Video of the Week 4/29
Yesterday FC Barcelona's title reign as European Champions came to an end after a 1-0 victory over Internazionale Milano wasn't enough to overcome an 1-3 deficit after the first leg of the semifinal tie of the UEFA Champions League.
For us Americans, the aggregate system is a little different and may take some explaining to the non soccer fan because it takes into account margin of victory and 'away goals'. In the States, pure wins and losses is all its about. In the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as MLB, the emphasis is on winning 3 out of 5, or 4 out of 7, regardless of the margin. In Eurpoean football (Soccer), its a little different. Margin of victory matters and goals scored as the visiting team in the matchup serve as tie breaker. So in essence, you're talking about a extended game, taking the span two regular games; one home and one away, and the combined scores add up to make your final. In the Champions League, the knockout stages are set up like this all the way up until the Final, where it then becomes a one game, winner-take all scenario at a neutral site.
So although Barça were able to avenge the loss they suffered to Inter a week ago, the aggregate, or goal differential wasn't enough, as Inter won the extended matchup 3-2. Teams and competitors are built to simply win and whenever you're in a situation going into a game where simply winning isn't going to be enough, the task is very, very difficult.
Barça lost this tie in the first leg. As a fan, this semifinal was lost last Tuesday in Milan after losing the first leg 3-1. I have no regrets about the teams performance yesterday because they were put behind the 8-ball after the first leg; in a position where winning would not be good enough to advance. Inter Milan didn't need to win last night and definitely played like it, protecting their adevantage and, after a heartstopping finish, hanging on and advancing. I, and many Barça fans would have loved a Champions League victory this year simply because of where the Final is being held: At the home stadium of eternal rival, Real Madrid. Unfortunately, like my Oakland Raiders losing the SuperBowl at the home of the San Diego Chargers seven years earlier, that dream will not be realized.
In the end, Barcelona was unable to repeat as European League Champions; and nobody has been able to repeat since it became the Champions League in the early '90s. Inter moves on to face Bayern München (Munich) of Germany in the final in Madrid on May 22nd.
My selection for the video of the week takes us back to a year ago, and features the historic 2009 Barcelona squad's run to a Champions League title ending with a 2-0 triumph over then title holders Manchester United in Rome. It is a tribute to a great team and a great club, and their disappointments of 2010 in no way diminish the quality of their achievements in 2009, when they swept every signifcant Spanish, European, and World competition. May Internazionale Milano finish the job and take the trophy. As champions, if you gotta lose, you hope that the ones who beat you are themselves champions. ¡Visça Barça! Forza Inter!
Posted on YouTube by hawkon100
For us Americans, the aggregate system is a little different and may take some explaining to the non soccer fan because it takes into account margin of victory and 'away goals'. In the States, pure wins and losses is all its about. In the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as MLB, the emphasis is on winning 3 out of 5, or 4 out of 7, regardless of the margin. In Eurpoean football (Soccer), its a little different. Margin of victory matters and goals scored as the visiting team in the matchup serve as tie breaker. So in essence, you're talking about a extended game, taking the span two regular games; one home and one away, and the combined scores add up to make your final. In the Champions League, the knockout stages are set up like this all the way up until the Final, where it then becomes a one game, winner-take all scenario at a neutral site.
So although Barça were able to avenge the loss they suffered to Inter a week ago, the aggregate, or goal differential wasn't enough, as Inter won the extended matchup 3-2. Teams and competitors are built to simply win and whenever you're in a situation going into a game where simply winning isn't going to be enough, the task is very, very difficult.
Barça lost this tie in the first leg. As a fan, this semifinal was lost last Tuesday in Milan after losing the first leg 3-1. I have no regrets about the teams performance yesterday because they were put behind the 8-ball after the first leg; in a position where winning would not be good enough to advance. Inter Milan didn't need to win last night and definitely played like it, protecting their adevantage and, after a heartstopping finish, hanging on and advancing. I, and many Barça fans would have loved a Champions League victory this year simply because of where the Final is being held: At the home stadium of eternal rival, Real Madrid. Unfortunately, like my Oakland Raiders losing the SuperBowl at the home of the San Diego Chargers seven years earlier, that dream will not be realized.
In the end, Barcelona was unable to repeat as European League Champions; and nobody has been able to repeat since it became the Champions League in the early '90s. Inter moves on to face Bayern München (Munich) of Germany in the final in Madrid on May 22nd.
My selection for the video of the week takes us back to a year ago, and features the historic 2009 Barcelona squad's run to a Champions League title ending with a 2-0 triumph over then title holders Manchester United in Rome. It is a tribute to a great team and a great club, and their disappointments of 2010 in no way diminish the quality of their achievements in 2009, when they swept every signifcant Spanish, European, and World competition. May Internazionale Milano finish the job and take the trophy. As champions, if you gotta lose, you hope that the ones who beat you are themselves champions. ¡Visça Barça! Forza Inter!
Posted on YouTube by hawkon100
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