Barcelona vs Chelsea 2nd leg - The all important opening goal!

In football, very rarely does the first strike assume larger-than-match significance. After all, how often does an opening goal determine the match’s outcome? But in the semifinal clash between Barcelona and Chelsea this Tuesday night, the stakes on the opening goal will be far greater than just determining the outcome of a match. For it may be a goal that seals a place in the summit clash of Champions League final; a goal that might give a club a shot at its holy grail; a goal that may make or break the season for two clubs; the goal that may decide the fate of two managers; a goal that might herald the end of a golden era; a goal that may bring back a filthy-rich club owner to the realm of sanity.

Let us analyse the repercussions of two cases of this all-important goal.

Chelsea scores

Tie:

The opening goal by Chelsea will leave Barcelona in a precarious situation. The important away goal means that Barcelona will have to score at least three times on the night. Forget Chelsea defence, the sheer burden of having to score three goals will wear down the Barca Attack. And we know how Barca performs under pressure?

Season:

Champions League trophy has been Chelsea’s Holy Grail ever since Roman Abramovich took over. Five managers have been sacked and nearly $ 700 Million has been spent for that ever-eluding trophy. This victory will provide Chelsea with another shot at that Holy Grail. No doubt, players will want to set the record straight after they narrowly missed out in 2008. If they do succeed, one man will thank his stars for saving his job.

Au Revoir?

After having been dumped out of the La Liga race by Real Madrid, Barca’s only chances of saving their season is by winning the Champions League. Failing to progress in the European competition, even with the Copa del Rey win, will compound Barca to their worst season under Pep, who will mostly depart to take up a new assignment. Moreover, with physical decline of Xavi and injuries troubling Iniesta, questions will be raised whether this will be the end of Barca’s golden era. Is it time to hand over the reins to the arch rivals? Yes, there are equally talented La Masia graduates ready to take over from the old warhorses. Yes, they might form an even better Barca team. But, that process will take time.

Barcelona Scores

Tie:

On other hand, opening goal by Barca will leave the score evenly poised at one-all. Two successive drubbings have, no doubt, left Barca team in the lurch. This goal will act as the much needed morale booster for the Catalan camp. And more importantly, the goal will spur the players to win the tie. For, it’s a known fact that Barca plays its best football when it draws the first blood. This is what the statistics in this season’s La Liga have to say:

When Barca score the opening goal: 23 of 34 Matches: 21 wins 2 Draws 0 Losses Goal Diff: +64

When Opponents score the opening goal: 9 of 34 Matches: 4 Wins 2 Draw 3 Losses Goal Diff: +7

Simply put, Barca scoring first will put Chelsea’s hopes to rest.

Season:

With the victory, Barca will head to Munich brimming with confidence and with a chance to become the first club to retain the Champions League crown. With no domestic distractions, they might create history and stamp their authority as one of the best club sides ever.

Given Chelsea’s dismal performance in domestic league and Roman’s obsession with Champions league, I can’t imagine a FA Cup triumph saving De Matteo’s Job. The loss will result in mass exodus of senior players and leave Roman with no choice but to search for another new manager and players.

And you know, what happens when Roman is on look out for new players? The football market will look at India and smirk at its inflation!

Not to mention, the probability of ‘The Special One’ returning to England.

With so much at stake, fans across the globe will wait with bated breath – who will score that vital first goal?