Let's get to the point now:
So what has the Champions League 2010-2011 offered us so far?
Just the way it always does, Glittering stadiums - at its full capacity, ever-passionate fans- singing their hearts out, hope which surrounds each clubs, clashes between the clubs which are meant to be legendary, and of-course the hype which always follows before every match.
Champions league 2010-2011 brings us something fresh, firstly the try out of the goal-line official, which is still under examination. The sides which are so called minnows are giving it really a go for the much hyped, much favoured, much supported clubs. You never know whats gonna happen next in this prestigious tournament.
Qualifiers:
This season's qualifiers brought greatest upsets and mouth-biting clashes. The teams who made through the qualifiers really deserve their place, for they played their hearts out at each n every match. The greatest upset was sevilla getting knocked out and fernerbahce. The Spanish and Turkish side really were meant to be the favourities to qualify and get into the groups to play in champions league. But where knocked out by a determined braga and young boys. The young boys very nearly made to the UCL. They gave spurs a sweat out at the park and were unlucky to lose their chance to make to the group, though spurs made a remarkable comeback to comeback from 3 goal down to 3-2 and qualifying for the groups.
The other team which really deserved its place where copenhagen. Their exquisite passing, fluid movement, great co-ordination and managed by a manager who is a fighter, makes them a lot more threatening than they are known for, but are still considered minnows given their reputation. They passed out this test well and made it to the groups.
Groups:
Group A
The group of Surprises.
Everybody underestimated the Spurs. Spurs where tipped by many to get eliminated given that they don't have the experience or the squad everybody thought is not Europe standard. They proved everyone wrong and made them realize that they are team who you should not take lightly, if you do, you are in for a ride. Spurs qualified above Inter, The current holders of UCL.
Of course who would have imagined, Bale would suddenly become a Messi or Ronaldo and give Maicon (The supposedly world's best Right back currently) a stroll. Maicon was beaten completely by his pace, skill, and above all his ability to attack towards the goal. Spurs where so boosted with the arrival of Van der vaart. The dutch midfielder's contribution has been significant to their success this season. He has become an instant hit among the fans and his timing to arrive the box late on, perfect on-goal target shots and his passes as been an real assest to this spurs team.
Spurs made through the round of 16 by topping the group and are expected to be the black-horses to lift the trophy.
Inter's qualification was no walk in the park. Their qualification this time has taken a real ups-downs owing to the arrival of new manager rafa benitez. His tactics weren't working well for the team and injuries to key players as made life miserable to the spainard, ex-liverpool manager who lifted the champions league trophy back in 2005 with liverpool, that final was legendary. But they sweated out and made through to the next round. Unlike last season under jose mourniho, where they didnt lose a single match and made through by topping the group.
Twente and Bermen gave their best, but where undone by two great teams who deserved to qualify above them.
Group - B
The group of Outsiders.
Schalke and lyon making through this group with ease at the end. Starting couple of games were thought of being a real twist and turns in this edition of UCL, but it wasnt to be. Lyon though where given a tough fight from benfica and the clash was nail-biting with lyon making it through to the round of 16.
It was the group of Germany, France, Portugal and Israel. With each club striking at each other and trying to make the life miserable for the other. But football is different and the luck factor is there, so schalke and lyon as expected got through.
Group - C
The group of Promise.
Manchester united making through to the group of 16, while valencia also making through close behind. Manchester united tops the group with ease at the end, Given they had to draw two games at home, while their away form was the reason for their ability to go through. Manchester united, this season was unlike before their previous season, where they played vintage united. United lacked the ability to score goal, their passes at the final third of pitch and also their ability to sprint. But whats good about this united team is their no giving up attitude which is rightly in their blood always, and also the ability to defend, given that they lacked crazy goals in bpl, its different in ucl, their defending and ofcourse their counter-attacking is better in ucl. United's star rooney starts to score, then it would have been a real different united. The striker is finding way to recover his horrendous form of late and can prove to be a real problem for all teams if he starts firing some up and his name being entered in score sheet.
Valencia was miserably wrong taken by most teams, owing to the fact that they sold their star players david villa and david silva in the summer, which everyone thought would be the crumbling of the the Espana side in this season. But they written off everyone wrong and strolled past their opponents and making their way into the round of 16.
Group D
The group of Total Football
Barcelona as ever, as thought of, as expected of to teach footballing lessons to their opponents and thats what they did. Really strong at the back, real intent of pressing at the back and then counter-tack through a long ball forward to the wings or opponents penalty box, and of-course the Footballer of the year Mr. MESSI is playing, what can you expect when somebody just eases pass through players with stunning pace and delicate touches and shots which would kill a bird if did manage to come near the goal. That was the effect of messi. The one-touch passes around themselves has been the highlight of catalans and also their shear vision of seeing the player and making those through balls, is nothing short of absolutely spot on! It is TOTAL football and their convection to just ease past each player makes the defenders job all the more nightmare. Barcelona to describe will be will be "Barca- The Home of Football".
Copenhagen has really surprised me every time I watch them play. They are titled as I mentioned above: "The Dutch Barcelona". They really came into the tournament unknown, unheard by many, but have now made their way into the round of 16 in a awesome fashion. They can't be taken lightly, given their determination to win and their defending of barca to a draw at home. Proved to be a great result for them.
Rubin khazan n pananthinaikos are out of the UCL, can't quite expect to say much about them. They were poor and their desperate defending at times really tried to give them some recognition but not the standard of champions league football. Need to improve if they have been thinking of good run in UCL next year, if they qualify.
Group E
The Group of Dark Horses.
Bayern munich rip and tore apart each of their opponents in the champions league, given that they have been drawn in a pretty easy group. The german strollers where given a beating in the bundesliga, given that their poor run of form and results affected them badly in the league, but definitely not in the UCL. They were ruthless in the goal scoring capabilities and tearing apart each defenses time and again.
They are their own evils though, they have the ability to play really well on their day, but if it is not, they generally try to create a hole for themselves and get stuck in it and end up losing out. The same mistake they committed in the UCL final last season and seen them gifting the trophy to inter, but inter also played well that they forced bayern to commit the mistake.
Roma despite the similar problems at Italy, failing miserably to do well in seria A already made them lose the title, but they secured their place in the round of 16, pretty comfortably, with some last minute goals at crucial games did the trick.
Group F
The Group of Strollers.
Chelsea, Blues simply were unstoppable. They were scoring goals for fun and goals were off great passing and movement and explicit kicking of the ball at its best. Blues have never managed to win the UCL, they have by far come close to winning it in 2007, when John Terry slipped and shot the ball over, which if he didn't would have put the trophy in his hands. They have always wanted to win this trophy and this will always be their "Holy Grail". They want to rewrite their history and want the trophy to bear the name "CHELSEA" on it. That is why they are going this time with a hand on mission and roman is desperate for this trophy than anyone else will ever be. Look at the amount of money he splashed to get torres and luiz. He is seriously wants it this time. Chelsea already can say bye bye to their league glory and all that chelsea have this season is the UCL. N he excepts nothing else than the trophy.
The blues from the west london, have got their best shot this season than ever. Chelsea's players are all getting older faster than the day before, all of them combine well, great team spirit, plus they got TORRES. A number 9 striker which was always missing from their attack, they have got one, and all they need now is to find the coordination between the team and they can strike what they are aiming for.
Marsille qualifying campaign was good, but their group campaign was even better. They played well and defeated chelsea at away. They can be expected to give a shock or too in the round of 16. They have a good in depth squad and are combing well to make merry.
Spartak moscow and MSk zilina played well but they still need to improve quite remarkably if they think about having a go in their qualifying campaign next season.
Group G
The Group of Death.
Real Madrid, marched into the round of 16 along with the Italian giants, Ac Milan, it was certainly a group picked out by many pundits around the world, that this group will be the group of death. And it did live up to that expectation with Ac milan very close to being knocked out by ajax, the dutch team, gave them torrid time at san siro, thank god that they won against auxerre or it was certainly curtains for the milan's hopes of going to round of 16.
Real Madrid were the only other team than united to remain undefeated in the competition and they qualified through to the next round in emphatic fashion under jose mourniho, not to forgot the awesome comeback by real to draw the tie against milan at san siro. It was just the kind of results which keeps the hunger of remaining unbeaten throughout seeps through each of the player's mind and veins and with a fighter and great leader of a manager, leading them, you never know what they are capable of, they are definitely the favourities and to bring back the trophy to bernabeu after a wait of nearly a decade. A new era will this be the new dawn of hope that trophy is won for the 10th time after years the spanish wealthy gaints losing out at different stages of the league.
Ajax and auxerre where tough competitors and gave Real Madrid and Ac Milan an work out.
Group H
The group of Upsets.
Arsenal certainly qualified without giving their all and fight their way into the eliminating stages of the competition. Arsenal have to be given a nickname, "Unpredictable", they able to win against at top quality sides very emphatically, but fail to do against the less experienced sides and are taken in for a workout to go past or lose a couple of games.
Arsenal's ex-forward eduardo haunted the gunners by scoring the crucial goal just before the half-time to sink arsenal, shakhtar donetsk were the deserved winners at the donbass arena and made their way to the top of table above the gunners and made a huge qualification to the next round of the competition.
Shakhtar donetsk losing a single away match to arsenal where the only negative impact of their campaign and rest all matches they just cruised past. Braga played well for their part of the show, but where too in competitive at times when it matters the most.
The Champions league so far has been breath-taking, heartbeat-skipping, and a absolute peach to watch for any supporter out there. The level of the competition as now risen to a whole new level, given the amount of expectations always tends to follow every match. The final at the Wembley just adds a bit of more flavour to the event, given that england fans are the craziest of all fans and they expect none short than a English final being held at their own home. But only time will tell, as of now Hats-Off to UEFA for delivering great games and memories each time they host the game and this prestigious name of "European Champions" which follows it.
P.S.
I forgot to mention I'm a CHELSEA fan, for a very very long time and I hope the Blues will lift the cup finally this season at their own backyard.
Good Luck Blues!
Cheers!
