It had become something of a custom this season for Liverpool to save the best for the last minutes of their games at Anfield. They scored twice in the last five minutes against Arsenal to qualify for this year’s semis. They scored twice in the last five minutes in the first leg of the second round tie against Inter. Yesterday they were at the wrong end of this ‘practice’.

1-1 was the final score in the first semi-final between Liverpool and Chelsea. What a way to clinch the draw by Chelsea; an unfortunate incredible Liverpool own-goal in the dying seconds. It was a rather balanced game, with Liverpool having more goal-scoring chances, but Peter Cech, with two exceptional saves, kept the Blues in the game until Riiese fatal own goal (the second this season) neutralised the Kuyt’s advantage and kept Chelsea’s hopes alive.

Impressive

What a scene. I am not a Liverpool fan, especially after the Istanbul 2005 final. However, I love the way the Liverpool supporters frame each game at Anfield. I might be wrong, but I think it’s one of the first times ever that the Uefa Champions’ League Anthem wasn’t played before a Champions League semi-final. Instead, we heard the ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’… “Roba da brividi” has just uttered one of my friends, with whom I watched this match in a bar in Milan’s centre. Simply incredible!

Chelsea can now prepare for their important weekend game against Manchester United, who tonight will visit Barcelona in the other Champions League semi-final.

Catalonia

It will be a week of great events at Catalonia. After Barcelona hosting Manchester United, in the Champion’s League Semis, the Catalan city of Montmelo (35 km away from the Camp Nou), will host the fourth race (the first in Europe) of this year Formula 1 Championship. Seems that, like last year, scandals in this sport have to fill in the papers in between races. After last season’s spy-story, this year we have the scandal involving FIA president Max Mosley, which, to be fair doesn’t and should not impinge on the sport itself. Not the same can be said of Mosley who has a battle on his hands to keep his position.

As for the sport itself, a look at the table of the teams’ championship shows that this year BMW-Sauber, Ferrari and McLaren have sent the signals about their strengths. BMW-Sauber’s Nick Heidfield and Robert Kubica’s performances have put the German team one point ahead of Ferrari who in turn are one point ahead of McLaren. This weekend’s race should provide some confirmation about the strengths of this year’s contenders. It will be held on the track which has seen most of the testing this winter, so drivers have an excuse or fear of the unknown.

Mick Schumacher

No it’s not the new nickname for the 7 times F1 champion. I am referring to his son who seems to be following in the steps of his dad and his uncle. Last weekend he competed in his first race during a minor kart race in Spain. The Schumachers tried to keep it low key and entered their son with his mother’s maiden surname. He finished in tenth and eighth positions. Although far from the podium, it seems that racing is entwined in the Schumachers’ DNA.