Bayern’s poor performance in their match against Real Madrid this past week allowed Real to take a 1-0 semifinal lead over them. Madrid had most of the ball possession throughout the game, however a majority of the shots taken by Madrid were not on target. Another disappointing match of of this past week was the one between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. Limited effort was put forth by both teams with Atletico having an advantage in the second leg.

Many followers of the Champions League are predicting that this year’s final will be Chelsea vs Real Madrid. That match up should be interesting considering the fact that former Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, now holds a position as Chelsea’s coach. Ironically, Real Madrid’s current manger, Carlo Ancelotti, was a former Chelsea coach.

The next Champions League match will be Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid at 2:45pm this Tuesday.

After Man U coach–Sir Alex Ferguson–retired last year, Former Everton boss– David Moyes–came into the picture and took a stab at filling the legendary coach’s shoes.

Manchester United saw incredible success under the authority of Sir Alex Ferguson. The club won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, and numerous F.A. and League cups.

For the first time in almost 20 years, the club is on track to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League. Clearly, Moyes’s first and last (as of this past Tuesday) season with Manchester United has been incredibly frustrating for fans and most likely for himself as well.

Unsurprisingly, Manchester United has decided to let Moyes go this past Tuesday–10 months after he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, the teams most winning coach ever. A statement Manchester United made in a brief statement on Tuesday: “The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he (Moyes) brought to the role,” The dismissal followed a meeting with Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice chairman, at the side’s training ground outside Manchester.

Ryan Giggs has been named interim manager until a permanent replacement is found.

Exaggerated flops by professional soccer players is one of the main reasons why soccer sometimes gets a bad rep.

The Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes were tied 0-0 in the second minute of stoppage time. Columbus Crew defender, Giancarlo Gonzalez, delivered a clearly deliberate elbow into the side of San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski. Wondolowski popped right back up and looked to remain in the play. He grazed Gonzalez who then busted out in a ridiculous flop. One of the most theatrical flops I have ever seen.

Neither player was punished (though Gonzalez clearly should have earned a straight red for the elbow, and at least a yellow for the flop), and the game ended 1-1.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee later fined Columbus Crew Gonzalez an undisclosed amount for his embellishment during the game. Many critics of the disciplinary committee point out that minor repercussions, such as the fine, do not do enough to denounce this type of behavior.

Video of the flop: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2014/04/15/giancarlo-gonzalez-incident-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-disciplinary-committee-action?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=webvid&utm_campaign=Paid

Hull City Striker, Yannick Sagbo has been fined and ordered to complete a compulsory education course by an FA panel for a comment made on social media supporting Nicolas Anelka over the ‘quenelle’ controversy.

Sagbo does not understand the basis upon which he is being fined and explained that he posted the tweet “Because he’s [Nicolas] been the best French striker we’ve ever had”. In his eyes, Anelka has been the best striker. He’s referring to Nicolas Anelka, not the gesture.

It is ridiculous, in my opinion, that he is being fined by the FA after they, themselves, had a hearing and came to the conclusion that the gesture was not anti-semitic.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2610367/Yannick-Sagbo-fined-FA-panel-support-Nicolas-Anelka-quenelle-controversy.html#ixzz2zw3F7Mfu

French footballer, Nicolas Anelka made a celebratory hand gesture after scoring a goal against West Ham in December of this year. The hand gesture, apparently known as the ‘quenelle’ has been regarded by some as anti-semitic. Anelka was at the epicenter of widespread condemnation even after he responded, clarifying that the gesture is anti-establishment and has nothing to do with anti-semitism. An FA disciplinary hearing was issued regarding the issue. It was established that Anelka was not anti-semitic and had not intended for the hand gesture surrounding the controversy to promote or express anti-semitism. Despite this outcome, Anelka was banned for 5 games and West Bromwich Albion suspended him and later gave him notice of his termination from the due his, along with the club’s, inability to come to terms over the conditions required for the suspension by the club to be lifted.

Anelka made a few comments on twitter about the situation explaining the meaning of the gesture and posted a picture of a Obama, Jay Z, Beyonce and another individual making the same gesture with the opposite hand. Translation of the top tweet: “Quenelle meaning: anti-system. I do not know what the word religion has to do with this story!”

Former Barcelona coach, Tito Vilanova, passed away today in a Catalan clinic. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and has been battling the disease ever since.

Vilanova came up through Barcelona ranks and played for various teams before he hung up his boots and began work at the Barca academy as a coach responsible for training the U-14 team, which at the time, included Messi, Fabregas and Pique. He managed a few catalan pubs prior to joining Guardiola’s coaching staff.

“The Club wishes to express its most heartfelt sympathy to his family, who are being joined in these moments of mourning by FC Barcelona members and fans all around the world, as well as the rest of the footballing and sporting world,” Barça said in a statement confirming the sad news, continuing: “The Vilanova family has asked for respect for their desire for the strictest intimacy in the moments after his death.”

Barcelona has the people on their side, Manchester United has a history of succes backing it and Real Madrid has the talented Ronaldo but no club has been more dominant this the past year than the reigning titleholders of Bundesliga and the Champions Leaugue, Bayern Munich.

Bayern is taking a 2-0 lead into the second leg of it’s Champions League round-of-16 matchup against Arsenal and is trying to become the first undefeated team in Germany’s top league.

Bayern Munich Club Statistics 2013-2014: http://espnfc.com/team/stats/_/id/132/league/ger.1/bayern-munich?cc=5901

(WRITTEN MARCH 9th)

The U.S. vs Ukraine friendly that took place 4 days ago almost did not happen because of the political chaos in Crimea–where the match was set to be played. The match location was switched to Cyprus and the game was played. Ukraine dominated with a 2-0 victory against the U.S.

Read more about the match:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/crisis-torn-ukraine-delivers-gutsy-win-u-s-friendly-article-1.1711929

(WRITTEN MARCH 9th)

Ever since the first World Cup that took place in Uruguay 74 years ago, FIFA has grown constantly in prestige and popularity. The FIFA World Cup has become mainstream, even for those who do not regularly follow soccer. It is seen as something that must be followed. No other sporting event is able to capture the world’s attention like the World Cup.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup group distributions and match times: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/

(WRITTEN MARCH 9th)

This past year has been a special one, especially for 28 year old, Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. He was recognized by FIFA, his fellow players and the international media and awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or.

Watch Cristiano’s reaction

(WRITTEN MARCH 9th)