For the Filipino football afficionados out there, this might be a little too late. This week, Real Madrid lost to Bayern Munchen in a two-leg match for a seat in the Finals of the UEFA Champion’s League, to be held in Munich. Before that, FC Barcelona fell to the Chelsea Blues in a 3-2 aggregate score no thanks to the 50M Euro man, Fernando Torres.
It is kind of disheartening as well, since I, being a huge Blaugrana fan saw them dismantled by a man who has been the butt of all goal-scoring jokes all season long. But it turns out, our man, Leo Messi would have the most disappointing miss of the season in what should have been a sure penalty score. The same can be said for Madrid fans. Kaka and Ronaldo having their penalty shots saved by Neuer during the second leg and Sergio Ramos’s penalty take flying higher than North Korea’s rocket.
I’m pretty sure Spain was reduced to tears as their two best teams, known to have monopolized trophies since they are just that good, failed to arrange a Finals match for the ages. Imagine an El Clasico in Munich. Not only would that bring a tremendous boost in income for the hosts but it would perhaps engulf the huge event known as the World Cup. Also, what a constellation of stars it would be for both sides. Ronaldo, Benzema, Casillas, Kaka, Ozil, Sahin, et. Al. for Real Madrid while the Blaugrana boasts of the best football player there is in Lionel Messi who’s backstopped by Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez, Pedro, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol to name a few. All of these guys mean a lot to their respective national teams, with Barcelona owning almost half the starting 11 for Spain.
Fernando Torres. AP photo
But those dreams of an El Clasico in Munich were dashed by reliables like Chelsea and Bayern Munchen, nobody expected those two clubs to be even playing deep into the Champion’s League. Much more so for Chelsea who’s the butt of jokes since acquiring Fernando Torres. tThe guy just can’t shoot straight to get the ball inside the goal. But after demolishing the Blaugrana with that backbreaking counter goal, it seems Torres would have the last laugh this season. It’s ironic as well that he destroyed the Spanish fans’ dreams of an El Clasico since he is a national team member. And then there’s Jose’ Mourinho’s face when the Ronaldo and Kaka penalties saved in great fashion by Neuer.
A bad week for Spanish football, but not so bad for the world. Bayern Munchen-Chelsea should be good. Sure, it’s not El Clasico, but they are as equally good. Torres and Didier Drogba would be up against the three-headed monster of Arjen Robben, Frank Ribbery and Mario Gomez, who are stars in their own right.