Four UEFA Champions League (UCL) Quarter-Finals were decided over the last two nights, with each of the second-leg hosts progressing to the next round. Before we start planning our transfers, there are enough talking points for us to consider…
Chelsea Make Hard Work Of Benfica
The fact of the matter is that after a 2-1 victory over Benfica at Stamford Bridge last night, Chelsea will continue to fly the flag for the Premier League after progressing to the Semi-Finals. The underlying story of the tie and what lies ahead is an altogether different narrative.
A barge on Ashley Cole in the box by Javi Garcia allowed Frank Lampard to fire the hosts ahead, before Maxi Pereira saw red for Benfica after picking up two bookings prior to half-time. Before the spot-kick, and even with a man’s disadvantage, Benfica were very much the stronger of the two sides on the turf. As Chelsea huffed and puffed, the visitors showed a more pragmatic and coherent approach to the game, despite having the odds stacked against them.
Garcia atoned for his earlier error by heading home in the 80th minute, after being afforded the freedom of the Chelsea six yard box from a corner. Another goal would have clinched qualification for the Portuguese outfit but an injury time breakaway saw Raul Meireles fire home to finally seal the Blues’ progress.
A majorly hectic schedule -as alluded to in our behemoth post from yesterday– will now see Roberto Di Matteo’s side undertake seven fixtures in three weeks, including at least one major FA Cup game, two ties with Barcelona and a trip to Arsenal.
The Semi-Finals and Fantasy Premier League double Gameweek 36 may end up being an oasis on the horizon to Managers in all formats. Rotation across all three competitions must loom large and many investment opportunities will carry an added risk. Not least because it’s reigning champions Barcelona coming up next in the UCL.
Barcelona Make More History
Prior to Tuesday night’s fixture, there was a surprising amount of support for AC Milan to pull off somewhat of a coup and come away from the Nou Camp with a place in the Champions League Semi-Finals. After a goalless San Siro draw in the first leg and, with a 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou in the group stages, perhaps it wasn’t the most preposterous prediction to make but Barcelona were more than able to fend off their opponents in a penalty-spot inspired 3-1 victory.
It was, of course, “that man” Lionel Messi at the crux of the matter in all three goals. The Argentine was first felled (an extra UCL point) for a penalty which he duly converted before Antonio Nocerino pulled a goal back for the visitors and turned the heat up on the tie.
Not long after, the referee caught an evil glare from the Milanese dugout and traveling supporters when he correctly, but arguably softly, awarded a second penalty to Barca for some light shirt tugging in the box, as the home side attacked a corner. Then, in the second half, Andres Iniesta calmly slotted home to round out the tie, when Messi’s shot deflected right into his path.
The reigning champions also picked up a new record along the way and have become the first side to reach five consecutive Champions League semi-finals, affording them a “rematch” with Chelsea in the next round.
Marseille Flounder Against Bayern Lite
It is surprising to precisely no-one that Marseille have finally bitten the dust and departed the Champions League. The writing has been on the wall for such a long time that, building off their 2-0 away win in France, Bayern Munich even took the chance to give Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez a break.
For any European Fantasy managers willing to take a risk with their transfers in light of this pre-deadline news, there was plenty of potential to pick up some points your rivals might not have been aware of. The Germans, even without their two strongest players, once again waltzed to a 2-0 victory.
Building on Marseille’s poor attacking performances over the last two months, Fantasy managers who stocked up on the Munich defenders would have been able to bank multiple returns from the likes of Holger Badstuber, Manuel Neuer, captain Philip Lahm and company.
European Fantasy managers playing to the team-sheets, however, will have had the chance to buy a striker from tracks less trodden. Thomas Mueller would have been expected to step into the limelight but just 40 minutes on the pitch and a single point will leave his backers – including our very own Granville – reeling.
Forgotten forward Ivica Olic, making only his fourth start of the season, was the man to profit, scoring both of the German outfit’s goals and helping the 786 folks who acquired his services pocket a cool and “very differential” 10 points for his night’s work.
So Long, Farewell
Real Madrid took the opportunity, much like Munich, to rest some of their first choice outfit (Mesut Ozil, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema to name but a few) for their home tie with FC APOEL. Even with that trio out of the picture, the La Liga leaders still had the two most expensive players in history to call on and help them waltz through to the Semi-Finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo was able to add a couple of goals to his rather bountiful tally for the season and Kaka – having been afforded a start by Jose Mourinho – continued his slow renaissance, providing a goal and assist to match his Portuguese team-mate for Fantasy points.
Two substitutes returning from injury, Jose Callejon and Angel Di Maria, also got on the score sheet and reminded folks that there will be other options out there. As Madrid took their foot off the pedal, FC APOEL grabbed a couple of second-half goals for themselves ( top scorer Gustavo Manduca and substitute Esteban Solari both found the net) as the game finished 5-2, with an aggregate 8-2 scoreline.
With that, we wave a fond farewell to the Cypriot side who have, for so long, surprised themselves and everyone else by reaching the last eight. Their cheap options, filling out UCL Fantasy squads, will be sorely missed in the next stage.
With Madrid securing the fourth and final spot in the Semi-Finals, European Fantasy managers are set for a tricky time ahead as they attempt to build squads for these final rounds. Unlike the last couple of years, where Schalke (2010/11) and Lyon (2009/10) made the final four and offered mid-low price candidates to round out squads, there will be far less opportunities to do so, meaning managers will have tough decisions ahead as they attempt to balance the books.
