Dull football is
only truly dull when it fails. A goalless draw away from home with the
best team in La Liga isn't truly dull. Would Chelsea win La Liga? No.
Then are Atletico Madrid a better team than Chelsea right now? Yes.
So do Chelsea have any realistic right to come to the Vicente Calderon stadium and play Atletico off the park with attacking football? No. So do they have to find a way to get them back to Stamford Bridge and win there? Yes. And that is exactly what they did. If Manchester United were in Chelsea's position in the Champions League right now, Moyes would still be in a job. Fact.
That they got this draw without their
best player, Eden Hazard, their main striker, Samuel Eto'o, their
goalkeeper Petr Cech for 72 minutes and their captain John Terry for the
final 20 minutes of the game makes it even more of an achievement.
Chelsea are familiar with triumph in adversity in this competition and although this was only a draw it still felt like victory, of sorts. Chelsea clung on, particularly in the second-half. It came at a cost, but then performances like this always do.
Frank Lampard picked up a booking for a foul on Turkish winger Arda Turan and will miss the return leg. Soon after, when he tried to control the ball with his upper torso and got too much of his upper arm, Atletico's players surrounded Jonas Eriksson, the referee, in a crass attempt to get him dismissed.
Eriksson rightly resisted but punished the most aggressive offenders in the melee, John Obi Mikel and Gabi of Atletico. Both are now suspended from the second leg also, although Gabi, as Atletico's captain, is the greater loss.
Courtois is too good, Chelsea's hierarchy feel, to hang about on the off-chance that Cech gets beaten into submission by one of his own players, hence his three-season loan transfer to Atletico, and the pre-match row over his availability.
Madrid were going to have to pay an extra £5m to play him against his parent club, until UEFA intervened citing such quaint old concepts as competition integrity. Bit too late for that now, lads.
So how was Courtois, given that all eyes were on him? Unconvincing from his first involvement, nowhere near a cross and grateful for referee Jonas Eriksson's whistle. His next attempt, collecting a Frank Lampard corner with confidence, was more impressive.
Schwarzer, at 41, was the only person on the pitch who was even born the last time Atletico Madrid reached the last four in this tournament in 1974 - they defeated Celtic, but lost the final to a mighty Bayern Munich team - but even he looked nervous when Koke floated a cross for Garcia to head in the 30th minute.
Schwarzer's hesitancy off his line as Garcia headed over would have made Chelsea's travelling few fear the worst, but he redeemed himself four minutes later, even if he failed to receive credit for it.
So do Chelsea have any realistic right to come to the Vicente Calderon stadium and play Atletico off the park with attacking football? No. So do they have to find a way to get them back to Stamford Bridge and win there? Yes. And that is exactly what they did. If Manchester United were in Chelsea's position in the Champions League right now, Moyes would still be in a job. Fact.
Angry scenes: There were several melees in the second half with most of the players on the pitch involved
Aggression: Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta is grabbed by Atletico captain Gabi
Down: Chelsea skipper John Terry had to be substituted in the second half
Ouch! John Terry gives the thumbs up but he was forced off the pitch with a ankle injury
Chelsea are familiar with triumph in adversity in this competition and although this was only a draw it still felt like victory, of sorts. Chelsea clung on, particularly in the second-half. It came at a cost, but then performances like this always do.
Frank Lampard picked up a booking for a foul on Turkish winger Arda Turan and will miss the return leg. Soon after, when he tried to control the ball with his upper torso and got too much of his upper arm, Atletico's players surrounded Jonas Eriksson, the referee, in a crass attempt to get him dismissed.
Eriksson rightly resisted but punished the most aggressive offenders in the melee, John Obi Mikel and Gabi of Atletico. Both are now suspended from the second leg also, although Gabi, as Atletico's captain, is the greater loss.
Unhappy: Jose Mourinho points out something he doesn't agree with on the pitch
Jumping: Gary Cahill puts Thibaut Courtois under serious pressure from a Chelsea corner
Under pressure: Raul Garcia gets up high to beat Ashley Cole in the air
Ouch! Raul Garcia bumped into Petr Cech and the Chelsea keeper felt the full force of the challenge
Decision: The Chelsea medical staff take a look at the Czech keeper before deciding he has to go off
Off: Petr Cech had to be helped off the pitch midway through the first half after injuring his arm
In
future years perhaps there will be quiz question along the lines of,
'Which team played three goalkeepers in the first 18 minutes of a
Champions League semi-final?' The answer, of course, will be Chelsea.
Petr Cech, who got injured, Mark Schwarzer, his replacement, and Thibaut
Courtois up the other end in the shirt of Atletico Madrid.
Courtois's loan status having been such a hot potato issue going into this game, it was only to be expected that any drama would centre on the issue of goalkeepers, and sure enough, the tie just 17 minutes old, there it was.
Atletico Madrid won a corner which Raul Garcia attacked with gusto, his momentum greatly increased by an untimely shove from David Luiz. The Brazilian has been as close to being the wrecking ball as the inspiration for Chelsea's ambitions in this tournament this season, and his intervention here was disastrous. Garcia clattered into Cech, who instantly signalled that he needed replacement.
At first a head injury was feared, but his gait as he left the field suggested a rib injury or the effects of a nasty fall. Either way, he was unable to continue and Schwarzer entered the action, fresh from a less-than-convincing performance in Saturday's league defeat at home by Sunderland. If only Chelsea had a brilliant young goalkeeper waiting in the wings for his moment. Ah well.
Courtois's loan status having been such a hot potato issue going into this game, it was only to be expected that any drama would centre on the issue of goalkeepers, and sure enough, the tie just 17 minutes old, there it was.
Close: Gabi fires in a free-kick which Mark Schwarzer was forced to parry
Out: Frank Lampard is shown a yellow card for a rash challenge and will miss the second leg
Close call: It could have been worse for Lampard who stayed on the pitch despite a hand-ball
Atletico Madrid won a corner which Raul Garcia attacked with gusto, his momentum greatly increased by an untimely shove from David Luiz. The Brazilian has been as close to being the wrecking ball as the inspiration for Chelsea's ambitions in this tournament this season, and his intervention here was disastrous. Garcia clattered into Cech, who instantly signalled that he needed replacement.
At first a head injury was feared, but his gait as he left the field suggested a rib injury or the effects of a nasty fall. Either way, he was unable to continue and Schwarzer entered the action, fresh from a less-than-convincing performance in Saturday's league defeat at home by Sunderland. If only Chelsea had a brilliant young goalkeeper waiting in the wings for his moment. Ah well.
Taking command: Frank Lampard heads the ball away to clear Chelsea's lines
Blow: David Luiz received a bash to the ear and spent some time on the ground
Vocal: Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone tries to get his instructions over to his side
Courtois is too good, Chelsea's hierarchy feel, to hang about on the off-chance that Cech gets beaten into submission by one of his own players, hence his three-season loan transfer to Atletico, and the pre-match row over his availability.
Madrid were going to have to pay an extra £5m to play him against his parent club, until UEFA intervened citing such quaint old concepts as competition integrity. Bit too late for that now, lads.
So how was Courtois, given that all eyes were on him? Unconvincing from his first involvement, nowhere near a cross and grateful for referee Jonas Eriksson's whistle. His next attempt, collecting a Frank Lampard corner with confidence, was more impressive.
Schwarzer, at 41, was the only person on the pitch who was even born the last time Atletico Madrid reached the last four in this tournament in 1974 - they defeated Celtic, but lost the final to a mighty Bayern Munich team - but even he looked nervous when Koke floated a cross for Garcia to head in the 30th minute.
Schwarzer's hesitancy off his line as Garcia headed over would have made Chelsea's travelling few fear the worst, but he redeemed himself four minutes later, even if he failed to receive credit for it.
Making a nuisance of himself: Torres tries to pinch the ball away from Diego Godin
Long legs: Frank Lampard stretches to block a shot from Diego in the early minutes of the game
Safe hands: Chelsea's on-loan keeper Thibaut Courtois catches the ball in his area
Tussle: John Obi Mikel holds off Diego Costa as the Spanish striker hopes to win back the ball
Deep-lying midfielder Mario Suarez struck a lovely, low shot
from 25 yards which Schwarzer diverted with his fingertips. The
deflection was too subtle to be noticed by Eriksson however, and a
goal-kick was order.
The official behind the goal - who would almost certainly have had a better view of it - was, as ever, completely useless. Another Michel Platini brainwave that should have been flushed years ago.
Atletico had plenty of possession but to little effect. They had been talked up greatly as the conquerors of Barcelona and La Liga's champions elect, but this was disappointing fair. Chelsea threw a defensive cordon across the middle of the pitch, and another sitting even deeper in case the first didn't work, and Atletico were reduced to pot-shots at best.
Their best chance was a shot from Diego Costa in the 41st minute, charged down with the trademark Chelsea bravery by Cesar Azpilicueta.
The official behind the goal - who would almost certainly have had a better view of it - was, as ever, completely useless. Another Michel Platini brainwave that should have been flushed years ago.
Atletico had plenty of possession but to little effect. They had been talked up greatly as the conquerors of Barcelona and La Liga's champions elect, but this was disappointing fair. Chelsea threw a defensive cordon across the middle of the pitch, and another sitting even deeper in case the first didn't work, and Atletico were reduced to pot-shots at best.
Their best chance was a shot from Diego Costa in the 41st minute, charged down with the trademark Chelsea bravery by Cesar Azpilicueta.
Hiding behind the ball: Ramires keeps his body in front of Koke
All smiles: Spain manager Vicente del Bosque (centre back) was in the stands watching some of his players
Foul! Lampard goes to ground under a challenge from Atletico midfielder Raul Garcia
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