CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HEATS UP...

One half of the semi final draw for the Champions league was decided yesterday. Barcelona will play Chelsea for the chance to play Man Utd, Arsenal, Villarreal or Porto in the finals in the Stadio Olympico in Rome.

Liverpool was taught a lesson in football yesterday. Chelsea manhandled them and got a result that no one in the Liverpool colours expected. Losing 1-3 to Chelsea must be a big shock to the system and probably prevent Rafa continuing his rant against Fergie. He should find a way to get his team ready to score at least 3 goals and not concede at Stamford Bridge.

Can Liverpool qualify? Are you insane? Of course they can’t. Liverpool overturning this score line and reaching the semi finals will be on par with West Brom staying in the premiership; Tim Henman winning
Wimbledon or Eminem becoming a U.S. senator. It ain’t happening no matter what noise you might hear out of Liverpool.

So Liverpool is really a one man team; Hiddink put Michael Essien on Steven Gerard and Liverpool could barely get out of first gear. Hmmmm.

What Barcelona did to Bayern Munich is a crime in most countries; it was a mugging hiding behind an assault. It was so painful, UEFA had to warn the Barcelona team to reduce the strangle hold they had on Bayern Munich.

The attacking force that Barcelona can call on is obscene; Samuel Etoo, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry were in such imperious form yesterday, Bayern had no answer for the onslaught.

The Tuesday games were exciting but nothing decided there yet. Villarreal outplayed Arsenal in the first half but could only score once, although the Marcus Senna’s goal was a beauty. Villarreal kept the ball and passed the ball very well but couldn’t open up Arsenals defence even after they lost William Gallas and Manuel Almunia.

In the second half, Arsenal realised they were involved in a game and imposed there will more on the game. Cesc Fabregas playing in front of his country men was putting himself about and got booked but his passing continued to improve until the assist for the goal on 66 minutes.

Cesc found Adebayor in some space and lifted the ball on to the Togolese striker’s chest who while leaning backwards was able to control with his chest and volley it past the Villarreal’s goalkeepers reach.

Arsenal fans wonder how he could score a goal of such technical magnificence but hit the goalkeeper when one on one.

This game might be advantage Arsenal but I don’t believe that Arsene Wenger believes it is over yet. Villarreal is a good team with good players who can beat Arsenal at the Emirates if given the freedom of the first half they enjoyed on Tuesday.

Manchester United was tired and lucky to draw against a spirited Porto team that were beaten 4-0 the last time they were in England. The blame could be shared with the makeshift defence that forgot the positional knowledge it takes to defend or the manager’s decision to take Sky TV’s and play against Aston Villa on Sunday instead of a 3pm kick off on Saturday.

Man Utd need to play better than they have over the last 6 weeks to make the semi finals. If Porto can produce another performance like they did on Tuesday then they will be in the semis. They have never lost to English opposition at home, so Fergie knows he has a big job to defend a competition no other team has ever done.