Well UEFA finally ruled on Chelsea’s behavior after the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and I am surprised at how lenient the bans are.
The media is portraying UEFA’s ruling to hand lengthy European bans to Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa as harsh. I disagree.
Drogba was given a six-match ban, but since the last two games are suspended for two years making this a four game ban for his foul-mouthed confrontation with referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of their Champions League semi-final defeat by Barcelona in May.
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Barcelona were crowned European champions for the third time – and the second in four seasons – as a vibrant display of pass and move, capped by goals in either half from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi, defeated Manchester United in Rome.
It was a convincing win for Barca. Outside the first ten minutes they dominated a poor Man United team. Inesta and Xavi ruled the midfield and Messi always looked dangerous going forward.
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There are lots of web sites and newspapers with previews of tomorrow’s Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona. The best preview I have read is on goal.com and here are some excerpts from their preview.
The champions of Spain meet the champions of England as Barcelona take on Manchester United in the Champions League final this Wednesday evening. Current holders United will be looking to become the first team since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the trophy whilst Barca can become the first Spanish side to ever win the treble if they triumph in Rome…
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No big surprise, but it is official that Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher will miss the Champions League final against Barcelona after failing with an appeal against a red card.
The Scot was sent off for a tackle on Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas minutes from the end of United’s 4-1 aggregate semi-final victory, despite appearing to take the ball.
Barcelona defenders Eric Abidal and Daniel Alves also failed to win appeals against suspensions and both miss the final.
Abidal was sent off by referee Tom Henning Ovrebo for an innocuous challenge on Nicolas Anelka in the second leg of the semi-final against Chelsea. Alves picked up a yellow card for a foul on Ashley Cole.
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Thierry Henry and Andrés Iniesta face a fitness race ahead of FC Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United in Rome on 27 May. The French striker struggling with a knee ligament injury and the Spanish midfielder suffering a torn thigh muscle.
The Catalan club’s medical team diagnosed a stretching of Henry’s posterior ligament in his right knee, an injury sustained during the 6-2 Liga win at Real Madrid on 2 May. The 31-year-old was ruled out of the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge as a result, a match from which Barça advanced with a 1-1 draw thanks to Iniesta’s goal three minutes into added time, and the 3-3 Liga draw with Villarreal.
This is a preview of
Henry and Iniesta doubtful for Champions League Final
.
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From the UEFA Web site:
With regard to the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg between Chelsea and FC Barcelona in London on Wednesday, UEFA has received both the referee’s and delegate’s report. UEFA is currently examining those reports, as well as gathering additional evidence. It will decide which action to take in the course of next week. No protest has been received with respect to the red card shown to FC Barcelona player Eric Abidal.
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If losing to Barcelona in the last minute was not bad enough, the actions of Chelsea’s players during and after the game has to result in suspensions from UEFA.
First up has to Michael Ballack who was incensed that a penalty was not given in extra time and aggressively chased the referee on the pitch. The TV replays seemed to indicate that Ballack bumped the referee and that should lead to at least a rebuke from UEFA.
In a post-game interview, Chelsea’s Jose Bosingwa reportedly told RTP after the game:
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Barcelona stole a remarkable UEFA Champions League semi-final win through Andrés Iniesta’s goal three minutes into added time to earn a showdown with Manchester United in Rome on 27 May.
Chelsea thought they had done enough to earn a repeat of last season’s final as they defended Michael Essien’s breathtaking ninth-minute strike with great resilience only for Essien to then err in failing to clear his lines in the dying moments. Lionel Messi squared to Iniesta and he cut his shot skilfully away from Petr Čech to give the 2006 champions – playing with ten men after Eric Abidal’s second-half dismissal – victory on away goals and the chance to reclaim their crown, although they will have to do it without the suspended Abidal and Daniel Alves.
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Barcelona wailed about Chelsea’s defensive tactics in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final but they should be more concerned about their own rearguard before the return at Stamford Bridge.
With Carles Puyol suspended and Rafael Marquez injured, Barcelona look horribly exposed in central defence, especially with the powerful presence of Didier Drogba poised to overpower whoever is drafted in.
Amid the jubilation of Barcelona’s 6-2 thrashing of Real Mad rid on Saturday, Chelsea’s spies will have reported back that Real’s two goals were via the heads of Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Ramos courtesy of slack marking in the middle.
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Didier Drogba is still yelling at the referee, but my attention has already turned to Rome. 
