2011/2012 Uefa - Champions League & Europa League

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...uccess?cc=4716

Falcao eyes Europa League success
May 9, 2012

Atletico Madrid striker Falcao says tat the club hv been targeting success in the Europa League since the 1st day of the season, as they get ready 2 face Athletic Bilbao in an all-Spanish final in Bucharest on Wednesday.

Falcao, 26, scored 17 goals in the competition 2 help FC Porto 2 the title last season & is now back in the showpiece event with his new club. The Colombian insists tat winning back-2-back trophies would be something he has been keen 2 do fr the very start.

"I 1 2 give our supporters many reasons 2 celebrate," Falcao told AS. "We had tis moment in our minds since the 1st day of the season. It was very hard 2 get here, but we overcame strong opposition, so we're very proud."

Falcao has netted 10 times in tis season's tournament, but knows the challenge tat Bilbao will pose.

"Athletic r a very hard-working team, & they know wat 2 do with the ball when they hv it. [Marcelo] Bielsa changed their style, & it's working really well," he said. "They hv [Fernando] Llorente & other talented players, but we know their strongest & weakest points."

The striker also credited coach Diego Simeone, who replaced Gregorio Manzano in December, with turning the club's fortunes around.

"Simeone knew how motivate us," he added. "When he arrived, the morale wasn't very good, & the coach knew exactly wat 2 do, & he took us 2 a new level. That's why we are going 2 Bucharest."

[joew2005]

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Falcao inspires Atletico

Radamel Falcao justified his golden boot billing by firing Atletico Madrid 2 Europa League glory, producing 2 moments of magic in the 1st half b4 Diego's late goal put the seal on Atletico's 2nd title in 3 years.

Diego Simeone's side were vastly superior in their eagerly awaited all-Spanish final against Athletic Bilbao as Marcelo Bielsa's men froze on the big occasion.

Falcao's 11th & 12th goals of the tournament not only earned him the top scorer prize ahead of Schalke's Klaas Jan Huntelaar but took his all-time record in the competition to 29 in 29 games.

Bilbao had come in2 the tournament thru the qualifying round, & aft they drew their home leg 0-0 with Trabzonspor they were spared a tricky return clash in Turkey aft their opponents were promoted 2 the Champions League 2 replace Fenerbahce, withdrawn by the Turkish FA amid a match-fixing investigation.

They hv thrilled & delighted onlookers since, never more so than in their win over ManU, but never truly got going in Budapest as their big names disappointed.

Arda Turan's cross provided the 1st Atletico chance 4 Adrian Lopez, who glanced his header across the face of goal.

Diego was unable 2 make clean contact aft another high-tempo move but Atletico got their reward in the 7th minute.

Falcao bided his time on the ball in the right of the penalty area, worked a yard of space & curled a magnificent left-footed effort inside the far post.

Fernando Llorente headed Ander Herrera's free-kick wide, while being manhandled by Diego Godin, & was then 2 early on Markel Susaeta's cross & scuffed his volley wide.

Herrera was perhaps lucky only 2 be booked aft hacking down Diego 2-footed just outside the box.

Iker Muniain's long-range shot @ the other end, having been gifted possession, was well saved by on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

But Falcao doubled Atletico's lead in the 34th minute. Fernando Amorebieta dwelt terribly on the ball & lost possession on the edge of the box &, fr Arda's cutback, Falcao brilliantly turned Jon Aurtenetxe & lashed home.

He then curled a right-foot effort high over the bar as half-time brought welcome respite for Bilbao.

Bielsa made a double-change @ half-time, Ibai Gomez & Inigo Perez replacing Iturraspe & Aurtenetxe.

And his side started more brightly, Andoni Iraola playing in Muniain whose cross was cleared behind by Joao Miranda. Javi Martinez headed Ibai's corner over.

Diego fired just wide of Gorka Iraizoz's near post & a deflection robbed Gabi Fernandez's shot of its pace.

Perez's free-kick, swung in fr 40 yards, almost caught out Courtois, who had 2 tip the ball around the post & Llorente was crowded out aft failing 2 control the ball in the Atletico box.

Adrian curled wide b4 Amorebieta was booked 4 a nasty challenge on Falcao.

Miranda awkwardly diverted Ibai's cross behind but the corner came 2 nothing. Iraola's cross then narrowly eluded Llorente b4 Ibai hammered a follow-up volley just over.

Ibai brilliantly worked his way into the box but his cross was palmed away by Courtois & De Marcos spooned the rebound over.

Perez was booked 4 cynically chopping down Adrian & Gabi smashed a poor free-kick in2 the wall.

Susaeta's fierce left-foot drive deflected wide off Miranda & @ the other end, Arda wasted some neat interplay with an overly audacious chip which Iraizoz easily fielded.

Coutois preserved Atletico's 2-goal margin 1s more, saving fr Susaeta aft substitute Gaizka Toquero's shot was blocked by a defender.

Falcao danced past Javi Martinez but Amorebieta got back 2 deflect his shot on 2 the post.

Ibai took an air-shot @ Toquero's cross b4 Diego put the game 2 bed.

The Brazilian took on Toquero & Amorebieta b4 firing low across Iraizoz. As Atletico celebrated, their opponents' despair was summed up by the sight of Muniain sprawled full-length on the ground in tears.

Ibai's long-range drive skimmed the crossbar in the closing 2nds but there was no way back 4 Athletic.

[joew2005]

2011/2012 Champions League

Final 19 May 2012 @ Allianz Arena, Munich in Germany.
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2...ampions_League


2011/2012 Europa League

Final
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Athletic Bilbao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2..._Europa_League

[joew2005]

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Heynckes: Bayern are not favourites
May 18, 2012

Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes insists his side's home advantage will hv little bearing on the outcome of the Champions League final against Chelsea on Saturday.

Bayern will hv the benefit of playing @ the Allianz Arena when they meet Roberto Di Matteo's side, a factor which many pundits believe will prove significant.

However, Heynckes, who led Bayern 2 2nd in the Bundesliga tis season, feels tat the experience in Chelsea's squad will be just as influential 2 the outcome.

"In the Champions League final there is no fav team," Heynckes said. "Certainly not against Chelsea, becos in Chelsea u hv players with many international caps, players with experience who hv won everything - & it is also their dream 2 win tis cup.

"So I think it would be very wise 2 be humble & modest, & simply try 2morrow 2 deploy our Champions League experience & say, 'Okay, we've played fantastic matches, great home matches'.

"Very possibly we might hv a tiny little advantage becos we're playing @ home in our own stadium."



http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...-final?cc=4716

Di Matteo confident for for final
May 18, 2012

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo insists his side can emerge victorious fr tis weekend's Champions League final, despite the game taking place in Bayern's home stadium.

Di Matteo, who has guided Chelsea past Barcelona, Benfica & Napoli en-route 2 tis weekend's showpiece has no doubts tat his side r capable of winning on Saturday.

Responding 2 a question on owner Roman Abramovich's long held desires 2 triumph in the Champions League, the Italian interim manager insisted he had no idea hw the Russian will approach the game.

"We can win it,'' Di Matteo insisted. "We hv 2 believe & hv the confidence 2 do so.

"I don't know how somebody else feels. I can only guess he is excited. Sooner or later it will come. We hope it's 2morrow. But with the quality tat's been @ tis club b4 & will certainly come in2 tis club again, it will happen.''

It was a message echoed by midfielder Frank Lampard, who dismissed the notion tat he has more contact with the owner than players elsewhere.

"I haven't had direct message fr the owner,'' Lampard confirmed. "The general message is always there. He has put alot in2 tis club. Without him, we wouldn't be sitting here now. He's always been behind us. You don't get in2 a final very often. We 1 2 win it now.''

"People think tat we ring up the owner now & again & decide who comes & who'll be sacked. That's not how it works @ tis club. It shouldn't be like tat @ any club. A decision like tat is taken out of your hands.''

[joew2005]

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Chelsea claim Champions League glory

Chelsea won the Champions League final on German soil as they beat Bayern Munich 4-3 on penalties aft the game finished 1-1 in normal time.

Bayern had much the better of the game, missed numerous chances in the 1st-half & were made 2 wait until the 83rd min 4 the opener when Thomas Muller appeared @ the back post 2 head past Petr Cech.

Despite a lack of ambition until then, Chelsea were not done & equalised in a thrilling finale when Didier Drogba headed home fr the Blues' 1st corner of the game with 2 mins left 2 go.

Drogba almost turned fr hero 2 villain as he tripped Franck Ribery in the box in the 1st period of extra-time but Cech saved Arjen Robben's penalty low down 2 his left. The rest of the game yielded no goals & it was left 2 penalties 2 decide the winner.

It looked like Chelsea would lose the shootout as Juan Mata missed, but Ivica Olic - with his last kick as a Bayern Munich player - & Bastian Schweinsteiger missed & Drogba stroked home 4 glory.

Fr his place in the stands, owner Roman Abramovich was clearly overjoyed, as was the suspended John Terry, who watched the tense shoot-out unfold fr the touchline.

Assisted by the obvious advantage of playing @ home, Bayern got themselves on the front foot immediately & were rarely pushed back.

The nearest they came was when former Chelsea man Arjen Robben glided past 2 defenders, then drilled a low shot 2wards goal, which Petr Cech managed 2 deflect high on2 a post, with Robben barely able 2 believe he had failed.

Robben had another couple of chances b4 Muller volleyed wide.

Robben & Muller combined 2 create an opening 4 Mario Gomez tat he looked certain 2 capitalise on aft a deft body movement had left Gary Cahill stranded, only 4 the Bayern sharp-shooter 2 lash over.

Handed a surprise start, Ryan Bertrand coped well. It was the 1st time a player has made his debut in the competition in the final in the Champions League era. It was on the other side where Franck Ribery was proving 2 be a complete menace.

Wat they did @ the Camp Nou gave Chelsea immense belief in their own durability. Indeed, they might hv had something 2 celebrate themselves had Juan Mata kept his curling free-kick down or Salomon Kalou been able 2 direct a shot away fr Manuel Neuer aft Frank Lampard & Drogba combined 2 set him up fr an admittedly acute angle.

The pattern continued aft half-time & Ribery thought he had grabbed a deserved opener when he snaffled the loose ball aft Cole had blocked Robben's goalbound shot. The offside flag cut German celebrations short.

Cole's involvement was part of an outstanding contribution fr the full-back, who seemed 2 be in the way of nearly all the threats 2 Chelsea's goal. He denied both Robben & Toni Kroos as Chelsea, enhancing his status 1 of the few truly world class players Roy Hodgson will hv @ his disposal @ Euro 2012.

In response, Drogba, possibly making his last appearance 4 the club, unleashed a speculative long-range volley tat dipped wide.

Bayern found the breakthrough 7 mins fr time when Kroos curled a cross 2 Muller who intelligently headed the ball hard & down, which meant it bounced up 2wards the crossbar, possibly catching Cech by surprise.

But Abramovich's team r made of stern stuff. And with barely 2 mins remaining, & Muller replaced by an extra defender in Daniel van Buyten, Drogba rose @ the near post 2 power Mata's corner home.

Tis time there was nothing the goalkeeper could do, the ball speeding past Neuer @ such pace there was no time 4 reaction.

The drama continued in2 extra-time as Drogba bundled Ribery over in the box. Whilst the contact might not hv looked much, it was enough 2 end the Frenchman's evening & it was a definite spot-kick.

Robben hit his penalty 2wards the bottom right but he failed 2 find the corner & Cech was equal 2 it, making a fine save 2 his left & then smothering the rebound.

It was the kind of moment tat made u think fate had decreed a Chelsea win, a belief only strengthened by Bayern passing up 2 clear openings in the 2nd period of those additional 30 mins.

Drogba kept his nerve as Olic & Schweinsteiger failed 2 ensure Chelsea erased the memory of their misery in 2008 by conquering Europe 4 the 1st time.


MATCH SUMMARY
Man of the Match: Ashley Cole.
Perhaps it helped tat he had the defensive-minded Bertrand ahead of him 4 most of the match, but Cole put in a real shift & threw himself in front of everything tat Bayern had 2 offer. His committment was 2nd 2 none & his defending was a key reason tat Ribery & Robben found little joy down the Chelsea left. A world class performance fr a world class left-back & he scored in the shootout as well.

Bayern Munich verdict:
Dominated the 1st half & were unlucky not 2 hv gone ahead, although only 2 of their 16 shots were on target. They continued 2 attack throughout & got a deserved late goal, but were stunned by Drogba's equaliser. Heads didn't go down aft the missed penalty in extra-time but they struggled 2 break the Blues down again. They choked in the penalty shootout.

Chelsea verdict:
At times u could hv been forgiven 4 thinking tat Chelsea were ahead on aggregate. They hardly made an impression until the goal as they were pressed back by Bayern's attacks & didn't show much inclination 2 cause problems of their own, forcing Neuer into only 1 save. Drogba's 88th min header came fr their 1st corner & they had some momentum but felt tiredness creep in. Somehow they mustered enough 2 win the shootout in style & Drogba was, somewhat predictably, the hero.

Could do better: Mario Gomez.
He had scored 48 goals in 53 games b4 the final & is starting 2 get the recognition he deserves 4 his feats. However tis was not the giant striker's night as he toiled away up front without making much of a mark on 2 unfit centre-backs. Turning Cahill, he had the chance 2 put Bayern ahead but skied well over & did not live up 2 his billing.

Stat attack:
Ryan Bertrand, 22, became the 1st player in the Champions League era 2 make his debut in the competition in the final. It was also the 1st time tat a final had been held @ the home of 1 of the finalists. Every time the final has been held in Munich, 4 occasions, a team has won the competition 4 the first time.