How many more screw ups before replay is introduced?

As Pippo Inzaghi started his run, I screamed at Gattuso to get rid of the ball and play him through. Whether he didn't see his teammate or simply thought the ball would never reach the Pippo is anyone's guess. Regardless, when he finally released the ball, I got up to go to the bathroom as he had missed the opportunity and Inzaghi was visibly two yards offsides. Next thing I know, the commentator is screaming "Goooool" on my television screen - Milan had taken the lead.

UCL Matchday 4 Day 2 Top Goals

They may not be the best goals you've ever seen, and there may not be very many, but they were tops for the day. Only three made the cut:

Pep Guardiola and Stale Solbakken almost come to blows

I love my manager - one of the classiest and humble perfectionists on the planet, who always takes the high road and never gets mired in the childlike banter many managers employ. However last night, Guardiola's patience reached its breaking point as the Barcelona manager confronted FC Copengan's Stale Solbakken in a very heated exchange that almost got physical. Apparently, Guardiola was pissed at Solbakken for attempting to infringe on the Barcelona man's unflappable sense of style - shaved head and stubble, scarf, tapered coat, tie, and vest. It is a look that sends shivers down my spine every time I see Pep on the sideline. However, the Copenhagen man wears it with a little less class and sets an extremely bad example for that look...

Okay, I only wish that was the issue at hand. But in all seriousness, Solbakken had made a number of remarks before the match in reference to José Manuel Pinto, the Barcelona keeper suspended two matches by UEFA for unsportsmanlike conduct after he imitated the referee's whistle to stop a Copenhagen player from advancing on a break-away, who thought the ref blew for offsides and stopped playing. In an unprecedented scene in the career of one of the quieter managers, Pep stood up for his man.

(Details of the exchange and the video after the jump)

UCL Matchday 4 Day 1 Top Goals

 
Highlighting the best goals from Tuesday's Champions League action. Not too shabby.

UCL Matchday 3, Day 2 Top Goals

After Tuesday's display, one would think the bar was set a bit high for the best goals of the week. However, yesterday saw a bit more finesse and technique which, for the purists like myself, are just as impressive as thunderous volleys.

Not to mention one of the most impressive hat tricks you will ever see on this level:

UCL Matchday 3, Day 1 Top Goals

If you're seeking delicate footwork, finesse, or sleek interplay, look elsewhere. The best of yesterday's goals had a common theme - violence and power. Thunderous volleys from set pieces. Thunderous volleys from the field of play. And the poor goalies left helpless in their wake.

Video evidence after the jump:

UCL Matchday 2, Day 2 Top Goals

The best very best goals from Wednesday's Champions League action.

UCL Matchday 2, Day 1 Top Goals

The best very best goals from Tuesday's Champions League action.

Kung-Fu kick FINALLY sees red

Only 38 minutes into the match yesterday, Schalke's Benedikt Höwedes decided to impale Lyon's Jimmy Briand with his boot (fast forward to 1:20 in the video).

Höwedes was immediately sent off for an early shower. Perfect call by the referee, no doubt. Yet in light of this foolish attempt at the ball (and to be fair, he was kinda going for the ball), I'm confused. Actually, I'm beyond confused. This is the kung-fu kick that finally met the wrath of the referee?! Watch the video - his leg doesn't even extend fully. It's practically bent at a 45 degree angle upon impact. My dog can deliver a better kung-fu kick than that. Maybe Ivan Bebek showed him red for a horrible interpretation of Bruce Lee, and sent him to the locker room to mull it over and feel pathetic.

Champions League Group Stage Draw

It's the most wonderful time of the year...and the holiday season is still months away. But for Europe, and football fans worldwide, the holidays have officially begun with the group stage draw of the Champions League. There is, as always, a group of death (or is it?) and a couple snoozers. However, many of the groups are wide open - at least for second place.

I wouldn't say the groups look weak, but there is parity and fresh faces. Five teams reach this stage for the first time, while others are back after lengthy absences. So there are plenty of rookies and novices, and a handful of veterans who bring many question marks into this season.

Here's how they sorted out group by group.

Worst Shootout Performance in History

Congratulations to RSC Anderlecht of Belgium for giving us one of the most shocking displays of penalty kick taking in history. With the barrage of spot kicks landing in the parking lot, it seemed more like a long distance competition than anything else. I'm sure more than a few supporters were greeted by a few dents in their cars after the match.

The English commentators kept going on and on and on about how sub-par the pitch was, and that Champions League football shouldn't be played on such surfaces, bla bla. Give me a break! Stop being so nearsighted. From the looks of it (and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out), the Partizan players didn't seem to have any real issue putting the ball in the back of the net.

This came down to technique. Something the Anderlecht players simply didn't have. That divot in the ground from the 1st kick wasn't the result of a bad pitch. Although it depends who you ask, since more than a couple golfers would have marvelled at what were exquisite pitches of the ball. Don't divots mean you made good contact and got under the ball to send it to the stratosphere?

Anyway, you can judge for yourself. In fairness to Anderlecht though, they did produce this one piece of magic in the losing effort.

Party in the Holy Land

FC Salzburg lost. Good. After reports (unconfirmed to be fair) of despicable chants by the fans in the first leg calling on the Israelis to go back and burn in the ovens (and there were supposedly more), those fans, and that city, didn't deserve the privilege of hosting the kings of Europe on the grandest stage on the planet.

As for Hapoel Tel-Aviv, it is their first appearance in the group stages in the club's 83 year history. With a performance in the second leg that, outside the first ten minutes, was quite frankly abysmal (an own goal and the one in stoppage top to seal it), Hapoel escaped. But it was predicated on an impressive 3-2 away win in the first leg. With a win like that on the road they deserved to move on. And, UEFA can breathe a sigh of relief at the now moot prospect of rampant, racist fans showcasing the tournament.

Let the festivities begin in Israel.

Champions League is under way

Believe it or not, only 6 weeks removed from Inter Milan's Champions League win, without even reaching the month of July, and the next saga of Champions League football is already in motion!!

In the very, very, very first game of the world's greatest competition, mighty FC Santa Coloma was scheduled to play Birkirkara FC yesterday in Andorra. FC Santa Coloma qualified by topping Andorra's 8 team Campionat de Lliga. Interestingly enough, it's a part time league and the players are part time. Blacksmith, lawyer, shoe shiner by day - Champions League footballer by night. Not a bad gig I must say.

Birkirkara FC hails from the bigger and better Maltese Premier League that sports 10 teams. Led by U-19 captain Rowen Muscat, they face an uphill battle without their injured veteran defender Nisevic and Buhagiar up top (I promise I didn't make those names up).

Now seeing as how Andorra almost claimed my life 4 years ago, I'm leaning towards throwing my support behind the Maltese. Especially because they have their own Ultras group and were established 36 years before Santa Coloma. They've got some history! It's also Birkirkara's 3rd appearance in this prestigious tournament compared to Santa Coloma's second, so I gotta go to experience.

I know you're getting very antsy and you want a match report. So here's what happened....it rained. And rained really, really hard. So much so that the pitch at Santa Coloma's Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella become waterlogged and unplayable. The match was abandoned by UEFA after they ruled the pitch was unfit for play. UEFA Disciplinary Commission is looking into the matter and could hand the victory to MY TEAM, Birkirkara FC.

Sorry for the anti-climatic result. Hopefully it will be resolved and a game will be played. If not, mighty Slovak giants MŠK Žilina lie in wait for the winner. What a cracking game that'll be!