The Champions League semi-finals have been concluded and Bayern Munich will host Chelsea at the Allianz Arena. Chelsea travelled to Camp Nou with a 1-0 lead to protect. The lead was ruled out though when Sergio Busquets scored via a low cross ten minutes before half-time. It would then get worse for Chelsea when John Terry stupidly kneed Alexis Sanchez in the back and was shown a red card two minutes after going behind. Andres Iniesta then made it 2-0 Barcelona with two minutes of the first half to play, which would put Barcelona through. But, out of nowhere, Chelsea caught the Spaniards on the break and Ramires chipped Victor Valdes to make it 2-1 on half-time, a scoreline which would put Chelsea through on away goals.
Barcelona dominated much of the second half and it looked like they would again take the lead on aggregate when Didier Drogba brought Cesc Fabregas down three minutes into the second half. Lionel Messi stepped-up and uncharacteristically hit the cross bar, his first missed penalty (not saved) in his career. The Argentine then thought he had redeemed himself, but his 83rd minute effort came back off the post. Then the unthinkable happened, substitute Fernando Torres received the ball from a clearance and quickly found himself one-on-one with Valdes. He then took it around the keeper before nestling his eighth Camp Nou goal into the net in injury time. Chelsea draw 2-2 on the night but win 3-2 on aggregate. The bad news for Chelsea is that they will be without Terry, Ramires, Raul Meireles and Branislav Ivanovic due to suspension, Gary Cahill will be assessed after limping off early in the first half.
Bayern Munich will join them after progressing past Real Madrid after a nervy penalty shoot-out. Munich had a 2-1 lead to take with them to the Bernabeu. But that was instantly demolished when Luis Gustavo was adjudged to handball a cross in the box whilst he was slipping, it looked harsh and ended up receiving a yellow card which has ruled him out of the final. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped-up and converted his 25th consecutive penalty after just six minutes. The Portuguese then made it 2-0 after just 14-minutes to turn the tie on its head. But Bayern were allowed back into it when Mario Gomez fell under a Pepe push. Arjen Robben also converted the spot-kick against his former club on 27-minutes to level the aggregate.
The game would eventually fall into extra time and then into penalties. David Alaba was the first to step up to the plate and placed in coolly into the bottom corner. Ronaldo followed but Manuel Neuer prevented him from making it 26 consecutive scored penalties with a great right hand. It was deja vu when Kaka missed in the exact same way after Gomez had made it 2-0. Toni Kroos would then have his penalty saved by Iker Casillas before Xabi Alonso posted Madrid onto the ball. Philipp Lahm then took a soft penalty which Casillas easily saved, allowing Sergio Ramos the chance to equalise. But the defender smashed the ball high over the ball and Bastian Schweinsteiger won it for the German side.
Back in England, Aston Villa faced Bolton in the replay of their postponed match. The match saw three goals in two minutes to shake up the relegation battle. Stephen Warnock put Villa ahead just after the hour mark, they were dominant in the first half and finally took their opportunity. But their lead only lasted a minute when Carlos Cuellar tripped Mark Davies and Martin Petrov converted it. David N'gog then made it 2-1 Bolton a minute later to give them a crucial three points. They are now a point from safety with a game in hand, Villa have now slipped to just three points ahead of the relegation zone.
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