ATLETICO MADRID-BARCELONA PREVIEW

                                                           


Probably the most difficult tie to predict among all the quarter-final pairings, the first leg lived up to its billings. Atletico struck first and then Barcelona equalised. Here we are today with the second leg in prospect. It promises to be one of the most keenly contested matches of recent times.

Los Colchoneros kept their one point lead in La Liga with a slim 1-0 win over the yellow submarine on Saturday. The goal tonight is to send Barcelona packing and they have the weapons to execute their mission. Two of the most potent weapons in Simeone's arsenal are major doubts for tonight's war. Diego Costa and Arda Turan are struggling with hamstring and groin injuries respectively. There is a chance that the much maligned Christian Rodriguez could be given a chance today. The Uruguayan hasn't featured much for the Spanish League leaders this term.

Barcelona have problems of their own. Gerard Pique can play no part in tonight's match and these are desperate times for the Catalan club, especially in defence. A 3-1 win over Betis at the Nou Camp was enough to remain one point behind Atletico. It has been difficult to separate both team during the course of the season but something has to give tonight at the Vicente Calderon. A winner must emerge.

Probable LINEUPS-

ATLETICO MADRID-

Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Felipe Luis, Gabi, Koke, Suarez M, Rodriguez, Diego/Diego Costa, Villa

BARCELONA-
Pinto, Alves, Batra, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Fabregas, Iniesta, Neymar, Messi

Atletico cannot afford any slips ups tonight. The boys know what is at stake. There is a bit of history for them to follow up on. They have won 16 of their 17 home ties in European Competition and in 106 home games v the Catalans, they have won 50 and lost only 33. Even without Diego Costa, they can give a good account of themselves and register their first victory over Barcelona this season in 5 attempts.

Leo Messi closed in on Suarez and CR7 in the race for the European golden shoe. The 26 year old football god can be the difference tonight. The over reliance on him since he became super human is evident and without, the team is like a lost sheep. Iniesta has regained some of the spark that made him the most feared playmaker in the World. A few of those defence splitting passes today and Barca will certainly go through. Neymar is the only Barcelona player to find the back of the net against the Rojiblancos in four meetings this campaign. His header decided the Super Coppa eight months ago. His equaliser last week ensured that Barcelona will live to fight another day. The day has come and he can become a hero today as he is used to the big occasion.

Diego Simeone has said that his team can beat the best and he aims to claim a big scalp tonight. Who says he can't?


Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990

REVIEW OF THE CHELSEA-PSG AND DORTMUND-REAL MADRID GAMES

Upon seeing Daniel Taylor's wonderfully written piece for the Guardian on the Chelsea-PSG match last night, I thought to myself 'What else can I put together than will thoroughly exemplify the events at Stamford Bridge?' Oh well, I reached the conclusion that my own version might be just as good or even better. Although, DT is a very senior colleague whose feats I may never be able to match.

There is a reason why I have always rated Jose Mourinho. Despite his arrogance and controversial persona, he is in my opinion, the best manager I have ever had the pleasure and privilege to see. An exceptionally gifted coach who has broken and made records of his own. He again proved me right last night. Against all odds, his bruised blues qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League. The fifth straight time the Portuguese managerial myth has reached this stage with three different clubs. An extraordinary achievement. The odds were firmly stacked against the West Londoners last night but we all know it is when everything seems to be going wrong that winners rise up and prove their mettle. Mourinho is a born winner and he has always demanded the very best from each and every player he has managed. His conveyor belt boasts of some of the greatest footballers who have graced the game and he isn't even halfway through yet.

Many may wonder why the attention is on Mourinho rather than the players. He is the motivator in chief. The very reason why Chelsea qualified last night. The band Leader, the best thing that has happened to football in the last decade or so. From the first minute, you could see the determination of the players. Even when star man, Eden Hazard succumbed to a calf injury in the 18th minute, the players still believed the goal was within reach and the deficit retrievable. It was not long after that Hazard's replacement, Andre Schurrle made his presence felt, scoring just 14 minutes after his introduction to give the pensioners hope that there is something to fight for. The team toiled, gave everything and in the end where rewarded when Demba Ba, another substitute pounced on a loose ball and poked it past Salvatore Sirigu to send the crowd into delirium. Fever pitch mode was activated but when Cech saved a Marquinhos effort at his near post, it dawned on the fans that a place in the last four of the UCL was secured. A fantastic win. Only the second time in 111 games that the French team have been beaten by two goals which added gloss to the excellent victory.

With Chelsea in the last four, whoever they are drawn against will have to contend with a 'special spirit' as Jose rightly put it in his post-match thoughts. It was a truly remarkable night for the blues.

PSG and Laurent Blanc will be very disappointed with the timidity and lack of ambition shown last night. In the absence of IBRACADABRA, Cavani couldn't shine. The man affectionately called EL MATADOR threw away many gilt edged chances to put the match beyond their hosts. He will remain behind Ibra in the pecking order. Although, it will be difficult to really predict what might have been if it was Ibra rather than the Uruguayan. The Paris based club will look at this defeat as another chance missed. A chance to be among the last four teams standing in Europe's most celebrated club competition. They may let their heads drop or us this as a springboard for the upcoming season. Who knows?

Huge Congratulations to Jose Mourinho and Chelsea for pulling the unlikely off. It is another evidence that the best are never to be written off. Mourinho is the finest manager in my book and I have always stood by that. 

Real Madrid went to Borussia Dortmund to disgrace themselves. The 9-time winners showed that there lies a lot of weaknesses in the team with a very below par performance. But for the wastefulness of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Dortmund would have accounted for the elimination of Los Blancos for the second consecutive season. Carlo Ancelotti can make an excuse that CR7 wasn't fit enough to feature in the game. However, that will be flimsy and daft because there is a plethora of talents flocking around the club.

Rolls Reus took matters personal when he scored a sweet brace to breath life into the collapsing Schwarzgelben. His efforts headed for the waste bin when the usually calm and deadly Armenian, Mkhitaryan, let Madrid off the hook not once, not twice. It was a night of mixed feelings for both teams but the Ruhr based club can be happy with their performance and for the fact that they stopped the 'whites' run of 34 consecutive Champions League games in which they have scored at least one goal. The Signa Iduna crowd clapped off their heroes and deservedly so. Jurgen Klopp has defeated the very best managers in the game. Gaurdiola, Mourinho, Heynckes, Wenger, and now Ancelotti. Surely one of the greatest of his generation and on the path to 'LEGEND' status. If he was a bit luckier with injuries this term, it could have been a much better season. They have only the POKAL to fight for now. At least to retain some pride. The Champions League runners-up bowed out gracefully and the good news (bad for some people) is that they will be back.

Ohireime P Eboreime

@ohiskaka1990