UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid vs. Tottenham, Schalke vs. Inter Updates
By on April 13, 2011
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Gomes gives Cristiano Ronaldo an early Christmas present.
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There’s Champions League fixtures today, you say?
Indeed there are. Today’s matches are perceived as mere formalities—how many other times in quarterfinal history have both matches had sides looking to erase a three- and four-goal deficit?
But just because Jose Mourinho may be searching for new housing in England while in North London and milking Madrid’s four-goal aggregate advantage, it doesn’t mean we won’t keep you updated on the latest happenings throughout the day.
Likewise, Schalke stomped defending Champions League champions Inter Milan 5-2—in the San Siro, no less—and it seems unlikely that they give the mercurial Inter side even a glimmer of hope while on German soil.
That said, there’s still plenty to discuss and speculate throughout the day.
Example: What kind of victory dance is Mourinho plotting for Madrid’s inevitable semifinal matchup with Barcelona? Or pitting boxing odds between Mourinho and Barca’s Pep Guardiola when they inevitably brawl when the Spanish powerhouses meet four times in three different competitions in 18 days?
Or, most importantly, how many excuses will there be to watch the replays of Dejan Stankovic’s wonder goal against Schalke in spite of losing 5-2?
There’s only one way to find out.
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Schalke surprised the football world with a surprising run toe the UEFA Champions League's semifinals. Now, the German side (currently toiling away near irrelevance in ninth place domestically) have a date with Manchester United on April 26 in Germany in a first-leg clash.
Schalke ousted the defending European champions Inter thoroughly 7-3 on aggregate, including a 5-2 thrashing in the famed San Siro in Milan. Schalke didn't need to do much in Wednesday's return leg, but for good measure buckled down on defense and earned a 2-1 triumph.
In victory, Ralf Ragnick heaped praise on his side for its comprehensive triumph over Inter.
Ragnick was quoted on UEFA.com as saying:
"Last week we won the game in attack, playing brave offensive football and laying the foundation for this match. Today the team defended outstandingly. We allowed them maybe two chances from open play and if you look at Inter's attacking options, you know what my boys have done. The goal we conceded came from a set piece and if we had been a bit more clinical we could have won by an even bigger margin...
A semi-final in the Champions League is something extraordinary for all of us and against Manchester United we will start in a similar position to how we began against Inter – as clear outsiders. But again, anything can happen and if it all goes to plan we can reach the final. First we have to produce some good results in the Bundesliga to give us a boost: with every positive result our Champions League chances improve."
Few think Schalke stand a chance against Manchester United.
UEFA Champions League: Bold Predictions for the Semifinals
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Well, it's not like Jose Mourinho's ever been at a loss for words, anyway.
The self-described "Special One" and his Real Madrid squad reached the Champions League semifinals after a 1-0 triumph (5-0 aggregate) over Tottenham behind a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday at White Hart Lane.
The cocksure Mourinho became the first manager to reach the semifinals in Europe's biggest club competition with four different teams (Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and now Real Madrid) appeared confident—while lobbing a subtle jab at referees—on the heels of a three-week span where Madrid will face Barcelona four times.
Barcelona smashed Real Madrid 5-0 in a Primera Division match on Nov. 29.
Mourinho told The Telegraph:
"Let's see what happens [against Barcelona]. We have ambition, a semi is a semi and anything can happen.
"They have a great situation with lack of suspensions and we don't have that. We were punished by UEFA for poor yellow cards. We have two matches against them before the semi-finals and it is time to think about them first."
Although it’s been predicted, well, here, that the UEFA Champions League final will be a rematch of 2009’s Manchester United-Barcelona tie, if Los Blancos manage to defeat their bitter rivals to reach the May 28 final at Wembley, there will be no shortage of storylines.
It would mark United’s third finals appearance in a four-year span—a classic triumph over rival Chelsea in penalties and a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona.
But all eyes would inevitably be on one man: Cristiano Ronaldo. The elusive Real Madrid winger saw his career catapult while attempting to fill David Beckham’s shoes in Manchester on the right side of the field, by number, by hair and by woman-attracting exploits.
Ronaldo was pivotal in United’s 2008 triumph and in getting them to the final in ‘09, but if not for John Terry’s infamous “slip,” Ronaldo would have been the goat for missing United’s only penalty.
So in that respect, Ronaldo is eager to show United that he’s moved on and can carry a team to Champions League glory on his own and United are eager to show that they’re perfectly capable sans the Portuguese prima donna’s services.
Oh hello, 2009. So nice to see you again.
Schalke’s remarkable run to the UEFA Champions League semifinals is a memorable one, no doubt. And Real Madrid is finally beginning to resemble the squad that Romon Calderon and Co. envisioned when they threw McScrooge-like wads of cash at Cristiano Ronaldo.
That said, Barcelona and Manchester United will clash on May 28 in the final at historic Wembley Stadium in London.
United have simply been too strong, too consistent and too dangerous in Europe and domestically. Schalke has proven to be a dangerous side, but the German squad are still middling in ninth place in the Bundesliga, 27 points behind leader Borussia Dortmund.
Can they maintain their sizzling pace in Europe while they’ve struggled so mightily in Germany? Don’t count on it.
Likewise, as tremendous as Real Madrid have been this year—5-0 throttling by Barcelona notwithstanding—the Catalans have clearly been the world’s most dominant, cohesive team and Lionel Messi continues to separate himself from Ronaldo in the world’s-best-player debate.
Stranger things have happened, though, how often to two bitter rivals meet four times in 18 days? Still, my guess is a 2009 rematch (A 2-0 Barcelona triumph).
Also see: Manchester United’s top 10 Champions League goals.
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Predictably, today’s UEFA Champions League ties between Tottenham and Real Madrid and Schalke and Inter Milan have provided little fireworks in fixtures that were essentially decided by means of blowouts in last week’s first legs.
Raul’s former team, Real Madrid, have held off the host Spurs at White Hart Lane despite an inspired Tottenham side that have hardly resembled the team that was pulverized 4-0 at the Bernabéu last week.
Garreth Bale gave the North London side the most hope by putting a rocket shot past Iker Casillas but the goal was quickly disallowed as the header that set the Welshman up was correctly ruled offside. Roman Pavlyuchenko also appeared to be taken down inside Madrid’s area but no penalty was awarded.
Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho received a yellow card and—assuming Los Blancos don’t squander their four-goal advantage—will miss the first leg of their semifinal tie against Barcelona on a card suspension.
David Ramos/Getty Images
Cheer up, Spurs fans, even in defeat, maybe you’ll get to watch even more footage of your early-season triumph over archrival Arsenal.
That said, any soccer purist, no matter how much disdain they harness for Barcelona or Los Blancos, can admit that they aren’t downright fascinated by four El Clåsicos in an 18-day span in the Primera Division, the Copa del Rey final and twice in on Europe’s biggest stage.
For American fans who fail to fully grasp the gravity of domestic European soccer rivalries: think the hate of Rex Sox-Yankeees playing at the level of the Colts-Patriots circa 2009, subtract that European rivalries are less deluded because there’s only one major sport and add a century’s worth of political favoritism, cultural differences and occasional persecution. And they’re probably the two best sides in the world right now.
No big deal. Four times in 18 days.
At least once and for the rest of the season the Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi debate can be put to rest for the immediate future.
Their bitter rivals AC Milan have toppled them twice this season and are on track to wrestle away the Serie A crown. And it seems as though their repeat bid in the Champions League will more than likely come to an end today in Germany.
That said, fans can watch, watch, watch and watch again Stankovic’s strike. And why not?
The crazy thing is, it wasn’t even Stankovic’s first wild, long-range volley from almost midfield. He did almost the same thing against Genoa in 2009. (And celebrated in nearly the exact same fashion)
It does beg the question: What are some of the more memorable long-range goals? Let’s find out.
David Beckham scored from well beyond midfield as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy, but he did so with an empty net—still no small task—and, heck, he did so playing in the freakin’ MLS.
OK, this Beckham effort in 1996 against Wimbledon was far, far more impressive because he did so in the run of play when noticing the opposing goalkeeper was playing too far off his line.
This goal was simply dubbed “Longest goal ever.”
Then there’s that Roberto Carlos dude.
And for good measure, a good YouTube user compiled a top 10 list of long goals for your viewing pleasure.
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