Champions League - Final Gameday!
The Champions League group stages have been even more tedious than usual this season with the obvious favorites taking up the top two slots well ahead of this last gameday. It's true that Chelski have a bit of work to do today, but they're at home to Cluj and only the most nervous Blue would imagine an almighty clanger that would see them drop out. In the other groups, Liverpool and Athletico and Barca and Sporting are already through. Only in Group B is there a real three-way horse race between Inter, Panathinaikos and Anorthosis.Join me if you can't get enough Tommy Smyth.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 1:49 PM
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Staying true to his conservative nature, Big Phil has decided against playing Drogba alongside Anelka tonight. Here's his side:
Cech, Ashley Cole, Terry, Alex, Bosingwa, Kalou, Deco, Mikel, Ballack, Joe Cole, Anelka Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Drogba, Bridge, Ferreira, Belletti, Stoch
No Steven Gerrard tonight for Liverpool but Robbie Keane seems to have something to prove. He makes a darting run right from the kickoff that earns a free kick.
A nervy start for the Blues. What would it do to Chelski's season for them to drop out tonight. It's unthinkable!
I couldn't get a link for the PSV-Liverpool match so I've pushed on to Werder Bremen-Inter.
The Veetle links seem to have dropped off the list entirely at this point.
No goals in the first fifteen minutes of CL action this afternoon. As it stands, Roma would top Group A, with Chelski second, Bordeaux would be dumped into the UEFA Cup and Cluj would go home.
As it stands in Group B, Inter would go through with Panathinkaikos second, Famagusta would go to the UEFA and Bremen would go home.
In group C, it's fairly clear. Barca is top, Sporting are second, Shakhtar go into the UEFA and Basle go home.
Finally, in Group D, Athletico go through top, Pool second, PSV go into the UEFA and Marseille go home.
Bit of argy bargy involving Materazzi in the Inter match. So nothing new there.
The Chelski midfield are allowing the Cluj front line loads of space to hit long shots. Risky maneuver, that. One freak goal would really put the cat amongst the pigeons.
Things opened up for Joe Cole there and he should have at least got it on target. A bit of rustiness there.
Sporting have taken the lead against Basle. That will put a bit of pressure on Barca.
And Shakhtar have taken a shock lead against Barca. That really puts pressure on the Catalans. They can't be knocked out but they might well finish second if these results hold up.
GOAL! Kalou stabs home a priceless goal from a free kick. At first look it seemed as if a Cluj defender had been impeded but the referee allowed play to go on.
PSV have scored against Liverpool through Lazovic and that might scupper any hopes that the Reds might have of topping Group D.
Ryan Babbel has equalized for Liverpool against PSV.
Drogba has just received a huge ovation from the Stamford Bridge crowd just for getting off the bench to warm up.
GOAL! The Burkino Faso striker Kone has equalized at Stamford Bridge to really put Chelski fans on edge. That knocks them back down to nine points by my count Bordeaux just need a goal to go through now.
Chelski nearly respond immediately with Joe Cole going close with the Cluj keeper saving well. Big Phil does not look pleased.
Bordeaux have just missed a gilt edged chance against Roma.
Barca are now 0-2 down to Shakhtar. I was wrong earlier when I said that Barca might drop to second. Sporting can't catch them and they obviously can't be bothered.
Robbie Keane misses yet another good chance and he's looking really despondent and frustrated. Come on back to the Elland, Robbie. All is forgiven.
Brighi has done Chelski a massive favor scoring for Roma against Bordeaux. So that should do it even if it stays the same here at the Bridge.
Sylvinho has got one back for Barca. It's 1-2 there.
Drogba has come on for the goalscorer Kalou.
GOAL! Drogba. One touch and a goal. He's sauntering away with a finger to his lips, sshhhing the crowd. Very cool finish there. Joe Cole played a lovely ball over the top and Drogs brought it down as if there were glue on the top of his boot and tucked it under the keeper in one motion.
Chelski 2-1.
Riera has added a second goal for Liverpool. It's been a good minute or two for the English clubs.
Joe Cole struggled a bit tonight despite laying on that second goal and Belletti replaces him.
Ngog has added a third for Liverpool now.
Roma are cruising it now with Totti adding a second goal.
Panathinaikos have scored which certainly means they'll go through second in Group B. No surprises on offer there.
Bremen have scored a second goal against Inter.
Shakhtar have added a third against Barca. It's 2-3 there. What a cracking match.
Into the 90th minute at Stamford Bridge.
Zlatan has got one back for Inter against Bremen.
It's confirmed. Roma will end on top, Chelski second, Bordeaux in the UEFA, just as I'd predicted.
Question gents:
The CL Group stage has been a travesty this year - virtually no shocks, the top 2 have been very easy to predict with only a sniff of a surprise in Inter's group.
Should we go back to a knock out format? But then what we would all do in midweek.....
Would you rather have less but more competitive foot or the glut of bland footy?
Question gents:
The CL Group stage has been a travesty this year - virtually no shocks, the top 2 have been very easy to predict with only a sniff of a surprise in Inter's group.
Should we go back to a knock out format? But then what we would all do in midweek.....
Would you rather have less but more competitive foot or the glut of bland footy?
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