Surprise package: Galatasaray
Many looked at Galatasaray's team at the
start of the champions league season thinking they were a team with a few
decent players, but nothing that would create any real waves in Europe's elite
club competition. In reality, they surprised many after a disappointing start
where they only had one point after three games. With some excellent
performances by Turkish striker Burak Yìlmaz including a hat trick away to
Cluj, Galatasaray found a way to get second place in their group. Many thought
this was where the journey would end, but a 3-2 victory away to Schalke after a
1-1 home score put them through, with the added help of champions league
winners Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder. Real Madrid's 3-0 win over the
Turkish champions at the Bernabeù looked to have dumped Galatasaray out, but in
the second leg Galatasaray went from 1-0 down to 3-1, needing two goals to go
through. Real Madrid managed to make it 3-2, but the buzz around the Turk
Telecom was unforgettable, a bit like Galatasaray's campaign.
Biggest flop: Manchester City
Hopes for Manchester City were high after
an incredible league success the season before, but their campaign turned out
to be a massive letdown that has now appeared to at least partially cost
Roberto Mancini
his job. Despite being in the "group
of death" or "group of champions" with Ajax, Real Madrid and
finalists Borussia Dortmund, not winning a single game was a colossal failure
on the part of a club who've spent such huge sums in acquiring their squad.
They were unlucky to lose 3-2 to Madrid on match day 1, but they were
outclassed both home and away by Borussia Dortmund and were lucky to draw to
them at home. Ajax too beat the Citizens in Amsterdam, and drew 2-2 in
Manchester, meaning City finished bottom of the group. A painfully
disappointing campaign.
Best goal: Luis Alberto (CFR Cluj) vs.
Manchester United
Few would have seen Luis Alberto play
previously to CFR Cluj's champions league adventure this season, but the little
known Brazilian produced his own memorable moment in this season's UEFA
champions league in the game against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Cluj
needed to win and hope Galatasaray didn't in order to go through, and despite
being heavily un fancied to win away to the Red Devils they did thanks to
Alberto's goal, but Galatasaray won as well. Nonetheless, Luis Alberto's
30-yard strike that sped into the net beyond the outstretched arm of David de
Gea will be a goal that will live long in the memory of every CFR Cluj fan.
Best Game
Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Málaga
After a somewhat drab and edgy 0-0 draw in
Spain in the first leg of this quarter final, most expected Dortmund to
comfortably beat their opponents in front of their oh so passionate fans.
However, an early goal from the experienced Joaquin gave Málaga a 1-0 lead and
a pivotal away goal. Robert Lewandowski then produced a great run and finish to
put Dortmund level on the night, but behind on away goals. And then the
controversy began; as Dortmund pushed forward, Málaga broke and Eliseu tapped
in from two yards and despite being in a clearly offside position, the goal was
given. However Dortmund weren’t going out lying down, they bombarded the Málaga
goal, with Reus scoring to make it 2-2, still not enough for victory. With a
minute left of stoppage time, Reus shot across goal and after a scramble Felipe
Santana tapped in to make it 3-2, yet replays showed he too was offside.
Dortmund didn’t care though as Signal Iduna Park erupted in elation and
inspired Dortmund to the final, which they would narrowly lose to fellow
Germans, Bayern Munich. An incredible game in an incredible atmosphere in an
incredible season for Bayern Munich.
Best XI
Weidenfeller
Lahm
Dante
Varane
Alaba
Gündôgan
Schweinsteiger
Müller
Ronaldo
Yìlmaz
Lewandowski
Honourable
menitons
Neuer
Marchisio
Martinez
Robben
Ibrahimovic
Matuidi
Messi
Isco
Pirlo
