Champions League Review

1ticketlive looks at the 2009/2010 Champions League season

, from the arrangement changes to the distresses, inspiring attacking performances and their masterful planned counterbalances, and of course, fate.

Qualification

For the first time in the competitions history the qualifying rounds were divided in to two audible sections: The Champions Path, for those who won their home league but didnt automatically succeed for European rivalry, and The Non-Champions Path, which naturally contains those teams who did not win their own league.

Olympiacos made their way unhurried through the Champions Path, dispatching the luminously named Sheriff Tiraspol all along the way. The whereabotus of Deputy Tiraspol are as yet unidentified.

Their competitors Panathanaikos were in the middle of the uppermost profile casualties from the qualifying stage, deafening out after a tough draw against Atletico Madrid. Sporting CP went out to Fiorentina on away goals, whilst in an all British affair; Arsene Wengers Arsenal ensured their presence in the group stage with a thumping victory over Celtic. It was a bad start to what would show to be a catastrophic season for Tony Mowbray. Deposed French Champions Lyon kept up their run of successive Champions League appearances with a crushing conquest over Belgiums Anderlecht.

The Group Stages

The group stage is frequently lambasted for being a unsurprising matter designed to churn the same old teams in to the knock-out phase. This year, though, there were a few results to lift continental eyebrows, starting in Group A, where a 4-1 conquest for Bayern Munich in Turin saw Juventus fall in to the Europa League. It was a consequence which safe Louis Van Gaal the bag, and was one of the first nails in the sarcophagus of Ciro Ferraras Juve reign. Maccabi Haifa was the groups whipping boys, losing all six fixtures, at the same time as French Champions Bordeaux strut impressively from side to side as group winners.

Group B saw qualification for last years finalists Manchester United and CSKA Moscow, who were only denied an imposing conquest at Old Trafford by a 92nd minute Antonio Valencia equalizer. CSKA beat German Champions Wolfsburg to second rest at the same time as the strike partnership of Brazilian Grafite and Bosnian Edin Dzeko frightened, a expensive home defeat at the hands of a Michael Owen hat trick ended any sensible hopes of qualification Wolfsburg might have had. Besiktas won just one of their six games, and of course finished the group base.

Real Madrid were ready and focused for their first break at the European Cup since the return of Florentino Perez, and in spite of a 3-2 home defeat to Leonardos AC Milan, finished contentedly as group winners. Milan came second in a impressive group, with Marseille, whod later come out as French Champions, and FC Zurich sprawling behind.

Having qualified so remarkably, Atletico Madrid went on to do what they do best: radically let down. They failed to win a solitary game, with only their better results against the likewise poor APOEL qualifying them for third place in Group D and a spot in the Europa League a rivalry theyd finally win. Two of Jose Mourinhos former clubs, Porto and Chelsea, took advantage of Madrids malaise to come to an end in the top two.

Group E provided a additional sign of Liverpools frightening decline as they failed to reach the last stages, denying the Kop their conservative great European nights. Two theatrical home defeats to Lyon and Fiorentina, both to stoppage time goals and a 2-1 shoreline, preserved their destiny. The Italian and French teams qualified in Liverpools stead, with Debrecen propping up Scouse pride by concluding in fourth.

Group F was approximately turned on its head by Russian Champions Rubin Kazan, who pulled off a upset 2-0 win at the home of holders Barcelona. In the end, though, the Catalans edged from side to side, along with Mourinho and his Inter, whose decayed luck in Europe finally began to twist as they snuck through with just two wins from their six games. Kazan was eliminated, along with former source of power Dynamo Kiev.

Sevilla by far the strongest side in Group G. There were few surprises, as the Spaniards romped from side to side, thrashing Rangers 4-1 at Ibrox down the way. The Scottish Champions enjoyed the monetary relief provided by the group stages, but couldnt get benefit of any bonus rounds, finishing bottom of the group. Unirea Urziceni won by the similar score line in Scotland, but a costly 1-1 home draw in the go back tie saw them miss out on qualification to a Christian Gross-revived Stuttgart.

Arsenal came through a comparatively safe way in Group H to qualify as group winners. Their toughest test arrived in their first game, when some trait defensive calamities saw them 2-0 down away to normal Liege after just 5 minutes. A forceful 3-2 comeback proved the means to their qualification, and they were joined by a defensively solid Olympiacos, with Liege and Dutch champions AZ slipping out of argument.

Second Round

Eight groups shaped eight mouth-watering second round ties. The headline stories were the way out of two European super-powers, though maybe both ought not to have approach as such shocks. Real Madrids Champions League form has been terrible in current years, but even so their exit to Lyon came as a upset. This 2-1 collective defeat, as much as their breakdown to extort the La Liga title from Barcelona, is what will be cited as the cause for Manuel Pellegrinis inevitable dismissal. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, a finalist just a year before, were destined to be denied the possibility of contesting a European final on home turf.

Chelsea were one of the favorites to win the rivalry, what with having been finalists two years before and having as added Carlo Ancelotti, a coach with established Champions League winning qualifications. However, they came up against past Chelsea hero and vengeance of Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and his Inter Milan side. The view of facing his past club galvanised Mourinho and his team, and they produced a planned master class to win the tie 3-1.

Manchester United thumped AC Milan 7-2 on collective, and the second leg was more unforgettable for David Beckhams return to Old Trafford than for Uniteds 4-0 win, which came with an awkward effortlessness.

Bayern Munich edged past Fiorentina on away goals, but the tie was blemished with argument as a Miroslav Klose goal in the first-leg was allowed to place in spite of the striker being obviously offside. Bayerns German compatriots, Stuttgart, held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their tie, but any hopefulness was rapidly extinguished by a 4-0 defeat in the second leg.

There was a similar rotate between Porto and Arsenal. Two awful Lukasz Fabianski mistakes saw the Portugese side take a 2-1 lead to the Emirates Stadium, but a out of control Arsenal racked up five goals to cause to be their first defeat immaterial.

Somewhere else, a terrible blunder from Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop saw the Andalucians go out to CSKA Moscow. The usually dependable stopper punched a tame 30-yard free-kick in to his own net, at the same time sending the Russians through at his own teams cost. Bordeaux, in the meantime, sustained their serene progress with a at ease win over Olympiacos.

The Quarterfinals

In recent years, the Champions League has been under enemy control by financially-doped English teams. By the Quarter-Final phase, Liverpool and Chelsea were out, leaving United and Arsenal holding the British stick. Their positions on conflicting sides of the draw destined that another all-English final, just as in 2008, was on the cards.

Not, though, for long. Man Utds tie with Bayern coincided not only with the German side hitting their most excellent form in years, but also with an injury to talismanic striker Wayne Rooney. A confused tie was finally decided by a finish of beautiful brilliance from Dutchman Arjen Robben, who skillfully volleyed a lofted corner in to the net from the edge of the area.

Arsenal, in the meantime, came up against the team in control of not only the European Cup but also the continents best footballer, Lionel Messi. Messi was comparatively quiet in the London-based first leg, but Barca was sparkling, and only some goalkeeping heroics from Manuel Almunia kept the tie spirited. A late Arsenal meeting meant the game ending at 2-2, but Barca was less compassionate at the Nou Camp. After an early fright when Nicklas Bendtner gave Arsenal the lead, Messi took centre-stage with an exceptional four-goal match-winning show.

Both English sides were not in, but France was certain a club in the semi-finals after Bordeaux were pitted against home rivals Lyon. A 3-1 conquest in the first leg proved sufficient for Lyon, as Bordeaux failed to put in to Marouane Chamakhs towering header in their next meeting.

Inter, in the meantime, progressed in typical Mourinho fashion with two 1-0 wins. In the semis they were due to come up against Barca in what many neutrals had wanted as their final.

The Semis

Inter vs Barca was a fight of personalities, philosophies, and two of European footballs main clubs. The enticing entertainers of Josep Guardiolas Catalan team faced off against the well-drilled soldiers of Mourinhos Milanese. A tempting force thrown against an fixed object. Even so, such had been the overwhelming form of Barca against Arsenal that many pundits expected them to send off Inter with a similar strut.

Not so. Inters hard-hitting oppose attacking method caught Barcelona off-guard, and the Italians jagged an impressive 3-1 win in the first leg. The Barca-backing pundits begin to quietly sweat, but at ease their a variety of audiences that all would be put right at the Nou Camp.

Not so. in spite of going down to ten men after Sergio Busquets overreaction saw Thiago Motta red carded, Inter shaped a unforgettable back guard action to hold Barca to just the one goal and make sure their series to the final. Once again, El Traductor had returned to trouble his former club.

The other semi-final rutted Louis Van Gaals Bayern against French Champions League patrons Lyon. The attacking power of the German side proved too much for Lyon, with a 4-0 collective score line underlining the dissimilarity in quality.

The Final

And so to the final: Bayern vs. Inter. The sorcerer rutted against his trainee. After the late Sir Bobby Robson had been moved upstairs to become Director of Football at Barcelona, Mourinho had become Van Gaals third ranked assistant in their communal time in the Catalan assets. When asked in the build-up to the game if Mourinho was the best trainer of his generation, Van Gaal witticism that the Portugese was mainly because Van Gaal himself was a decade older.

Although Mourinho claimed he learnt abundance from his Dutch master, it wasnt right away obvious in his plans. Bayern are a side loaded with attacking aptitude defensively susceptible, but rudely thrilling. Inter are built on the model of competence over activity that Mourinho urbanized at Porto and then Chelsea.

Having every won a home double before the final, both sides were chasing an unparalleled treble. Inters tough way to the final and Mourinhos cold blooded nature made the Italians the bookies favorites, but football connoisseurs(including Arsene Wenger) plumped for the highest weaponry of Bayern.

In the event, the bookies, as so frequently, proved successful. In a lively final, Diego Milito scored with two of the most clinical finishes youll see to end the match and the contest with Mourinho on top. This time, the Portugeses revels were not muted, he hut tears of joy as Inter ended their half century wait for Europes biggest prize.

Mourinho had completed his blot on the Bernabeu, and the people of Madrid cheered as if he was one of their own. In all likelihood, he soon will be. Bring the big cup to Real, and The particular one will be the most Galactic of them all.

Source: Champions League Review

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