Though we can hardly believe what happened last night, it’s slowly sinking in… we’re gaining full realization that no, it’s not all a dream, and it did actually happen: Barcelona are in the Champions League final.This was always going to be a tough match, even going in to it, but it wasn’t until Chelsea scored that we really started to panic. And panic was followed by an ever-growing state of depression, as the minutes stretched on and Barca’s equalizer simply would not come.
But then, the miracle… Iniesta’s wonder goal in the ninety-third minute that tied the score and secured Barca’s place in the final in Rome. We went out of our minds with delight—we still are. And we fear we’re going into major Iniesta-crush mode.
We’re thankful for the fact that loss time exists in football, thankful for the UCL away games rule that makes such a tie sufficient for Barca’s qualification, and thankful for Andres Iniesta and all the rest of the boys who wouldn’t give up, and kept on going until the goal was scored.
For most of the match, we were dejected and grumbling about how lost Dani looked, how exasperating Keita was, and how amazingly off form most of the players were. A big difference from what we witnessed at the Bernebeu a few days ago! But we’re able to forget all of it in light of how the match ended. We’re going to Rome, we’ve made it to the final… the treble is near, so near, and we really can’t believe it…
We really ought to be worried that Barca only had one shot on goal, but that one shot was enough to secure our qualification. Anyway, we’re taking into account that Barca was missing three starters in Henry, Marquez and Puyol, and that we spent part of the match with ten men.
Messi set the goal up as he fed the ball to Iniesta, who finished off beautifully, scoring a truly spectacular goal. Which was more lovely, really, the goal itself or the celebration that followed? Amazingly enough, Andresito is still intact after the rest of the players all but crushed him as they piled on top of him in their joy! And there was never anything more awesome than Pep’s victory dash on the sidelines, unless it’s the hug he shared with Messi. Poor Leo was actually crying… too adorable! We can only guess how big a deal this is for him, after injury caused him to miss out on Barca’s last Champions League victory on 2006.
Oh! And we almost forgot to mention: Iniesta took his shirt off! And he ran off down the pitch swinging it around and around in the air, indifferent to the fact that he'd get a yellow for doing so! And Pique pulled his shirt off too! And so did Dani! And Baby Bo!! Talk about cherries on top…
Calming down now… we’re exceedingly annoyed with the nut who reffed this match. Forget the locos we put up with against Getafe, Espanyol, and Racing among others; this one beats all. His callings and bookings were perfectly ridiculous, so terribly off target, and thanks to him both our fullbacks, Dani Alves and Eric Abidal, will have to miss the final, both carded very unjustly.
We’re expecting the club to appeal both, though; and hopefully the UEFA will be more reasonable this time. We also found it quite annoying that the referee didn’t end the time at 94” after Iniesta scored, after he’d initially called for four minutes of loss time; but actually stretched it out to like, 98”. He was totally with Chelsea for this one, it’s obvious.
But oh, who really cares anymore! We’re going to Rome, we’re going to Rome, we’re going to Rome to face Manchester United in the final, and whup them as payback for last season’s semi! We’ll be off celebrating with a shirtless Iniesta if you need us…
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