Tuesday 24th April
“Ahead of tonight’s Champions League semi final match against Barcelona, Jose Mourinho has said that the Treble is not on Chelsea’s minds…”
“So who are you backing?” Lyra asked.
“Barcelona,” Autumn replied. “I backed them for the Champions League before it started and I’m sticking to it.”
Although, any of the semi finalists could win it,” Lyra responded, “After all, Milan against United is bound to be just as tasty.”
“...John Terry has said that Chelsea are not scared of Barca, although the Blues will be without Ricardo Carvalho for the first leg…”
“To be honest, if we were scared of Barca, they’d pretty much be through before the ball was kicked,” I said, as the two of us prepared to leave for the match, “And it’s like I said before the first group match-
“-if you want to win this competition, you have to be able to beat the best teams in Europe.” Dinky finished, “Or in this case, the best team in Europe.”
That wasn’t an exaggeration. Barcelona had won the Champions League the season before and were top of La Liga, despite having been beaten 2-0 at Villareal at the weekend.
“A real treat in prospect for you here tonight,” Kick Off announced, “Chelsea against Barcelona, in the semi finals of the Champions League. Jose Mourinho pits his wits against Frank Rijkaard for a third consecutive season, and Terry, Lampard, Ballack, Joe Cole, Robben and Drogba go toe-to-toe with Ronaldinho, Messi, Eto’o, Deco, Xavi and Puyol over the two legs for a place in the Champions League Final…”
“We’re going to need a good start here,” Rainbow Dash said as we took our seats.
And a good start is exactly what happened. Four minutes in, a pass from Makelele found Robben, who sent a diagonal ball into the area for Joe Cole to fire into the net.
However, Barcelona were the Champions League holders and favourites for a reason, and got back into the game, with Cech having to be alert to keep out Ronaldinho and Eto’o.
Just after the half hour, however, a pass from Xavi set up Ronaldinho, who played it on to Deco. Deco raced into the area and slipped the ball under Cech to give Barcelona the equaliser.
“If you’ve just joined us, there’s ten minutes of the first half left,” Kick Off said, as Messi was forced into touch, giving Chelsea a throw-in, “And nothing separates the two sides, except for that Barcelona away goal.”
“Indeed,” Full Time agreed, “Chelsea know that they must take a lead back to the Nou Camp if they’re going to stand a real chance of going through.”
Neither side was looking to sit back, and in the 38th minute, Lampard played in Ashley Cole, who set off on a run down the left. He sent a cross in which was too high for Puyol to head clear, and Drogba beat Rafael Marquez and Edmilson before seeing his shot tipped wide by Valdes.
Four minutes later, Barcelona went on the attack, and a long cross from Deco was headed clear by Ashley Cole. Xavi picked up on the loose ball, and passed it to Messi, who got into the area and went for goal. His shot was parried by Cech and Ashley Cole tried to clear, but the clearance was deflected to Messi, who fired over the bar from a tight angle.
From the resulting goal kick, Edmilson lost the ball to Drogba, who set off on a run into the Barcelona half. As he bore down on goal, however, he was brought down just outside the area.
“Free kick to Chelsea,” Kick Off said, “And now, what’s De Bleeckere going to give here, he’s calling Sylvinho over...and it’s a red card! The former Arsenal player was deemed to be the last man, and Barcelona are down to ten men!”
Frank Lampard stepped up, but the free kick struck the wall and was cleared. As the half entered stoppage time, however, Makelele entered the Barcelona half before passing to Robben on the left. Robben took the ball down the wing before sending a cross into the area, where Joe Cole, holding off Marquez, raced in to connect. His shot was parried by Valdes, but Drogba pounced on the rebound to restore Chelsea’s lead.
“So, Chelsea a goal up and a man up,” Kick Off said, as the half time whistle went.
“The first ten minutes of the half are going to be so important,” Full Time added, “Barca need to resist Chelsea, and keep it at one goal while looking to catch Chelsea on the break.”
However, Chelsea, and Joe Cole, had other ideas. Seven minutes into the second half, Ballack fed Joe Cole in, and he set off down the right, leaving van Bronckhorst behind, before whipping a cross into the area. Drogba beat Puyol in the air and headed the ball past Valdes at the near post to give Chelsea a two-goal lead.
In the 55th minute, Joe Cole once again marauded down the right, before passing to Drogba. Drogba fed the ball on to Robben, who was tackled by Zambrotta before he could cross.
On the hour mark, Drogba looked to turn provider, passing to Joe Cole. Marquez, however, was able to clear before it got anywhere.
Four minutes later, Barcelona launched a rare attack. Messi got down the right before crossing into the area. Ronaldinho connected with the ball and volleyed goalwards, but a diving save from Cech kept the ball out. The ball looked to be falling for Eto’o, but Ashley Cole headed the ball clear before Essien was able to blast it up the pitch.
Barcelona were now beginning to grow frustrated, and with just under 20 minutes left, Eto’o was booked for a tackle from behind. From the free kick, a cross by Joe Cole was headed clear by Xavi. Ballack took control of the loose ball and passed to Joe Cole, whose cross was cleared by Puyol.
Joe Cole was giving van Bronckhorst a torrid time on the right, and four minutes later, he sent in another cross, which was caught by Valdes.
The match then entered a quiet period, giving the home crowd a chance to catch their breaths. With a minute to go, another Joe Cole cross was cleared behind by Marquez, with the corner being cleared.
Chelsea 3-1 Barcelona (Joe Cole 4, Drogba 45+1, 52; Deco 32, Sylvinho s/o 44)
“There’s the whistle, and Chelsea pass their toughest test so far with flying colours!” Kick Off exclaimed, as Derpy leapt about a foot in the air in the Traveller’s Rest, “They take a two goal lead to the Nou Camp next week, and only Puyol and Marquez prevented it from being a rout; once Sylvinho was sent off it was all Chelsea. All eyes on the San Siro for tomorrow’s semi final, but tonight belongs to Joe Cole, he was instrumental!”
“I’d say that this edges the 4-2 from two seasons ago,” I said, as we made our way back, “The 4-2 may have been more exciting, but it was in the second round. To win a semi final match so convincingly, even if it is just the first leg...well, after that, we fear no one.”
Thursday 26th April
“Just as tasty, you said,” Autumn said, as Lyra entered her office.
After the Chelsea-Barcelona game, the first leg of the other semi final, between AC Milan and Manchester United, had ended in a drab 0-0 draw.
“...with the two sides all square after last night’s match in the San Siro.” Breaking News said on the radio, “Meanwhile, there is a growing sense at Chelsea that this will be “third time lucky” for the Blues; before they go to the Nou Camp, however, they travel to Wigan on Saturday...”
“Is Dinky being taken to the second leg?” Autumn asked.
“Yes,” Lyra replied, “Her guardian offered her the chance barely two hours after the end of the quarter final and she said yes. Shame that they’re only there for the match, though. Barcelona’s a fantastic place, I went there on holiday a few years ago. Besides,” she added, to allay any potential fears Autumn might have had, “Rainbow Dash is going as well, and the three of them will be together.”