It would be disingenuous of me to complain about Franck Ribery’s red card when, throughout this Champions League campaign, other calls have gone our way. (That’s stating the painfully obvious, innit?) However, if you were to ask what I honestly thought? Now that my lager-fueled, conveniently blind Bayern loyalism has subsided? I would opine that the reds handed out, on both sides of the field, at the Allianz Arena, Wednesday night, were a bit harsh.

Yes, Franck went over the top of the ball, but I do not think with malicious intent. Had it been malicious--- Lisandro Lopez would have suffered a broken leg. Franck’s never been the most adroit tackler, so I’m chalking this one up to being a stupid mistake. But, it is easy for all of us armchair referees and managers to sit and judge, for we have the luxury of replay from every possible angle. Much more difficult, I would think, to make a snap decision, on the pitch, surrounded by close to 70 thousand people, who may or may not, want to do you bodily injury.

And, perhaps the second yellow, given to Lyon’s Toulalan was compensation for the straight red shown to Ribery? Eh, I’ll never know what’s in a zebra’s mind…

Now, we must wait for the UEFA disciplinary tribunal, due to meet the day after next week’s semi-final matches, to see what punishment will be given out. Hopefully, Franck will just have to sit out the leg in Lyon, and will be available for the final.

This season, with Bayern, you never know what performance you’re going to get with our back four. I have alternately wanted to kiss them and strangle them all year. Kisses all around for this match, I think, despite a few shaky passes on van Buyten’s part. Demichelis, the phantom unmasked, had his best start this year. Phillip Lahm, with the captain’s armband on, was a fabulous complement to Robben’s flank. And, Holger Badstuber will be hard pressed to start again after the performance Contento dished out. Contento easily out-paces Badstuber--- who was never a true wing-back in the first place.

Up front, there wasn’t a whole lot of finish as Mueller, Gomez and Olic missed absolute sitters. The score easily could’ve been 4:0, even with Bayern being a man down for part of the match. Olic works very hard, no one is questioning his ethic. However, in a Champions League semi-final? You have to deliver on the opportunities you’re being presented with. Mario Gomez continues to be a disappointment, although for me it’s not so surprising. His record Bundesliga transfer, from Stuttgart, was based on a gaudy goal total where he was their only option. He also infuriates me when he plays for die Mannschaft: Evidenced by my Euro ‘08 blog, in which I basically trashed him for an entire month.

I can wax poetic about Bastian Schweinsteiger. The man is just incredible! He was everywhere and anywhere he needed to be, easily out-distancing everyone else on the pitch. I’m glad to see the up-tick in his form, going in to this summer’s World Cup. And, I heartily wished he would’ve scored a goal.

But, of course… once again… the man of the match, the savior of the season, the “Tulpen aus Amsterdam”, the Bundesliga’s MVP, the shiny-headed Dutchman is: Arjen Robben. Or, as I like to say Arjen $#%&!#@ Robben!!!! Yes, with all of those exclamation points. His 25-yard rocket, slightly misdirected by Thomas Mueller’s hair was, again (!), die Roten’s saving grace. When I look back on this year, after it’s all done, I will be forever marveling at his ability to single-handedly change a match.

I was perplexed, however, as was Mr. Robben, by van Gaal’s decision to sub for him in the 85th minute. I definitely felt he had another goal in him, and I desperately wanted a two-goal cushion heading in to next Tuesday’s return tie. As soon as Altintop was in, the entire dynamic of the game changed. We stopped pressing forward, and I squirmed around uncomfortably until the final whistle blew.

Wow. What else can I say? I’m fairly confident in our ability to score away goals, which leaves Lyon having to hang 3 on us Tuesday to go through. Now, I haven’t booked tickets to Madrid just yet… but the travel websites are open and waiting for me to click “submit”…