Semifinals First Leg Roundup

Milan 2 - 2 Bayern

Daniel Van Buyten has had an interesting season so far. Marked more by leaden footedness at the heart of Bayern Munich's often schizophrenic defence, than his normal air of authority, it would be one he would not look back too fondly on. However, with Bayern mounting a furious late charge for honours, Van Buyten served up a timely reminder of his worth in the Champions' League Quarterfinal first leg at Milan. Not only did he salvage a precious draw, but his late brace allowed Bayern to come from behind and go back to Bavaria in the driving seat knowing that Milan have to do all the attacking on the road. With two pricless away goals, the advantage i very much in the German team's favour.

Milan arguably deserved to win this game as they had dominated the proceedings till Van Buyten pulled one back. They were probably hard done by when the big Belgian's last minute strike ensured a late share of the spoils. However, for all their domination Milan wasted several chances and were lucky to go ahead the second time when a very spurious penalty was given when Lucio cleared the ball from Kaka's feet. Footballing Karma is circular and in this case it was paid in full as Milan were pegged back at the very end.

The recurring theme to Milan's season has been a plethora of chances despite their often dysfunctional playing style. As careless as they have been at the back, at the front they continue to possess two attacking gems of the very highest quality. In the Champions' League Kaka and Andrea Pirlo have been at the forefront of all things good. Here they continued to singlehandedly ensure Milan go as far as they can despite having an underwhelming season. Despite their sloppiness, they have been able to come this far with a mixture of individual brilliance, a plucky midfield and a slice of luck. One wonders, however, if they have used up all footballing fortune. Furthermore, how many more games can Kaka and Pirlo win for them.

Bayern showed once again that you can never count them out. Seemingly out of the domestic title race, they served a timely reminder of their class on the weekend with a defeat of leaders Schalke. In the earlier round in the Champions' League, they went behind to Real but hung in with 2 late goals before ensuring they progressed on away goals with a tight but composed in the home-leg. Oddly, and for Milan, worrying parallels with this tie as well. Never count the Germans out.

PSV 0 - 3 Liverpool

Liverpool produced a solid, efficient and classy performance to emphatically beat PSV in Eindohoven. PSV's anemic display will cause embarrassment and anger in equal measure across parts of North London, as they folded in juvenile fashion against a rampant Liverpool team. This was definitely a big game for Liverpool and they ensured they put one leg in the semi-final by crushing their opponents on the night. Overall a good week for Liverpool so far. How coincidental that PSV's victims in the earlier round were also the side Liverpool beat one game earlier.

Rafa Benitez''s claim that Liverpool are better this year than they were in 2005 would seem true as they are better placed domestically and have been more consistent on the road. They are still unbeaten in Europe and are coming together nicely. Surely they were never this well placed during their victorious campaign in 2005. How fitting would it be for their new American owners if they are crowned champions of Europe again. Rafa Benitez's policy of rotation is loudly mocked after an away loss but there is clearly a method to his madness.

Sadly for PSV, their season seems to be coming apart. Despite playing as a good solid unit for the better part of the season, it seems the loss of talismanic central defender Alex, has reduced them to a motley crew of journeymen footballers. Are they really a one man team with their strength coming from the back ? It's hard to argue for that notion but the sad truth is that they have been a different side since his injury. This defeat followed a crushing 5-1 defeat domestically to rivals Ajax. Have the wind finally gone out of PSV's sails ? Did they peak too early in that tight win over Arsenal ? The fact of the matter is that Liverpool play a simple direct style and ensure they put their chances away. Clearly they are incapable of mounting a consistent challenge in the Premiership, but since the ascension of their Spanish coach, have become something of Champions' League specialists.

It's hard to see PSV coming back from this - there were simply no positives. Liverpool should be proud. PSV should be ashamed.

Roma 2 - 1 Manchester United

Italian hacks will no doubt play up this win. Roma dominated from start to finish and their win was a small reward for their thoroughly efficient performance. But the away goal will rankle. United fans will point to the lucky deflection for Roma's second goal but deep inside they know that it was every much Roma deserved. And given that United's season have been littered with the odd lucky goal and penalty decision, it would be hard for them to complain. Cue United fans writing in to dispute that claim.

Still they cannot feel too hard done by. Their loss was minimal, given that they played the better part of the game with 10 men. And Wayne Rooney's goal ensured they have an away goal to take back to Old Trafford. As predicted by many United missed Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidic at the back. Roma's convoluted midfield, meanwhile, posed a hydra like threat that was never quite nullified by the Premiership leader's defence. Roma's formation and tactics play off their lead man in Francesco Totti and in Rodrigo Taddei and Mancini, have two players capable of unsettling almost any defence on their day. United's star, Cristiano Ronaldo, was conspicuous by his absence, both during the game and from the deck.

The fact of the matter is that this result, though deserved, cannot be read into too much. United have had a stellar season. Consistent, strong and balanced. Everyone has a bad game or a game in which they are thoroughly outplayed by their opponents. It happens. There is still too much momentum on the United juggernaut for them to be derailed yet. Even a steady 1 - 0 win in the return leg will see them through on away goals. Luciano Spaletti knows this and will guard against complacency from his players. Still, Roma having the lead and United having to attack them on home turf will pose an enticing matchup that the neutrals will be salivating at.

For Roma a job well done. For United a (potentially) minor hiccup. Watch for more mind games from Alex Ferguson as he seeks to unsettle Totti and Roma some more.

Having talked about the result there are two minor points that must be touched upon.

Firstly, this was the second game in which visiting United fans were heckled and engaged. With finger pointing to start and the anti-English backlash being readied by the Italian press, one wonders just how easy it is to rile United supporters. At Lille they protested their innocence and high-handed treatment by the French Police. If there is, indeed, an agenda against traveling United fans, one would have expected them to not get provoked easily. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, in this case stoic silence (as impossible as it would seem), for as long as possible would serve to add ballast to their claims. On this evidence however, they are no better or worse than any other set of ultras.

Secondly, watching Paul Scholes getting dismissed so early for two terrible stone cast fouls, the case of English players getting preferential treatment at home is once again highlighted. It is quite possible that Scholes, and other English players, have escaped similar censure in the premiership where such challenges are often glossed over, especially when the offender is local. With such a nurturing atmosphere of domestic double standards small wonder that the English national team performs so poorly abroad.

Chelsea 1 – 1 Valencia

Ever since Jose Mourinho took over the reins at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have become this inevitable unstoppable force. A machine that, more often than not, just keeps on rolling. Whereas the performance have remained mechanical, this season Chelsea have been lucky to be home to a certain Didier Drogba maturing into Europe’s most complete forward. On the other hand, Valencia have made workmanlike performances into an art form. They are a very well drilled unit, balanced, experienced, tactically aware and garnished with the world class skill of David Villa up front.

This match had tactical draw written all over it. And it contained a goal of truly sumptuous quality from David Silva. His strike from the left channel, a good distance outside the box while running with the ball, was truly spectacular. Yet somehow you sensed that inexorably Chelsea would score. That Drogba, their player of the year and marquee star, hit the equalizer, was only fitting.

However, other than those 2 goals though you sensed a certain stalemate brewing. The 2 teams canceled each other out with Valencia’s reactive style matching Chelsea’s safety first approach.

Valencia have been odd this season, equally capable of scaling giddy heights as of plumbing dark depths. They play excellently against top billing but sometimes get caught out and tied up by the lesser lights. However in this, the late stages of Europe’s premier contest, they should have no problem finding top teams to beat. With a precious away goal and masters of away goal progression, Valencia will be heading back to the Mestella feeling pretty confident.

Chelsea have seemed more fallible this season than any other in their short time in the sun under Mourinho. Yet, they seem better placed and more imperious in the Champions’ League this time than ever before. If Jose does leave at the end of the season, this may present Chelsea’s best chance of winning the Champions’ League. Whereas Abramovich’s billions may attract the best managerial talent from across the globe, the poisoned chalice that is his obsession with Europe’s top prize may keep them away. And if Chelsea do fall here, unable to force a favourable result in Spain, Chelsea’s fall back to the mediocrity whence they came may be as meteoric as their rise.