SOCCER - CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2011/12
Group C - Manchester United (1) @ (2) FC Basel - In the final group match, and with United only needing a draw to go through, it was Basel that triumphed and they leap-frogged United in the table to go through to the knockout rounds. Goals from Marco Streller and Alexander Frei gave Basel a 2-0 lead with 6 minutes left and even when United pulled a goal back through Phil Jones, Basel held on to win. With the loss, United became the 1st team in the tournaments history to be knocked out in the 1st round 1 year after making the Final (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Beglin, PAL)
Last 16, 2nd Leg - Bayer Leverkusen (1) @ (7) Barcelona - On a record-setting night at the Nou camp, Barcelona posted a 10-2 aggregate win to advance to the Quarter Finals. Barcelona ended the tie as a contest by scoring 2 goals in the 1st half then completed the rout with 5 more goals in the 2nd half. The goals came from Lionel Messi (5) and Cristian Tello (2). With his 5 goals, Messi became the 1st player to ever score 5 in 1 match in Champions League history. Disc 2 also includes a 45 minute biography of Lionel Messi (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Townsend, PAL)
Last 16, 2nd Leg - Napoli (1) @ (4) Chelsea - On a remarkable night at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea over-turned a 3-1 1st leg deficit to beat a strong Napoli team. Chelsea evened the tie during regualtion with a 3-1 result thanks to goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry and Frank Lampard, then finished off Napoli in extra-time with a strong finish from Branislav Ivanovic. Fernando Torres had a big game off the bench (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Townsend, PAL)
Semi-Final, 1st Leg - Barcelona (0) @ (1) Chelsea - In the rain at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea shocked the holders with a dogged display to take the advantage in the tie. Barcelona dominated possession (70%) and created more chances to score (25 to 4) but paid for bad finishing when Didier Drogba scored with the last kick of the 1st half to give Chelsea the lead. The Blues resolutely defended the goal until the end and celebrated a famous victory. The loss by Barcelona was their 1st in the Champions League in the 2011/12 season (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Townsend, PAL)
Semi-Final, 2nd Leg - Chelsea (2) @ (2) Barcelona - On a sensational night at the Nou Camp, Chelsea upset the odds to reach their 2nd Champions League Final. The Blues held a 1-0 lead from the 1st leg but Barcelona took control of the game after Chelsea went down to 10 men, with 2 goals in the 1st half from Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Chelsea pulled a goal back from Ramires but the tie seemed over when Barcelona were awarded a penalty. Lionel Messi hit the bar with the kick and Chelsea held on the rest of the way, finally settling the game with an injury time goal from Fernando Torres. Barcelona dominated the game with 72% possession and 22 attempts on goal but Chelsea converted their chances, scoring 2 goals in their 3 attempts on target. Discs 1 and 2 are the game, Disc 3 is SKY Sports News post-game report + ITV Hi-Lites (10, 3 Discs, SKY - Parry/Neville, PAL)
Semi-Final, 2nd Leg - Bayern Munich (1) @ (2) Real Madrid - Bayern Munich overcame a partizan crowd to book a place in their 4th Champions League Final. Real overtuned their 2-1 deficit from the 1st leg with 2 goals in the opening 14 minutes, with both goals coming from Ronaldo. But Bayern levelled the tie in the 27th minute with a penalty converted by Arjen Robben. Neither side could find the winner in the 2nd half or extra-time so the game went to penalties where the Germans inevitably held their nerve to go through to the Final (10, 2 Discs, ITV - Drury/Beglin, PAL)
Final - Chelsea (1) v (1) Bayern Munich - In a sensational night of drama at the Allianz arena in Munich, Chelsea won their 1st Champions League trophy in a Penalty Shootout. Bayern were the favourites on their home ground and took the lead with 7 minutes left on a Thomas Muller goal, But Chelsea sent the game to extra-time with a goal in the 88th minute from Didier Drogba. Neither team could find the winner in the extra period, although Bayern had a penalty saved, so the game went to a Penalty shootout where Chelsea prevailed to win the game. Coverage includes a 24 minute Preview of the game + 55 minutes of BBC News coverage of the celebratory open-bus tour through Chelsea with the trophy (10, 4 Discs, ITV - Tyldesley/Townsend, PAL)