ATLETICO DE MADRID 0 CHELSEA FC 0 | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1º LEG SEMI FINAL RESULT

The first semi-final of the 1º leg away match in the UEFA Champions League between Spanish Football Club Atletico de Madrid & English Premier League Club Chelsea FC finished with a final 0-0 draw result. The match also had some "collateral damage" for Chelsea FC losing their habitual goalie Peter Cech with a dislocated shoulder & their Captain John Terry, plus Frank Lampard received a yellow card along with Atletico Captain Gabi both to lose the 2º leg return semi-final due to accumulated yellow cards. 

The true winner tonight was Chelsea FC Coach Jose Mourinho & his team Chelsea FC who followed their "Masterplan" to the final letter. They allowed from the start Atletico de Madrid all the initiative, filled up the midfield with men & then defended in a block (are a wall) to go away tonight without the Spaniards scoring. Jose Mourinho knows very well that this is 120 mins & that the return leg will be were the business will be done & on home turf. Although from a spectators point of view there was no real Football from the visitors, from a strategic angle (tactical) one has to congratulated Mr Mourinho whose a old fox in this competition. 

Said all the above, Atletico de Madrid had the possession of the ball & attacked all game naturally creating goal opportunities throughout the 90 mins. The main focus points up front in Diego Costa & Raul Garcia were neutralized by so many marking Chelsea defenders that made the job difficult for the attackers. Both, along with other team-mates, came close to scoring but not close enough. Congratulations to Atletico de Madrid for not allowing Chelsea to score & putting in an acceptable & admirable performance under the circumstances. They live to fight another day which ain´t too bad for Champions League.

Both teams are still very much alive in this semi-final & Chelsea looks a team that can be beaten if we are to go on what was seen tonight, not very convincing at all. However, I have no doubts that Mourinho maybe setting up a "trap" for the 2º leg game where he maybe able to call up other players like Oscar, Hazard or Eto´o to give the team a total redecoration into a strong attacking team at "Stamford Bridge".  In conclusion a return match that will have everyone on their nerves & were the tense will be at maximum levels as this competition deserves & is expected at this late stage of Champions League. 

Tomorrow, more World Class Football with two giants playing each other in the 2º UEFA Champions League semi-final 1º leg away game; Real Madrid & Bayern Munich.