"Champions" League

A lot has been written about the alleged "championship" or not of the UEFA Champions League. When Liverpool won the year before last there was some debate about whether a team that is not doing well in its domestic league should be competing in a tournament desgined for Champions. It was a similar story with Arsenal last year. There have been several years where a team has not won a domestic trphoy for years but has managed, by finishing 3rd, to compete in what is meant to be the most prestigious football tourney outside of the World Cup. (Yes, Real Madrid, I mean you.)

While the debate has merit, and by all means should continue, I say stuff the politics and lets talk about what really matter: the football. Last night was awesome - great games, great goals and a welcome return to form for some of my favourite players.

Take the Real Madrid v. Dynamo Kiev game (Ok, so I have a soft spot for Real. Doesn't mean they didn't deserve to come out of their funk). There were two old-timers (it feels ridiculous to call thirty year old guys that, but that's how cruel the game is) who were both under-pressure, so to speak, to perform, and who scored two goals each. I'm just over the moon about Raul, because,well, he's pweety.

Take a look at His Gorgeousness:


(Though there are other things: such as how loyal he has been to Real, regardless of how he's been treated by the fans at times, and how much of a downturn he's been having of late)

And, my team won. ManU beat Benefica 1-0, to a Saha wondergoal really. And how good was Cwisitiano? Take that, you Portugal-hating fiends.

I must say I'm worried about Sheva though. He's been upstaged bigtime by Drogba, and it was supposed to be the other way around. I thought Chelsea's having two massive stars would be bad for the team, (which thought made me extremely happy), but while they haven't set the world alight they haven't been bad either. Its just been bad for poor Andrei, who it seems is missing Milan. Milan are certainly missing him, if last night was anything to go by. Even Kaka couldn't do anything about it: chance after chance after chance and they wasted it ALL.

On the flip side Arsenal had that man Henry to thank for their 2-0 win over Porto. Guh. Guh. Guh. Also, I don't want to like Messi. But I have to, he's too exuberant and unbelievably talented. Damn you, talented Argentine! Damn You!