break in first-half stoppage time.
Chelsea then shut Barca down effectively in a second half where chances were scarce, until Pedro hit the post and Sergio Busquets blasted the rebound feebly over at the death.As expected, Barca immediately began dominating possession. An Andres Iniesta through-ball that bypassed the Chelsea defence found Sanchez free in the area, and he deftly dinked it over Petr Cech but unluckily saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
Barca were not producing their best but should have been in front after 16 minutes. Messi dragged two defenders out of the way before cutting back to Iniesta, whose shot was parried by Cech. The rebound came to Fabregas but he fired wide.Midway through the half and Barca were slowly turning up the pressure. First, Fabregas forced a near-post save from Cech before Messi leapt on the edge of the box to head an Alexis cross into the stretching keeper's arms.
A patchy period followed with a few niggling fouls and no great creation, with Chelsea quashing much of Barca's attacking prospects.Their resistance was nearly broken on 42 minutes, however, when the visitors broke through Messi. The Argentine slid in Fabregas to his left, but his colleague's attempt to lift it gently over Cech was underpowered and Ashley Cole arrived to clear off the line.
Half-time parity seemed inevitable but, in added time, Chelsea suddenly struck. Ramires controlled well on the left flank and slipped a perfectly-weighted pass across the box, where Drogba was waiting to finish just past the grasping Victor Valdes, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Barcelona probed after the break, Adriano cutting in on his right foot to send Cech flying to his left to save, but Chelsea's first corner moments later from Lampard was just missed by a couple of his team-mates.
Sanchez came close again when Fabregas' inventive scoop played the Chilean in at point-blank range, but he had little space to aim into and poked the ball wide.Messi attempted more than one run forward from deep into the box but was thwarted first by Gary Cahill and then John Terry, with Pedro introduced by Pep Guardiola in place of Sanchez in the hope of better testing the resilient Blues.
It had little effect, though, with clear-cut chances absent and the visitors, short of ideas, looking unlikely to force their way through. As they pushed up in desperation, Drogba was able to battle past on the break, but his through-ball into the path of substitute Salomon Kalou on 80 minutes was a touch too strong and the opportunity was lost. Barca came close when Messi's 87th-minute free kick was flicked on by a crouching Puyol.
Substitute Thiago Alcantara flashed at it but could not make contact, yet Cech still had to do well to dive and parry. The visitors, though, should have equalised at the very last.Despite Terry's excellent initial tackle to snuff out one chance, Pedro sliced a shot against the post before Busquets, with the goal at his mercy, lofted the ball high over the bar, meaning his side head into next week's second leg one down and without an away goal to their credit.
Cech proud of Chelsea win against Barcelona
The 29-year-old goalkeeper was delighted as his side managed to keep a clean sheet against the Catalan giants, but remains wary ahead of their second-leg trip to Camp Nou
We will take our chances at Camp Nou, insists Barcelona's Valdes
The Blaugrana were punished for their profligacy by the Blues, who will take a one-goal advantage to Catalunya thanks to Didier Drogba's first-half strike
Didier Drogba - surly, theatrical, frustrating... but still Chelsea's doyen of destruction
The Ivorian striker came up trumps as he netted the winning goal to give Roberto Di Matteo's side a fighting chance in the Champions League semi-final second leg in Barcelona
Guardiola: Chelsea are favourites to go through now
The Catalan coach lamented his side's inability to find the back of net and believes the Blues will play a defensive game in the second leg at Camp Nou next week
‘It’s still 50-50’ – Di Matteo warns of tough second leg after Chelsea beat Barcelona
Didier Drogba's first-half counterattack goal secured a 1-0 win for the Blues at Stamford Bridge but the interim coach is under no illusions about the task ahead at Camp Nou
Iniesta bemoans Barcelona's poor finishing against clinical Chelsea
The Blaugrana squandered a succession of gilt-edged opportunities during the game in west London and were punished for their profligacy by Blues forward Didier Drogba
'We’ll do the business in Barcelona' - Confident Terry backs Chelsea to progress to Champions League final
The Blues skipper feels a repeat performance by his team will see them qualify for the final in Munich and was quick to praise Didier Drogba for his display against the Catalans
Messi misfires & Barcelona blunder as Chelsea claim unexpected first-leg cheer
The superstar forward was a long way short of his brilliant best as the Blaugrana failed to make the most of their supremacy, leaving them with much to do at Camp Nou
Barcelona now 11/10 for Champions League victory after 1-0 defeat against Chelsea
The loss for Pep Guardiola's side in the first leg of their semi-final at Stamford Bridge has seen the Spaniards drift in the betting to retain their European title
Torres: Winning the Champions League with Chelsea would be a dream come true
Spaniard believes winning the European Cup would be "one of the greatest moments" of his life and insists he has nothing to prove against Barcelona
Domenech criticises Mourinho and Ancelotti's negative tactics
The Frenchman has taken aim at the coaches of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain for defensive substitutions that have cost their teams over the past few days
Casillas refuses to blame Coentrao for Bayern winner
The goalkeeper defended his team's conservative strategy in the latter stages of the game and is confident that Los Blancos can win the return game to progress
Cristiano Ronaldo's boots stolen before Bayern semi-final
The Portuguese star's shirt was also nicked prior to kick-off at the Allianz Arena, while Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema were also targeted by the mystery thieves
Bayern are not in the Champions League final yet - Ribery
The France international was over the moon with the Bavarians' victory on Tuesday, but added that they have a difficult challenge ahead of them in the Spanish capital
Real Madrid can turn Bayern tie around at Bernabeu, says Di Maria
The Argentine winger endured a frustrating night as his team were vanquished 2-1 by the Bavarians but he is hopeful Los Blancos can overcome the deficit in the second leg
I do not take death threats from Chelsea fans seriously - referee Tom Henning Ovrebo
The official admits to making mistakes in the Blues' Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona in 2009, but says he ignores any emails or letters from angry supporters
Sergio Ramos: One goal might not be enough for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu
The Spain international has warned that a difficult task awaits Los Blancos in the return game against the Bavarians, and was quite disappointed with Tuesday's loss
Rummenigge: Bayern 'not without a chance in Madrid'
The Bayern supremo has expressed his delight with the first-leg victory over Los Blancos, and feels that the Bavarians have put themselves in a good position to advance
Jury still out on Mourinho's Madrid: Real yet to prove their credentials against Europe's elite after Bayern defeat
Tuesday's narrow loss in Germany may turn out to be a decent result for the Spanish side, but Madrid must now show they can beat the best in a week which could define their season
It will be very hard for English teams to win the Champions League, says Steve Archibald
The retired Scottish striker has criticised Premier League clubs' lack of development in recent years, while saying that he expects Barca to progress in Europe
Chelsea must forget about 2009 exit if they are to beat Barcelona, insists ex-Blues defender Cundy
Former centre-half believes that European champions are beatable in the Champions League if his old side deny Lionel Messi space and target goalkeeper Victor Valdes at set-pieces
Badstuber: Bayern have nothing to lose in Madrid
The Germany international doesn't feel any pressure ahead of the second leg in the Spanish capital, while David Alaba believes that the Bavarians fully deserved their win
Mendieta: Champions League pressure is all on Barcelona, not underdogs Chelsea
The 38-year-old twice helped Valencia reach the Champions League final and he believes the Blues will aim to knock the stylish Catalans out of their stride at Stamford Bridge
Beating Barcelona would put Chelsea's season right, argues Mata
Spaniard admits that the Blues have so far been unable to meet the expectations set before their campaign began and is adamant that securing a top-four spot is vital this term
Ozil remains 'convinced' Real Madrid will reach Champions League final
The former Werner Bremen midfielder looked to have earned his side a draw at the Allianz Arena with his second-half strike but Mario Gomez netted a late winner for the hosts
'Offside' Gustavo obstructed my view of Ribery strike, claims Casillas
The Brazil international was said not to have been interfering with play when his team-mate put the Bavarians a goal ahead with just 17 minutes of the game gone
Robben: Late winner against Madrid atonement for Dortmund heartbreak
The Dutchman missed a penalty and a sitter in the closing stages of last week's devastating defeat at the Westfalenstadion, so he felt the Bavarians were due some luck
Bayern boss Heynckes: We know we will score in Madrid
The Bavarians will take a slender advantage with them to the Spanish capital, with Mario Gomez having netted with a late winner at the Allianz Arena
Mourinho refuses to criticise Bayern's 'clear offside' goal
The former Chelsea and Inter coach was disappointed that Franck Ribery's strike was allowed to stand but remains positive ahead of next week's return fixture
Lahm: Marcelo deserved a red card for his tackle on Muller
The Bavarian side's captain was keen to congratulate his team-mates, and hit out at the Brazilian for his reckless challenge late in the game
Gomez the great: Super Mario's persistence pays off to down disappointing Madrid
The Bavarians' star striker fluffed his lines for almost the entire match but popped up with the crucial late strike which keeps the Germans' Champions League hopes alive
Real Madrid now 2/1 to win the Champions League after 2-1 loss against Bayern Munich
Jose Mourinho's side drift in price after narrow loss at Allianz Arena in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final
Messi misfires & Barcelona blunder as Chelsea claim unexpected first-leg cheer
The superstar forward was a long way short of his brilliant best as the Blaugrana failed to make the most of their supremacy, leaving them with much to do at Camp Nou
Apr 18, 2012 10:15:00 PM
COMMENT
By Kris Voakes
They may well have dominated possession just as in any other game, but Barcelona’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night was all their own doing. And at the crux of their disappointment was Lionel Messi’s inability to stamp his undoubted class on proceedings.
That Messi played a crucial role in the winning goal was no real shock. That it was in handing over possession to Frank Lampard in the build-up to Didier Drogba’s crucial strike was unexpected to say the least, and that proved to be his greatest mark on the game.
Moments earlier he had gone down off the ball and with the amount of collisions occurring across the field all night, many were expecting the replays to show some contact between the Argentine and Raul Meireles. Instead, Messi had simply slipped on the increasingly wet Stamford Bridge turf. It was the story of his night, in many ways.
He was to carry much of the fight in the second half, but rarely looked like making the difference. Instead he looked a shadow of himself, both in his play and his body language. Whenever he got to the business end, Chelsea were equal to him. John Terry and Gary Cahill may have already proven that they could be usurped, but in terms of throwing themselves in front of everything Messi had to offer, they had this one sussed.
Barcelona can win without the triple Ballon d’Or winner being at the centre of everything, but they naturally look infinitely more convincing when he is their unflappable go-to guy. But with the No. 10 off his game and Xavi equally anonymous, Barca were left ruing a catalogue of missed chances from their support cast.
Messi on the move | But he was to ask few questions of the Blues all night
Alexis Sanchez lofted the ball over Petr Cech and onto the Chelsea bar, Cesc Fabregas clipped a chip without the outside of his boot goalwards but it lacked the pace to beat Ashley Cole’s goal-line clearance. He’d also got into another great position on the left but couldn’t beat Cech.
In the second period, Sanchez would miss the best chance of the lot, sliding a shot wide of the near post with his instep. The Chilean had given Chelsea the runaround for much of the evening, but when all’s said and done, the net should have been left bulging.
Messi’s late free kick put Carles Puyol in behind the Blues’ back line, but Cech was spectacularly equal to the captain’s effort. In injury time, the Argentine attempted a one-two with Sergio Busquets, with the ball falling for Pedro, whose shot hit the far post. Busquets could only sky the loose ball, and their last chance was gone. Their inability to score was only their fourth failure in front of goal in 59 games this season.
In 2009, Barcelona made it to the final without having to beat Chelsea, but this time they will need a victory at Camp Nou to keep alive their dream of becoming the first team ever to win successive editions of the Champions League.
The Blues will claim to have a measure over Barca now, and it’s not a point that is easy to argue against. They have gone six games without defeat against the Blaugrana, and an extension of that run to seven will see them earn what just weeks ago was a highly improbable trip to Munich on May 19.
Messi, meanwhile, has yet to score in seven games against the Blues. And if both Barcelona and the Argentine have just as quiet a night again next Tuesday, Chelsea's unlikely turn-around will be complete, while the Catalans’ bid to make history will be over.
Cristiano Ronaldo's boots stolen before Bayern semi-final
The Portuguese star's shirt was also nicked prior to kick-off at the Allianz Arena, while Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema were also targeted by the mystery thieves
Apr 18, 2012 11:07:00 AM
By Karthick Arvinth
Three Real Madrid players had their preparations for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg clash at Bayern Munich disrupted in bizarre fashion as their boots and kits were stolen in the build-up to the game.
According to Marca, six pairs of boots and some shirts were stolen from Madrid's dressing room at the Allianz Arena, despite the presence of security cameras.
Cristiano Ronaldo had three pairs of his cleats stolen, while the rest reportedly belonged to Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema.
It was an inauspicious beginning to the evening for the Spaniards, as they went on to lose the match 2-1 courtesy of a last-minute winner from Mario Gomez.
"The stealing of Cristiano's shoes is a shame, it's impossible something like that could happen at the Bernabeu," Mourinho fumed in his post-match press conference.
Marca reports that Bayern have not offered any explanation for the theft, while Real have already lodged a complaint to Uefa over the incident.
Taking on Barcelona is like fighting Muhammad Ali - Hoddle
The former Blues manager feels that the London club have no chance of matching the Catalan's quality of play and may need to rely on their fighting spirit to make it to the final
'I was happy to prove the doubters wrong' - Drogba
The Chelsea striker feels that his match-winning performance against Barcelona is proof that he is far from finished at the highest level, and can play on for three more years
Gustavo: Bayern were worthy winners over Real Madrid
The Brazilian midfielder says that his side merited the victory against the Spanish club but rued the fact that they could not keep a clean sheet
Avram Grant backs Chelsea to overcome Barcelona after ‘best result’ possible
Former manager feels the Blues will score at Camp Nou in the second leg and feels their strengths at set-pieces and on the counter-attack will hurt the Spaniards
Chelsea will reach Champions League final if they defend like that in Barcelona, says Ron 'Chopper' Harris
The former centre-half, who played a club record 795 games for the Stamford Bridge team, also hailed skipper John Terry for his performance against the European champions
Cahill: Chelsea's job against Barcelona is only half-finished
The England defender praised the Blues' discipline following their 1-0 first leg victory against Pep Guardiola's team but is not underestimating the task ahead at Camp Nou
Dani Alves: Barcelona can still reach Champions League final
The Brazil international is adamant that the Catalans can still make it to the showpiece in Munich, while Carles Puyol feels they deserved to win the game against the Blues
More than a Clasico: Barcelona's loss in London proves the Champions League isn't all about Spain's big two
The Catalans couldn't score at Chelsea and like rivals Real Madrid, who lost at Bayern on Tuesday, they must now overturn a first-leg deficit to reach the Champions League final
Chelsea's game plan benefited us but we were unlucky, says Thiago Alcantara
The young midfielder feels that the Premier League side's tactics allowed the Catalans to play their own game, and felt they were unfortunate to end up losing
Pedro confident Barcelona can fight back against Chelsea
The Blaugrana attacker admitted the team are "deflated" following the 1-0 loss to Chelsea, but is optimistic that they will turn things around at Camp Nou next week
I wanted Real Madrid to sign Drogba years ago, says Hugo Sanchez
The former Mexico international says that the Cote d'Ivoire striker would be a big hit at the Santiago Bernabeu, while adding that he hopes Jose Mourinho stays at the club
Apr 19, 2012 4:20:00 PM
EXCLUSIVE
By Alberto Pinero
Real Madrid legend Hugo Sanchez revealed that he advised Los Blancos to sign Chelseastriker Didier Drogba a long time ago.
The Ivorian forward scored the winning goal in Chelsea's 1-0 Champions League triumph over Barcelona on Wednesday, and Sanchez admitted that he has been a fan of the African for some time now.
"One of the strikers that I wanted to see at Madrid is Drogba".
"I said the same thing about Ruud van Nistelrooy, and I recommended Drogba years ago.
"The thing is that too much time has passed now for him to join Madrid. No one paid attention to what I said.
"But Drogba has long been one of my favourite strikers in the world, and he had an amazing match against Barca yesterday."
Looking ahead to Saturday's Clasico at Camp Nou, the 53-year-old believes that Madrid will look to attack due to their four-point advantage over Barca in the Liga table.
"Madrid will need to be aggressive," Sanchez noted. "The difference in points will allow them to take some risks. If you give Barca enough space, it is very hard to beat them.
"Only a few teams can beat them at Camp Nou, but Madrid are one of them. They have to go out to win, because that is all that they can do.
"Last season, Jose Mourinho's strategy in some matches was not the correct one, and when you play at home, you always have to be brave and try to win.
"I hope he will get it right, just like he did in the Copa del Rey final."
The Portuguese coach has been coy over his long-term future at Madrid, but Sanchez has indicated that he does not want to see the former Inter boss leave anytime soon.
"I would like him to stay because he is doing very good things at the club," he added.
"I have agreed with him in many of the things he has said and done. In other cases, I would not have said or done the same thing, but I understand why he is like that.
"Mourinho is very clever, I really like his intelligence because I am a bit like him as a coach."
Drogba scores, Chelsea beat the best team in the world and add a Hollywood A-lister to their support
It's all in a good night's work for the west Londoners as they defeated Barcelona 1-0 in the Champions League and added actor Danny DeVito to their list of admirers
Apr 19, 2012 3:51:00 PM
As Didier Drogba smashed his shot past Victor Valdes to score what proved to be the winner for Chelsea on Wednesday night, we at Extra Time sat back and wondered what the Hollywood elite would think of a moment like that.
A lot, apparently, as Danny DeVito tweeted: "Didier Drogba's newest fan. Holy sh*tballs."
That's right Chelsea fans. Danny DeVito - he of Batman Returns - is now a Blue. Rejoice!
DeVito is currently sampling London life and could not have picked a better match to attend as Chelsea got all manner of redemption by beating those dastardly Catalans 1-0.
Next Tuesday is the decider though and should DeVito take a trip to Barcelona, replace 'Didier Drogba' with 'Leo Messi' and you should be fine...
Avram Grant backs Chelsea to overcome Barcelona after ‘best result’ possible
Former manager feels the Blues will score at Camp Nou in the second leg and feels their strengths at set-pieces and on the counter-attack will hurt the Spaniards
Apr 19, 2012 12:53:00 PM
By Al Hain-Cole
Avram Grant is confident Chelsea are now firmly in the driving seat in their Champions Leaguesemi-final tie with Barcelona, having achieved the "best result" possible with their 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.
Pep Guardiola's men are still favourites to progress to the final despite Didier Drogba’s goal, thanks largely to their imperious home form.
The Catalans have failed to win just three times in 25 home games in all competitions this season, conceding just 16 goals in the process.
However, the Israeli believes that his former side are more than capable of ensuring their safe passage to the final by scoring a precious away goal at Camp Nou in the next leg.
“I can tell you from experience that 1-0 at home is the best result that you can get because Chelsea in any case can get an away goal in Barcelona,” Grant told talkSPORT.
“Chelsea have quick players on the attack and Barcelona are not so great against counter attacks. Secondly, Barcelona are not so great against set-pieces and Chelsea have good players for this and good delivery.
“It will be more difficult for Barcelona than Chelsea, because Chelsea can score an away goal and then Barcelona need to score three. And that is not so easy.”
Chelsea have not lost to Barcelona in six Champions League games, and drew 0-0 on their last trip to the Catalan side three years ago.
Collina: Ronaldinho's goal at Stamford Bridge impressed me the most
The retired referee was left in awe by the Brazilian's strike against the Blues, and wished he could have officiated a game at the Bombonera
Apr 19, 2012 5:15:00 PM
By Luis Mira
Former Fifa referee Pierluigi Collina has hailed Ronaldinho's goal against Chelsea in 2004-05 as the best he ever saw from the field.
The Brazilian attacker, currently on the books of Flamengo, scored Barcelona's second goal of the night with the outside of his boot in the Blaugrana's 4-2 loss in the Champions League.
"The goal that impressed me the most was Ronaldinho's strike at Stamford Bridge," Collina told Uefa.com.
"A shot from the edge of the box that no one expected, it surprised everyone."
Collina, who quit refereeing in 2005, also confessed that he would have loved to officiate a match at the Bombonera in Buenos Aires.
"I was lucky enough to officiate matches in magnificent stadiums," Collina added. "But I never refereed at the Bombonera.
"I have watched some of Boca Juniors' matches and the atmosphere in that stadium is intense.
"That is a stadium where I would have liked to have refereed."
Real Madrid coach Mourinho admits he almost left Porto before winning Champions League
The former Chelsea and Inter trainer has revealed that he was on the verge of jumping ship shortly after lifting the 2003 Uefa Cup with the Portuguese outfit
Injured Brocchi vows to return next season: I want to play in the Champions League for Lazio
The 36-year-old midfielder has no intention of allowing his persistent foot problem to ruin his dream of representing the Biancocelesti in Europe's premier club cup competition
Redknapp: I want Chelsea to win Champions League
Although it could ruin his team’s chances of playing Europe’s top competition next season, the Spurs boss says he would be pleased to see an English team triumph
Chelsea - Barcelona tie hanging in the balance, says Wenger
The Blues travel to Arsenal on Saturday having beaten the Champions League holders at Stamford Bridge in midweek and the Gunners boss praised Roberto Di Matteo for his tactics
Robben lacks the will to win, says Mourinho's spokesman
The duo worked together in the Premier League at Chelsea, and the Portuguese coach was forced to sell the Netherlands international winger due to his constant injury problems
Ribery and Robben reportedly involved in dressing room bust-up during Real Madrid clash
The attacking duo allegedly exchanged blows at the half-time interval but coach Jupp Heynckes has refused to comment on the matter
Former Chelsea & Barcelona full-back Albert Ferrer fears for the Blues' defence at Camp Nou
The Spaniard feels the visitors will tire in the return leg next week, which will provide Pep Guardiola's men with the chances they need if they are to turn the tie around
Bayern will have to score in Madrid, says Lizarazu
The Bavarians lead 2-1 after Tuesday's meeting at the Allianz Arena but their former full-back feels that they would be ill-advised to simply sit back and try to defend their lead
Del Bosque: Real Madrid can score two or three goals at home against Bayern
The World Cup-winning coach thinks that the result from the first leg was unfair and said that Los Blancos have what it takes to advance to the final
Cech: Chelsea do not fear Camp Nou
The Czech shot-stopper was delighted with his side's first-leg performance against Barcelona and believes the Blues can get another positive result in Spain next Tuesday
Bayern's Ribery fined €50,000 for punching Robben - report
The attacking duo are believed to have come to blows during the Bavarians' victory over Los Blancos in the Champions League earlier this week and the club has taken measures
Apr 21, 2012 11:34:00 AM
Franck Ribery has allegedly been fined €50,000 for punching Bayern Munich team-mate Arjen Robben in the dressing room during half-time in the 2-1 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night, according to Bild.
The France international is believed to have lashed out at his attacking colleague due to not being allowed to take a free-kick in the 40th minute.
The mark on the Dutch winger's face was evident and the club has acted quickly to punish the perpetrator.
Despite Jupp Heynckes denying the incident had happened, the German newspaper indicate that Ribery has been given the sizable fine as punishment.
Bayern Munich face Werder Bremen at the weekend before the return leg of their semi-final tie with Real Madrid next Wednesday.
A late Fernando Torres strike sealed an incredible come-from-behind aggregate win for Chelsea and dump Barcelona from the Champions League.A 10-man Blues outfit held on against the odds to record a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night to secure a 3-2 aggregate triumph and advance to the showpiece final.
An astonishing end to the first half saw Sergio Busquets open the scoring from close range before John Terry saw red for kneeing Alexis Sanchez in the back off the ball.Andres Iniesta had then calmly finished from a Lionel Messi through-ball to seemingly put the hosts clear before Ramires' incredible chipped goal on the counterattack.
Didier Drogba gave away a penalty at the start of the second half but Messi uncharacteristically cracked it against the crossbar, and it fell to substitute Torres in added time to put it out of the hosts' reach after rounding Victor Valdes. Pep Guardiola surprised some by benching Dani Alves, opting for three at the back with Gerard Pique recalled.
Youngster Isaac Cuenca was also drafted in to the forward four. Roberto Di Matteo, meanwhile, selected the same side that beat Barca 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Drogba leading the line once again. Barcelona started ominously, Messi and Sanchez exchanging a quickfire interchange of several short passes to smuggle the Argentine through into the area, but his effort flew into the side netting.
Chelsea were worried within six minutes when Gary Cahill slipped in the box, clutching his hamstring, and though the centre-back briefly tried to carry on, Jose Bosingwa replaced him.Pique was then in the wars, colliding with his own goalkeeper and requiring medical treatment after landing on his head, but he was able to get back up again.
After an opening 19 minutes dominated more by injuries than chances, Petr Cech was called into action. More scintillating close passes on the edge of the box again put Messi through, this time centrally, but his finish lacked any venom and the goalkeeper kept it out with his foot. Drogba started causing some problems thereafter, hooking a ball over from the corner of the area before bypassing Pique a moment later, though his angle was too tight to shoot on target.
That signalled Pique's last contribution as he succumbed to his earlier knock and Alves returned in his place, Barca maintaining their three-man back line with the Brazilian on the right of it.After several minutes of frustration the hosts broke through. As Chelsea failed to clear a corner, Cuenca picked the ball up on the left and, with Terry playing several men onside, Busquets was on hand to turn in a simple finish.
Terry's evening got a lot worse, though, as moments after the goal, while standing off the ball alongside Sanchez, he appeared to knee the Chilean in the back.Referee Cuneyt Cakir produced the red card after prompting from his assistant. Chelsea's despair was compounded just before half-time. Iniesta infiltrated forward outside the last defender to receive Messi's through-ball and dispatched an expert finish calmly past Cech.
But out of nowhere, the visitors got back in it. Ramires, who was booked in the aftermath of Iniesta's goal and would play no part in the final, latched on to Frank Lampard's pass on the end of a powerful run, and the Brazilian delivered a thrilling chip over Valdes to rekindle the Blues' hopes.The second half started disastrously for Chelsea, though. Drogba, back to help his depleted side out, mistimed his tackle on Cesc Fabregas, gifting Barca a penalty.
Messi stepped up, ready for his first goal against Chelsea - but crashed his effort onto the crossbar. Sanchez should have done better on 54 minutes when his header dropped weakly to the left of Cech's far post.Drogba raised eyebrows a moment later when he beat two men in his own half - including the advanced Carles Puyol - and attempted a drive from the halfway line, though Valdes' save made it look more dangerous than it was.
Barca continued pushing, as they had to, and Cech was alert when young Cuenca tested him with a shot from the left, closing him down to snuff out the danger.There might have been a game-deciding second for Chelsea in the 67th minute as substitute Salomon Kalou battled forward on his own, getting past his markers before coming over as a rabbit in the headlights at the crucial moment, allowing Valdes to scoop up.
As the bookings mounted up - Lampard, Messi and Ivanovic - Barcelona's chances dried up. Busquets, going for an unlikely double, was only able to scoop awkwardly over as the final phase beckoned.The home fans cheered when Sanchez had the ball in the net on 81 minutes but substitute Torres was spared blame for losing his man as it was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.
Just moments later, Messi came achingly close, firing against the post from a snapshot as Chelsea held on for dear life, Cech's touch key in drifting it onto the woodwork.As Barca threw their last at Chelsea, they were undone. With nobody in their own half, 50-million-pound man Torres suddenly found himself clean through with space to burn.
Racing forward and rounding Valdes with his most composed head on, the Spaniard rolled it into an empty net to seal a famous triumph for Di Matteo's men.
Heynckes: Bayern are capable of scoring at the Bernabeu The Bavarians' head coach is of the opinion that his side have what it takes to find the net in the return in order to secure progress to the showpiece at the Allianz Arena
Bayern are 'at eye level' with Real Madrid, says Nerlinger
The club official does not think that Los Blancos have a stronger team and insists that his side will play at 100 per cent despite the risk of some players missing the final
Cristiano Ronaldo: I am sure that Real Madrid will defeat Bayern
The Portuguese attacker is confident that Los Blancos will win the upcoming match but sent out a warning regarding the attacking threat of the Budnesliga giants
Zidane tells Real Madrid: You will beat Bayern Munich
Los Blancos trail 2-1 after last Tuesday's trip to the Allianz Arena but the former France international is in no doubt that the Liga leaders will get past Jupp Heynckes' side
Real Madrid can land La Liga, Champions League and Pichichi, claims Guti
The 35-year-old Spaniard believes that Los Blancos are set for a stunning finish to the season, though he is wary of the threat posed by European rivals Bayern Munich
Ronald Koeman: I have no admiration for Chelsea's approach against Barcelona
The former Blaugrana star was not impressed with the Premier League side's approach last week, and feels the holders could easily have won the first leg of the semi-finals
Sanchis: Current Bayern team similar to Real Madrid in 1998
The former Blancos defender feels that the Bavarian giants are very much like the team he won the Champions League with under the experienced trainer 14 years ago
Abramovich to offer Di Matteo £750,000 bonus for Champions League triumph - report
Chelsea owner would give Italian £750,000 if the Blues won the European Cup after the 41-year-old has impressed in his 14 games in charge staking his claim for full-time job
From Lahm to Schweinsteiger to Muller: Bayern's youth academy would draw envy even from La Masia
The Bundesliga giants will be relying on several youth products from their academy in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Real Madrid
Amazing advantage or beastly burden? The effects of playing the European Cup final at your home stadium
Bayern have dreamt of playing the 2012 Champions League final in Munich, ever since they were named as hosts. But is holding the final at home a blessing or a curse?
Escudero: Real Madrid have more quality than Bayern
The Royal Blues' left-back feels that the Liga leaders have what it takes to beat the Bavarians, but added that the Santiago Bernabeu side are in for a difficult match
Rummenigge: It's important for Bayern to score against Real Madrid
The Bavarian club's chairman has admitted that his side face a tough task to qualify for the Champions League final as he believes the team must play well in defence and attack
Get off the spot: Messi shows the world his weakness with eighth miss from 34 penalties
He may be the greatest talent on the planet, but from 12 yards the Argentine has shown himself to be distinctly human, and Barca must take action
Mission Improbable: Bayern have it all to do if they are to realise their Champions League dream & eliminate Madrid
The Germans' last-gasp win in the first leg gave them a slight edge, but their inability to earn a bigger cushion, as well as their woeful away form, could see the tie reversed
Di Matteo must be given the Chelsea job now & for the long-term
The Italian led his team to a spirited victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou to reach the Champions League final and further boost his chances of becoming the Blues' full-time boss
Iniesta: Barcelona deserved better, but we will be back
The attacking midfielder has insisted that their Champions League elimination does not mean the end of an era, and feels the semi-final exit to Chelsea was unfair
Bayern should not be afraid against Real Madrid, says Zickler
The 38-year-old is dreaming of Champions League glory for his former side, and feels that the key to success will be bravery as the German giants visit the Santiago Bernabeu
Guardiola: Barcelona did not do anything wrong
The 41-year-old coach refused to criticise Messi for missing a penalty and insisted that the players stayed true to their principles by continuing to attack despite a 2-0 lead
Cole, Cech and Ivanovic hail Chelsea's character after claiming a Champions League final spot at the expense of Barcelona
The three Blues players all insisted that the team deserved their place at the Allianz Area on May 19, despite the home side's dominance, praising the spirit of the squad
‘What an unbelievable performance’ – Lampard hails Chelsea after ousting Barcelona to reach Champions League final
The experienced midfielder savours a dramatic triumph at Camp Nou, with the Blues now set to face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich next month
Barcelona will be back, warns Fabregas
The Spanish midfielder said that the Blaugrana were by far the better side and were worthy of securing a place in the tournament's final despite being ousted by the Londoners
Di Matteo hails 'incredible achievement' as Chelsea overcome Barcelona
A 2-2 draw on the night sealed an aggregate victory for the Blues and their interim coach was thrilled by the character that they showed in reaching the final in Munich
'I let the lads down but I'm delighted' - John Terry apologises for red card in Chelsea's win over Barcelona
The Chelsea skipper apologised to his team-mates following his sending off in the Nou Camp, but expressed his delight at reaching the final
I am proud we did not give up our style of play, says Barcelona's Rosell after Champions League exit
The Blaugrana chief has praised the performance of the players and the fans throughout the match, and passed on his congratulations to Chelsea for reaching the final
The better side does not always win, admits Fernando Torres after Chelsea defeat Barcelona
The 28-year-old was not fazed by the Blues resorting to defensive tactics and conceded that the Blaugrana played the more expansive football over the two legs
You can't blame the pitch, post or penalty-spot: Barcelona gifted the tie to Chelsea
The Blaugrana went out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage despite dominating possession, with their inability to ask more questions of the Blues key in their exit
Pique taken to hospital after Victor Valdes collision
The Spain international had to be withdrawn in the first half of the European match and will undergo a check-up to determine if he has sustained any damage
Sensational Chelsea put idiotic John Terry to shame
The Blues captain was sent off for an inexcusable knee on Alexis Sanchez on the 37th minute but was reprieved thanks to an astonishing showing from his team-mates
Terry claims sending off was unintentional during Chelsea's Champions League tie against Barcelona
The defender was handed a straight red card after the assistant referee spotted his knee being thrust into Alexis Sanchez's back after 37 minutes
Ribery: I'm proud of my scar as it gave me strength
The Frenchman suffered a serious head wound in a car accident when he was an infant, but believes that the ridicule he suffered growing up helped 'forge his character'
Real Madrid confirm squad for Bayern clash
Ricardo Carvalho, Lassana Diarra, Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop have all been left out of the 20-strong panel for the game against the Bavarians in the Spanish capital
Bayern must weather the early storm in Madrid, admits Schweinsteiger
The Germany international believes that the Bavarians will have to get through the opening 20 minutes without conceding if they are to have any chance of defeating Los Blancos
Mourinho wants Chelsea to beat Barcelona but sees 'no reason' to leave Real Madrid this summer
The Portuguese freely admits that he retains a soft spot for the Blues but claims that he is happy at the Santiago Bernabeu and intends to honour his contract with Los Blancos
Two weeks ago Barcelona were the benchmark but now it could be Real Madrid, argues Bayern boss Heynckes
The former Blancos coach is extremely wary of his old side's attacking potential, but he was quick to point out that the Bavarians also have plenty of goals in them
Real Madrid's moment of truth has arrived, says Granero
The 24-year-old knows that Los Blancos face an onerous task in trying to overcome the Bavarians, but he believes that Jose Mourinho's men will get the result they need
Mourinho: Players must be willing to take a suspension for Real Madrid to reach Champions League final
The Blancos boss insists that neither Xabi Alonso nor Sergio Ramos can allow the fact they are both just one booking away from a ban to cloud their judgement
Kahn: Bayern have to remain calm against Real Madrid
The former Germany international believes that the Bavarians need to stay relaxed amidst the Santiago Bernabeu atmosphere, and warned against the Blancos' attacking strength
Chelsea squad offered €12.3m Champions League win bonus - report
Blues owner Roman Abramovich is believed to have put aside a hefty reward for the 25-man squad if they emerge victorious in next month's final in Germany
Bayern will face a different Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, says Netzer
The ex-Germany international believes that the Bavarians are capable of competing with the best, but is of the opinion that they face a difficult match against Los Blancos
'I can't eliminate Real Madrid by myself' - Ribery
The France international is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Champions League game against Los Blancos, and called for his team to rally together to knock out the Spanish giants
Chelsea squad offered €12.3m Champions League win bonus - report
Blues owner Roman Abramovich is believed to have put aside a hefty reward for the 25-man squad if they emerge victorious in next month's final in Germany
Apr 24, 2012 10:53:00 AM
Chelsea’s players are set to share a €12.3 million (£10m) pot set aside by club owner Roman Abramovich if they win the Champions League, according to The Sun.
The Blues hold a narrow one-goal lead going into Tuesday night’s semi-final second leg against Barcelona and would have to defeat either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the final, should they reach it.
It has always been suggested that Europe’s most coveted competition is the Russian billionaire’s key target and the 45-year-old is reportedly ready to hand €429,000 (£350,000) to each member of the 25-strong Champions League squad.
Chelsea interim boss Roberto Di Matteo is still yet to agree on an increase to his salary since replacing Andre Villas-Boas seven weeks ago, but is thought to be in line for a €612,000 (£500,000) 'thank you' for his efforts in turning the club around.
The Stamford Bridge backroom staff are also believed to be in for a bonus should the west London outfit emerge triumphant at the Allianz Arena next month.
