INTER CONQUER EUROPE

 

 

The last time Bayern Munich made it to the Champions League final was back in '01. An Otmar Hitzfeld managed team that included Oliver Khan in goal, was captained by Steffan Effenburg and had Owen Hargreves in midfield drew 1-1 with Valencia at the San Siro before winning a penalty shootout. The last time Inter made the final of Europe's biggest club competition, it was called the European Cup and they were beaten 2-0 by Johan Cryuff's Ajax side at De Kuip. The year was 1972. The last time they won the grand trophy, they did so with a team that became known as "Le Grande Inter". They beat Benefica 1-0 at the San Siro in 1965.

This time around, well we have an interesting affair. Bayern managed to see off United in the quarter finals which, while in theory wasn't a complete disgrace for the Reds, was still seriously annoying. Inter however are gaffered by Jose Mourinho and managed to mug favourites Barcelona in the semis. However the Cocky One may have met his match in facing his old mentor Louis van Gaal, now Bayern gaffer and a man who has just as big an ego. So we had everything set for a Champions League final at the Bernabau. In theory, neither side should be here but that just made the encounter all the more tasty. This was a hard match to predict.

Well it was Bayern who looked to quickly take control of the match at the start and Ivica Olic came close to putting them ahead almost immediately. Bayern were just happilly running the show and despite Jose's best efforts at distration, looked to have their Serie A opponents at their mercy. The Inter fast breaked in the 34th minutwe and the Bayern defence was caught on the hop. Wesley Sneijder set up Diego Milito and the Argie assasin slammed the ball home. Bayern tried to maintain some of their swagger but if anything it was Inter that were looking the more confident team. Advantage Jose with van Gaal's crew having to find something extra.

Well Bayern were were clearly under orders to press Inter early on in the 2nd half but were unable to find the net. Inter's first opportunity of the 2nd half was similarly stopped by the opposition goalie. Bayern were clearly better at keeping the ball but not so much at scoring. Then Inter fastbreaked again in the 70th minute. Milito did a lot of the running himself this time around and slotted his second goal to seemingly secure the trophy. That was enough to flat tyre Bayern. Their last opportunity came to nothing. The full time whistle blew and it was the Serie A side that went on to claim the glory on this occasion, having the last word of the European club season.

So, congratulations to Inter, the 2009/10 Champions League winners, the first time they've won the trophy since 1964/65. Six years after Jose Mourinho first got people's attention by taking Porto of all teams to this title, he's done it again, this time with a bigger side. Furthermore, having already won Serie A and the Coppa Italia, Inter become the first Italian team to complete the treble. Well, this was certainly not meant to happen, having said that, the Inter team of the late 90s with Ronaldo, Marcelo Salas and Christian Vieri was meant to be invincible but they never took the big trophy. Word is, Jose is off to Real Madrid next. If so, he leaves Italy with nothing to prove.

Back to domestic concerns and Cardiff faced Blackpool in the Championship playoff final at Wembley. Michael Chopra opened the scoring City only for Charlie Adam to equalise for the Tangerines. Joe Ledley allowed the Bluebirds to retake the lead only for Gary Taylor-Fletcher to level again for Ian Holloway's side then Brett Ormerod turned the game round for the supposed underdogs. Cardiff had the better second half but it wasn't anywhere near as lively as the first and Blackpool held on to secure Premiership football next season. It'll be their first season in English football's top flight since 1970/71 - don't think anyone expected that to happen.

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