Champions League Review: One For Two

By: chris | February 19th, 2008

One Italian team did well, one not so much.

Roma v Real Madrid: Raul’s early deflection was canceled out by another deflection by David Pizarro to take things even throughout the first half. Real had the bulk of possession, and Roma had to spend time bouncing the ball back out. Excuse me, Daniele De Rossi had to spend time bouncing back out. (Watch the game, understand he was a game-time decision with the flu, and make the argument he isn’t the best midfielder in Serie A. I dare you.)

After the restart, DDR sent a sublime lollipop onto the foot of Totti, who placed a perfect ball for Mancini to run onto, who beat Casillas to put the ball in the back of an empty net. Game, set, match. Alright, that wasn’t the case at all, really, Roma had to withstand serious pressure from Real, but that was to be the end of the scoring.

Roma heads to Madrid with a 1 goal lead, but Real with the invaluable away goal. So it’s anybody’s match at the moment.

uefa’s inherently unbiased recap.

Liverpool 2 – Inter 0: As has been the case with Inter as of late, the talk of the game was the refereeing – only this time it wasn’t in Inter’s favor. The clear game changer was Marco Materazzi’s red a half hour in for yanking on Fernando Torres’ shirt. The call may have been soft for a second yellow, but yanking someone down from behind is usually a yellow. Marco’s gotta know that by now.

It appeared like Inter was going to get away scot free with a draw, and Rafa was going to find himself searching for employment, but it wasn’t to be on a day of reflections. Dirk Kuijt caromed a shot off of Maicon for the first goal in the 85th, and then Captain Clutch made it two five minutes later for a steep lead heading to the San Siro in two weeks.

Aside from the refereeing is the injury of Ivan Cordoba, likely out for the year, which pares down the central defense even more with Materazzi suspended for the return leg. Mancio’s going to have to earn those plaudits to advance.

uefa’s recap.

* – As a Roma fan, let me just interject this: Enjoy Big Game Chivu’s first truly big game in black and blue stripes. This is the reason no one in Rome misses him.