Sports
Lionel Messi goal felt like a hammer blow but Chelsea have recovered from self-inflicted setbacks against Barcelona before
It felt like a hammer blow, felt like it should be some sort of defining moment in another epic tie between these clubs.
Self-inflicted setbacks always feel like that, always seem to promise crueller repercussions, always seem to have greater significance.
That is why despondency was etched deep, not just into Andreas Christensen’s features but into Antonio Conte’s, into the outstanding Willian’s, into the thousands who poured from the Bridge deflated.
A solitary defensive aberration, punished by the regal composure of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, means the odds now favour Barcelona’s progression to the last eight. Of course they do.
Yet not only can Chelsea go into battle brandishing a record of eight games against Barcelona without defeat, not only do you have to go back a dozen years for their last reverse in the Nou Camp, there was enough in this captivating opening leg to give Conte considerable grounds for optimism.
Willian’s performance, for a start.
In a first half which featured territorial domination form Barcelona but a marked reluctance and inability to get Thibaut Courtois involved, sweetly-struck Willian efforts hit an upright apiece.
On both occasions, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was statically powerless as first his left and then his right post came to the Barcelona keeper’s assistance.
Willian was the wild card in Conte’s pack, one cutting run from deep ended only by the naked cynicism of Ivan Rakitic.
That is why it was no surprise when he sent Chelsea ahead.
Despite the clanging warnings of the first half, Willian was allowed to linger in his own exclusion zone just outside the penalty area for a corner.
When it reached him, via Hazard, there was only one item on the agenda and it was a finish that will get better with every viewing.
The dart to the side of Sergio Busquets gave him the room, the inside of his right boot did the rest, bending his hit around Rakitic and around colleague Antonio Rudiger.
It will go down as a finish in keeping with Willian’s status as a Chelsea performer – under-rated.
Willian has to be a key factor in Conte’s gameplan in the Nou Camp in three weeks’ time.
His fantastic contribution here would have been of even greater significance had Christensen not inexplicably sent a defensive cross-field pass into the path of Iniesta who eluded a desperate and ill-advised Cesar Azpilicueta and not only teed up Messi’s duck-breaking strike, but teed up what should be an epic second leg in Barcelona.
It should not be one that Chelsea approach with a lack of confidence despite Messi’s equaliser and despite some indifferent domestic form.
Possession and heat map-wise, it will be more of the same but with 73 percent of the ball here and with 887 passes to Chelsea’s 325, Barcelona had four fewer attempts at goal.
Even with Messi’s ball-on-remote-control brilliance, there was a distinct lack of incisiveness in this Barcelona display and even saddled with the thankless task of being a false nine, Eden Hazard showed enough to suggest he will be a considerable threat on the Catalan counter.
Likewise Willian, who might actually have headed off Barca’s comeback had he found N’Golo Kante at the end of one particularly threatening breakaway.
But this was, unsurprisingly, a contest of fine margins, just as the renewal in Barcelona is likely to be, just as it was back in 2012 when Chelsea, with ten men after the dismissal of John Terry, recovered from two goals down to draw and go through to the Champions League final.
Examples of recovering from self-inflicted setbacks do not come much starker than that.
Similar heroics will be required next month but for all the despondency after one costly moment, do not put those heroics past them.
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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