If you are not a member yet, you can sign up here

News Archive

Champions League, semi-finals, second leg

Real Madrid 1 - Juventus 1

Real Madrid are out of the Champions League! Ancelotti’s side will not be defending their title in Berlin after they were unable to overturn a first leg defeat against Juventus in the return match at the Bernabeu stadium. Madrid had the better chances early on, Benzema and Ronaldo going close and Bale bringing a good save out of Buffon. And midway through the first half Ronaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Chiellini brought down James in the area. Buffon had to keep out a couple of shots from Benzema, Ronaldo hit the side netting and Ramos headed over from a corner, and after the interval Marcelo fired a long shot just wide of the post. Up to that point Casillas only had to keep out one real shot from Vidal, but Marchisio went close, and some twelve minutes in to the second half Morata equalized against his old club following a wide Pirlo free kick, Vidal playing the ball back into the area for Pogba to head across, and the Spanish international striker volleying a shot past the local keeper. Bale in particular came close to scoring two or three times after that, and substitute Chicharito felt he should have had a penalty when Evra pushed him over in the box. But Casillas also had to make saves from Marchisio and Pogba, and the Italians held on to make it through to a final they last won some nineteen years ago. (13.05.15)

Bayern Munich 3 - Barcelona 2

Barcelona are through to their first Champions League final in four years after beating Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate! The three goal margin from the first leg made them clear favourties, but with only seven minutes gone an unmarked Benatia headed one back from a Xabi Alonso corner. That gave Guardiola’s side hope, but with only a quarter of an hour gone Messi threaded the ball through for Luis Suárez to set up Neymar for an equalizer and a vital away goal. Ter Stegen had to be at his best to keep out Müller and Lewandowski soon afterwards, but with half an hour on the clock Barça’s magical front three combined again, Messi heading the ball on for Suárez to cross the ball over for Neymar to get his second of the night. Although Bayern now needed five, they didn’t give up, Stegen having to push a shot from Lewandowski off the line and Benatia heading close a couple of times before the break. And after the restart they did get two back to win the match on the night, Schweinsteiger setting up Lewandowski and then Müller for them to fire shots past the visiting keeper. Luis Enrique’s team advance to the final in Berlin though, and they now wait to see if Real Madrid will join them in that long awaited “clasico” at the top level of European football. (12.05.15)