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Rediff.com  » Sports » 8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals
This article was first published 10 years ago

8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

April 09, 2014 10:40 IST

Image: Chelsea's Demba Ba, left, who scored the second goal for the team, celebrates with team mate Samuel Eto'o
Photographs: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters Rediff Sports Desk

Defining moment

Super substitute Demba Ba slide home Chelsea's second goal to secure a semi-final place.

-CL PHOTOS: Chelsea fight their way into semis; Real through

Ba bundled the ball home in the 87th minute to secure a 2-0 win in the quarter-final, second leg at Stamford Bridge that sent the London club through after a 3-3 aggregate draw.

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8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

Image: Chelsea's Demba Ba (hidden) celebrates with coach Jose Mourinho, right, and teammates after scoring the second goal
Photographs: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Mourinho’s touchline instructions

Jose Mourinho's touchline dash after Chelsea scored the goal that clinched their Champions League semi-final place on Tuesday was not done just because he wanted to celebrate with his players by the corner flag.

The coach explained he had something else in mind. "I didn't go to the corner flag to celebrate," Mourinho told reporters at Stamford Bridge.

"I went to tell them the changes we had to make. There were three minutes plus added time left and the way we were playing was too risky.

"I wanted Demba Ba to play in front of the defenders and (fellow substitute striker) Fernando Torres to defend (PSG's) Maxwell. I tried to use them in different jobs."

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8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

Image: Chelsea players celebrate
Photographs: Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

Big game team

Chelsea rise to the occasion. When everyone gave them little chance, they proved they are worth the bet. JohnTerry claimed that the Portuguese meticulous planning on the training ground gave Chelsea the edge

Mourinho was not prepared to waste a moment securing the win against PSG as he stayed on course to become the first man to lift the European Cup with three different clubs after his triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.

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8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

Image: Eden Hazard of Chelsea is replaced by Andre Schurrle of Chelsea
Photographs: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Suspension and injury woes

Branislav Ivanovic will miss the first leg of Chelsea's semi-final after picking up a booking at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard was also forced off with an injury early in the first half. He was replaced by Andre Schurle.

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8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

Image: Chelsea's John Terry reacts at the end of their Champions League quarter-final match
Photographs: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Old guards are still strong

Frank Lampard and John Terry are the leading players in English football for over a decade. They have earned their seventh Champions League semi-final.

The two had their won way of celebration.

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8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

Image: Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against Real Madrid
Photographs: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Two not enough

Two first half goals by Marco Reus, both coming from Real mistakes, gave Dortmund a deserved lead as the Spaniards, who had a penalty saved in the 17th minute, were left mesmerised by the Germans' frantic pace on a rainy evening in the Ruhr valley.

But an astonishing comeback was not on the cards.

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8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

Image: Borussia Dortmund's goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller saves a penalty shot by Real Madrid's Angel di Maria (second right, covered)
Photographs: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Big moment

Real squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead and put the tie all but beyond the hosts when they were awarded a penalty for a handball by defender Lukasz Piszczek and Angel Di Maria had it saved by Roman Weidenfeller.

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8 Talking points from Tuesday's Champions League quarter-finals

Image: Borussia Dortmund's players react after their Champions League quarter-final second leg soccer match against Real Madrid in Dortmund
Photographs: Ina Fassbender/Reuters

Missed chances

Dortmund missed a great chance to level the tie in the second half when Armenian Henrikh Mkhitaryan rounded Madrid keeper Iker Casillas but only managed to hit the post.