Match Report: Barcelona 1-1 Bayern Munich

Okay, so we didn’t destroy Bayern again, but then, that’s expected. The German team really put forth an effort so they could leave with some pride; and perhaps they did, for 1-1 is much more merciful than 4-0.

And it wasn’t any slacking off on our part, either, for the boys did quite well given the circumstances—here being three things: the fact that we’d as good as qualified since the fist leg, the tight match schedule plus traveling and playing away, and the fact that Bayern were determined not to lose this one.

Still, that doesn’t account for the all the roughness on the pitch, the numerous fouls, and the yellow cards shown to each of Dani and Puyol. These bookings are really something we can do without, especially heading into finals now.

The first half was virtually eventless, but coming into the second Bayern wasted no time, and their goal came right away from Ribery. Barca soon followed it up though via the most spectacular of shots from Keita, with incredible teamwork building up to it, tying the score, and the rest of the match was just played out from there.

In general, the players were really playing quite well, with the exception of one or two… but again, this match was barely important, the qualification was in the bag, so it doesn’t matter. And as for Pep, well, even though he had to watch this one from the stands, he could not keep still and was as adorably jumpy and anxious as he always is during matches.

We must also stop to mention that Messi graciously removed his shirt and gave it to a fan at the end of the match. But most importantly, he removed his shirt. Now, all he has to do is follow it up with the sleeveless top he continues to wear underneath, and our joy will be boundless…

Ahem. Coming back to the Champions League… after a perfectly crazy 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea go on to the semis on an aggregate of 7-5. Insane, we know. They will be our opponents in the next round, something that worries us, slightly because Chelsea are very tough competition, but mainly because this could mean the return of the ever-gorgeous Deco to Camp Nou… seeing him among the boys again, but not as part of the team… rather, as the opposition we must defeat. Ouch. It hurts to even think about it.

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