El Classico European Final – Is it still possible?

Everyone expected something big from the two Spanish giants in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. But it turned out to be different from what was expected.

Real Madrid lost 2-1 at Munich whereas Chelsea defeated Barcelona with a single goal from Drogba.

Madrid’s last clash with Bayern in the Champions league saw them defeated by away goals, 4-4 on aggregate.


They last met in the last 16 of Champions League in 2006-07, where a late away goal from Mark van Bommel in the first leg proved to be crucial for Bayern to progress.

But the situation is different this time. Jose Mourinho will be the man to watch in the second leg as his tactics always makes the difference in these types of situations. He is in the run for his third Champions League title with a third team and will be the first manager to do so if he succeeds.

However, all eyes will be on that man, Cristiano Ronaldo. He has been criticized a lot for failing to spark in big situations and this might be the right time for him to show what he is capable of. A goal with a clean sheet will be enough for Real to progress but with Bayern out of the title race In their domestic league and Real still holding the lead in La Liga, predictions seem to be worthless.

A similar situation is with Barcelona-Chelsea clash. A controversial 1-1 draw at the Stamford Bridge and 0-0 at the Nou Camp saw Barcelona progress to the final of the competition when they last met in the Champions League semifinals in 2009.

There is a turn around this time with Chelsea winning the home clash with 1-0 win. But Barcelona are still supposed to defeat them at home as they have been doing in the past few seasons to their opponents.

It all depends on one man, the little magician Lionel Messi. He is the reason why Barcelona are playing their fifth semifinal in five successive seasons. His sparks on the game is not the question to be raised but will Chelsea be able to stop him from scoring remains to be seen.

While this might be the turning point for the temporary manager Roberto de Matteo, Chelsea’s defensive fragilities need to be analysed as well.

Fans expectations might differ from the team’s this time as we expect an El Classico European final but the Spanish giants would pray for easier opponent in the final or a third possibility is always there, Bayern playing the final at home against Abramovich’s Chelsea. Anything can happen and this is the beauty of the Champions League.