Yesterday Salah stole the show, now it's Cristiano's turn...
I remember reading an interview once with Woody Allen in ‘L’Équipe Magazine’ where he claimed that sport offered the biggest global spectacle. He added that a trip to the theatre or cinema can entertain for the duration of the film or play but sport provokes debate and talking points that can last for days. This came back to me as Liverpool were 5-0 ahead at Anfield with the tie seemingly a done and dusted affair. Two late goal from the Serie A side however have changed the narrative of the semi-final and Roma could have even left the English city with a 5-3 result had their late finishing been sharper. Once again the side from the Italian capital will need a 3-0 win to progress to the next stage of the competition and a place in the Kiev final at the end of May.
Anfield drama
Sport is wonderful, football is wonderful and Mohamed Salah is wonderful. The Egyptian is a clear candidate to rival the Cristiano/Messi duopoly as finest player in global football. He was instrumental in the downfall of Roma, bagging two goals and providing assists for the third and fourth on the night. Klopp decided to substitute player in the 74th minute with the tie seemingly a foregone conclusion and this served to propel the men in white into something of a mini-revival from Roma. Two late goals now have Di Francesco's side now believing that lightning can strike twice with a 3-0 win in the Olimpico enough for the Giallorossi to take their place in the Kiev final. How wonderful the Champions League is...
Germany away
Next up is Bayern-Real Madrid with the LaLiga side showing that they have far more mental resolve in recent trips to Germany. This was something that coach Zidane alluded to yesterday in the pre-match press conference using the expression "shit themselves" and I'm sure that is a saying that he picked up somewhere. It was an uncharacteristic comment from the French coach but he's not wrong as recent trips to face Bundesliga opposition have produced positive results. Madrid now go into the tie as favourites and with a very much in-form Cristiano and the side playing well. Fear of away games in Germany may belong to a different era but respect in facing the Bundesliga's finest sides still remains.