The Centre Circle

This tightly contested game in Florence ended all square; a blow to Inter’s title hopes and they may lose top spot in Serie A this Sunday when Roma take on Atlalanta. A win for Roma will lift them a point clear at the top.

Fiorentina took the lead in the 11th minute when Brazilian Keirrison neatly finished from a Gianluca Comotto centre. Inter dominated most of the possession but were unable to break through until the 75th minute when Maicon picked a ball from a Sneijder pass and his cross was guided home by Milito. Five minutes late, a carbon copy goal gave Inter the lead, this time substitute Mario Balotelli squared for Samuel Eto’o to finish. The lead unfortunately did not last more than a minute. From a corner, the ball was flicked by an Inter head and in the scramble the player to react first was Fiorentina’s Danish defender Kroldrup  who poked the ball home.

Extended highlights of the game below in Italian.

A full, very noisy crowd awaited both teams in the Luhzniki Stadium in Moscow as Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan travelled to Russia to play CSKA. The first chance of the contest came to Honda, CSKA’s bleach blond Japanese international although his well struck low drive flashed wide of Julio Cesar’s left hand post. Inter effectively killed the tie as a contest after just 5 mins, Wesley Schneider took a free kick from around 25 yards on the right hand side. He struck the ball below the jumping wall, wrong footing Akinfeev in the CSKA goal. CSKA would now have to score three times to go through, no chance against an Italian side managed by the master that is Jose Mourinho. After 22 mins following a good passing move, the ball found it’s way to Necid, who’s shot shaved the far post. Shchennikov than went on a darting run which was blocked off by the Inter defence but the ball fell to Mamaev who’s curling effort was easily taken by the keeper. At least CSKA were having a go and after 32 mins, a fast break from the Russians ended with Mamaev getting free on the left hand side but he scuffed his shot. Inter countered straight away and Melito was left one on one with the keeper but he couldn’t finish.

Early into the second half the contest was left meaningless as Odiah, who had already been booked in the first half, slid in way too late on Samuel Eto’o sending the Inter forward flying, and the French referee had no option but to brandish the obligatory red card. The game was meandering now to a inevitable conclusion. The Chilean Gonzalez had a couple of speculative efforts from range for the Russian team and Melito had Inter’s best chance; a second one on one with the CSKA keeper, but Akinfeev held his ground & made a good save. As easier game, Jose Mourinho’s men could never have asked for.

Inter progress to the semi final to face the winner of the Barcelona and Arsenal tie.

CSKA 0-1 Inter Milan (0-2)

I’ve been thinking it for a while now. I kept saying to people I know, “ This Chelsea team is getting old, it’s gonna show at some point in time”. Last night it did. For the third time in the last five games, Chelsea failed to last the pace. Maybe the length and intensity of the season is catching up with Terry, Drogba and co.

Last night they looked as if they might break Inter down in the first half, but some fantastic defending from Samuel, Maicon and  Lucio kept Chelsea out. As the night went on Inter came more and more into the game, in fact I can think of just one save the Inter goalkeeper made in the whole second half and the drive from Malouda was going wide anyway. The longer the game went on, the more Chelsea looked one paced and predictable. Midway through the second half, Ancelotti gambled, showed his hand first throwing on the more offensive Cole and then Kalou. Immediately Mourinho countered bringing on Stankovic and switching to 4-4-2, moving Eto’o into the middle. Bang! Immediately Inter carved a tiring Chelsea open, Sneider making a defence splitting pass. The Eto’o goal in truth was nothing less that Inter deserved, indeed had they taken their chances it should have been more.

Chelsea has been one of the two most dominant teams in English football for the past 5-6 years. However together they are growing old – Terry 29, Lampard 31, Alex 28, Drogba 32, Ferreira 31, Ballack 33, Joe Cole 28, Anelka 31, Carvalho, 31, Ashley Cole 29, Deco 32 Malouda 29, Belletti 33. It is fact that players start to lose a yard of pace as they hit the 30 year old mark, the wears and tears of season after season start to show with niggling little injuries etc. At the start of the season Chelsea looked fresh and inventive winning their first eight games. In the last 8 games they have won four and lost four. A big difference. The beginning of the end of an era.

The return of Jose Mourinho and his Inter Milan team to play Chelsea tonight I think will be compulsive viewing. Inter lead 2-1 after a pulsating first leg game at the San Siro. This game tonight potentially has it all with two managers who openly dislike each other.  An early goal could turn this one into a classic.

Watching the first leg I was incredibly impressed with Inter’s work rate, with Lucio in central defence being particularly outstanding. The most talented bunch of players they may not be, but the zeal they showed in outrunning and out working Chelsea was something I hadn’t seen in an Italian side in a long time. Jose has obviously worked his magic again with this group of players and if they can boss the midfield and cut the supply line to Drogba and Anelka then they do have a chance of upsetting Chelsea in their own backyard. Chelsea have to score, so watch Mourinho and his team to try to frustrate Chelsea certainly for the first half and to try and pick them off on the counter. This is what Man City did in Chelsea’s last home game to great effect. Mourinho would have taken note.

My Prediction – Chelsea 2-2 Inter after extra time with Inter and Mourinho progressing 4-3.

16th March 21.50 - Chelsea 0-1 Inter (1-3)

I’ve got to say, the game panned out almost exactly as I thought it would – maybe I got the eventual score wrong but I read the script to perfection. Chelsea pushed hard in the first half, but some great defending kept them out. Inter were the better team in the second half and thoroughly deserved to win.