Keep moving small teams, the big boys are in town. No obscure Greek names or German stadiums, we love champion's league for this reason. An eighth of final between the first of the EPL and the leader of Serie A. Mourinho's first confrontation to his former club within a big competiton, Eto'o versus Drogba, Julio cesar's car crash, Chelsea’s injured blablablabla…
I have not yet reported a game of inter for you, and as they are the team I support I cannot promise the same level of objectivity as there usually is (I know there is none to start with but this is just in case).
Inter: Julio cesar - Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Zanetti - Cambiasso, Stankovic, Thiago Motta, Snejder - Milito, Eto'o
Chelsea: Cech - Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Malouda(?!) - Mikel, Lampard, Ballack - Kalou, Drogba, Anelka
Yesterday I said all Champion's League games start the same: with an observation round, with a few exceptions. Add this game to the latter. Third minute, Eto'o receives the ball thirty meters out, immobile, one step over, left footed pass to Snejder who, late, intelligently decides to let it go in the box for Milito, body feint, one touch to eleminate Terry, another to put it in the back of the net. 1-0 and San Siro jumps. My notebook flies across the room, soon followed by the pen, the remote controller and couch pillows, but the only thing you can hear is the writer going: "Goooooooool! Grande principe! Gooooo..." and it doesn't stop there. Chelsea remains astound. Ivanovic inaugurates the crosses, Ballack gets his head destroyed by Motta, Anelka pushes his luck, Stankovic murders Lampard's ankles, Kalou let's a first shot rip straight to bruised-face Julio Cesar, Zanetti starts his recital and Snejder looks for Eto'o. After fifteen minute Chelsea obtains a dangerous free kick thirty meters out, dangerous indeed because Drogba sends it flying onto the crsosbar. Moment of silence. Inter keep playing their catenaccio while the Brits try different combinations. Since the box is unbreachable, the men in white try their luck from outside the box, and everyone tries: Ballack, Kalou, Lampard, Mikel but no can do, Julio Cesar can still see despite his puffy face. Drogba attempts a volley (just to make me sweat), wide (23rd).The Nerazzuri respond with free kicks and low crosses but Eto'o miskicks and Terry clears (he would have scored that goal two years ago) (32nd). Ball possession is 57-43 for Ancelotti's double chins. Cambiasso chases the ball continually, Motta and Ballack continue their testosterone duel, Malouda starts to discover Inter's half, Snejder and Milito exhibit their near perfect technique, Lampard is lost, Terry checks out the girls, Lucio is a monster and Kalou falls on his own. Half time.
"Forza Inter clap clap clapclapclap Forza Inter clap clap clapclapclap", "C'รจ solo un capitano!!!" "I-N-T-E-R, I-N-T-E-R"
Second half starts as the first: with a goal. This time it's Ivanovic to take advantage of the space left by the Inter defence on the right side, dips toward the middle, backpass for Kalou, who places a shot that miraculously finds a way between Samuel, Lucio and Cambiasso, bounces in front of Julio Cesar who only manages to touch it. 1-1, 48th minute. Silence in the house, silence in the stadium, silence in my head. "Why did I even bother getting carried away? How long now until they score the second?" Tonight is different though, Champion's League oblige. Mourinho's men get a corner kick. Then, Snejder attempts a cross from the left, on the rebound Cambiasso hits Ivanovic with a volley, ball falls back to the Argentinian, second chance, straight past Cech. "Bravo el Gaucho, grande Inter, ancora uno!!" 2-1, 55th minute. San Siro finds it's voice again. Motta leaves his place to Balotelli. Mourinho's defence is his attack. Within a minute, the young Italian teaches Malouda how to dribble. "Dai ragazzi!" Zanetti eats Anelka, Samuel contains the unmarkable double-D, Julio Cesar saves a Lampard three-meters-away-shot, Anelka and Malouda combine, Kalou falls some more and I forget to take notes. We see Pandev, Muntari and a random Chelsea youngster. Chelsea has the ball but Inter has Lucio. Some cornerkicks there, a Maicon shot wide, Cech gets injured. No one will remember the last twenty minutes of the game; don't count on me to. 2-1 might not be enough for a safe return game at Stamford Bridge, but tonight it doesn’t matter. Forza Inter.
Grades (again, these grades are not to be taken seriously even though they might be true)
Grades (again, these grades are not to be taken seriously even though they might be true)
Inter – 8: Grande Inter stasera. Great game, impenetrable defence, effective counter attack and finally a win in an eighth of final. Ti amo Inter.
Julio Cesar – 7: Precise on the first half blocks, unlucky (some might say guilty) on Kalou’s goal, decisive on Lampard. Grazie Julio.
Maicon – 7: Very subdued because of Chelsea’s pressure, we still got to see some characteristical runs from the best right back in the world.
Lucio – 10: After Puyol last night, another great performance by the Brazilian, nothing more nothing less.
Samuel – 8: It had been long time since we had seen Samuel stand up to his nickname “Il Muro” (the wall). Chose the right night.
Zanetti – 10: There’s only one captain and tonight he did everything right, from leading the team to saving it.
Motta – 7: The least flamboyant member of the team gave Ballack a run for his money, it shows when you are formed at Barcelona.
Cambiasso – 10: Absolutely everywhere tonight, communicated perfectly with all his teammates and score a fantastic winner!
Stankovic – 7: The even less flamboyant than the least flamboyant member of the team, Dejan gave it all on the field tonight, one of my personal favourites.
Snejder – 9: Technical perfection, vision, rapidity, determination and beatiful right foot.
Eto’o – 7: Had to accommodate himself to a supporting role, missed one golden opportunity, but Samuel knows how to handle these big games.
Milito – 10: Il Principe loves these big games, just look at how many derbys he has scored in (and not only with Inter), clinical and cool finish on his first (and almost only) shot, generous all throughout the game.
.Balotelli – 8: The most flamboyant player accomplished three nutmegs tonight and was a handful for Malouda.
.Pandev, Muntari – 7: Did not get many opportunities to shine, but they were wearing a beautiful jersey.
Maicon – 7: Very subdued because of Chelsea’s pressure, we still got to see some characteristical runs from the best right back in the world.
Lucio – 10: After Puyol last night, another great performance by the Brazilian, nothing more nothing less.
Samuel – 8: It had been long time since we had seen Samuel stand up to his nickname “Il Muro” (the wall). Chose the right night.
Zanetti – 10: There’s only one captain and tonight he did everything right, from leading the team to saving it.
Motta – 7: The least flamboyant member of the team gave Ballack a run for his money, it shows when you are formed at Barcelona.
Cambiasso – 10: Absolutely everywhere tonight, communicated perfectly with all his teammates and score a fantastic winner!
Stankovic – 7: The even less flamboyant than the least flamboyant member of the team, Dejan gave it all on the field tonight, one of my personal favourites.
Snejder – 9: Technical perfection, vision, rapidity, determination and beatiful right foot.
Eto’o – 7: Had to accommodate himself to a supporting role, missed one golden opportunity, but Samuel knows how to handle these big games.
Milito – 10: Il Principe loves these big games, just look at how many derbys he has scored in (and not only with Inter), clinical and cool finish on his first (and almost only) shot, generous all throughout the game.
.Balotelli – 8: The most flamboyant player accomplished three nutmegs tonight and was a handful for Malouda.
.Pandev, Muntari – 7: Did not get many opportunities to shine, but they were wearing a beautiful jersey.
Chelsea – 5: Played their cards well, thought they did the hardest with Kalou’s equalizer, will probably give the injuries as an (reasonable, let’s face it) excuse.
Cech – 6: It’s weird, the Czech keeper was not guilty on any of the goals scored and then he didn’t have to do anything. Got injured quite badly it seems, which is horrible for him (he was getting back to his A-list level) but even worse for Chelsea.
Ivanovic – 7: Strong defensively, brought his precious presence in attack and delivered an assist, unexpected.
Terry – 4: Mystified by Milito on the first goal, respectable during the rest of the game, mostly because he didn’t have to do much.
Carvalho – 5: It had been a while since we had seen Ricardo go into the opponent’s half.
Malouda – 5: Deserves a 0 defensively, left back is not his natural position, but made up by continuously attacking down the left flank.
Mikel – 5: Some good interceptions, some mistakes, uneventful.
Ballack – 6: Rose to the challenge brought by Motta, and his shot is excellent.
Lampard – 5: Some good passes, some poor passes, uneventful.
Kalou – 5: A lot of falling, a lot of looking at the referee, a lucky goal, might be Chelsea’s good deal.
Anelka – 6: The Puma didn’t stop trying Wednesday night, as always overlooked and underappreciated.
Drogba – 8: A real terminator, sent chills down my spine everytime the ball approached him, unlucky to fall on a Lucio of great nights. Made chances with nothing. A real asset.
.Sturridge, Hilario – N/A: by that time it didn’t matter.
Cech – 6: It’s weird, the Czech keeper was not guilty on any of the goals scored and then he didn’t have to do anything. Got injured quite badly it seems, which is horrible for him (he was getting back to his A-list level) but even worse for Chelsea.
Ivanovic – 7: Strong defensively, brought his precious presence in attack and delivered an assist, unexpected.
Terry – 4: Mystified by Milito on the first goal, respectable during the rest of the game, mostly because he didn’t have to do much.
Carvalho – 5: It had been a while since we had seen Ricardo go into the opponent’s half.
Malouda – 5: Deserves a 0 defensively, left back is not his natural position, but made up by continuously attacking down the left flank.
Mikel – 5: Some good interceptions, some mistakes, uneventful.
Ballack – 6: Rose to the challenge brought by Motta, and his shot is excellent.
Lampard – 5: Some good passes, some poor passes, uneventful.
Kalou – 5: A lot of falling, a lot of looking at the referee, a lucky goal, might be Chelsea’s good deal.
Anelka – 6: The Puma didn’t stop trying Wednesday night, as always overlooked and underappreciated.
Drogba – 8: A real terminator, sent chills down my spine everytime the ball approached him, unlucky to fall on a Lucio of great nights. Made chances with nothing. A real asset.
.Sturridge, Hilario – N/A: by that time it didn’t matter.
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