Finally, it’s back. Champion’s League and its stupid music return to make you forget the boring and desolate 0-0 draw you watched this weekend. To get even more hyped up, here is a little preview of this week’s confrontations and the chance for me to predict (and to further confirm I was right) the results. If you have anything to say about the predictions or have some of your own, don’t hesitate and comment!
Tuesday
Arsenal – Porto
(first leg: Porto 2-1 Arsenal)
(first leg: Porto 2-1 Arsenal)
Arsene Wenger can defend his players all he wants, the Bendtner case remains. Against Burnley this weekend, the Great Dane showed us what he does best lately: miss the target. Although perseverant, which is laudable indeed, Nicklas has been way under-par with only three goals this season. The debate continues and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use Tuesday as a way to deny his detractors another opportunity to bash him. In defense, Gallas’ absence will probably push the French coach to place Campbell next to Vermaelen as during the first leg. Other than that Arsenal seem in favourable shape to obtain their qualification: they have won their last two EPL games, always score plenty at home, Nasri and Fabregas are falling in love with each other, Fabianski probably won’t be in goal and the Portuguese don’t often break legs. On the latter’s side, the season is getting complicated. After their successful first leg game, Porto continued to impress by beating the second of the Portuguese League Sporting Braga 5-1. The streak ended a week later with a 3-0 defeat at Sporting Portugal. With this week’s bleak draw against Olhanense, Porto finds itself lonely third and distance from Sporting Braga by almost 10 points. Bleak indeed. The Portuguese will try to make Champion’s League count as the saviour of a disappointing season. Especially since Hulk can play European games and not local ones (it’s a long story that involves after-game violence, the Portuguese League and a pending suspension…). Arsenal will probably do the necessary to qualify, might even thank Campbell for that away goal. Porto on the other hand is deep in the “crunch time”.
Fourth Official predictions: Arsenal 0-2 Porto (Campbell red card, Fabregas breaks a leg, Wenger cries, Hulk crucifies)
Probable result: Arsenal 2-0 Porto (Fabregas and Arshavine for a boring game)
Fiorentina – Bayern
(first leg: Bayern 2-1 Fiorentina)
Everyone knows it, everyone has heard it, everyone now says it, Fiorentina’s season is horrible. At a very low eleventh place within the Serie A, the Viola are destroying all the hopes that were place in them over the last couple of seasons of attaining the top of Italian Football. Some say it is because Melo left (the way he is playing at Juve, I doubt it), others say it’s Mutu’s absence (17 millions weren’t enough?). We can’t really tell, maybe a question of simple alchemy? In any way, Fiorentina has only the Champion’s League to make up for it. Unfortunately the Florentines find themselves in the thick of the season, with games against direct opponents within the Serie A or the bigger teams. The result is this: eight defeats, two wins and three draws out of the last 13 games (all competitions). And that’s without counting the upcoming games with Napoli, Genoa and Inter. The squad is most complete and most talented (see: Vargas, Marchionni, Montolivo); it’s time to bring out the big game for a historic qualification, although that might not compensate for the disillusionment. Against them, the Germans, who have been running out of breath lately after a series of 13 consecutive victories. A couple of harmless draws, some problems scoring, just the usual mid season obstacles. Yet Bayern are now at the top of the Bundesliga. Van Gaal will probably align his troops in his usual way: Robbery on the flanks, Gomez on top, Van Bommel to show some muscle and finally…..drum roll….Van Buyten on the bench, where he belongs the most. The Dutch technician has obviously seen enough mediocrity from the Belgian defender and seems most inclined to start with Badstuber next to Demichelis. This might be the only small flaw in a side that knows how to do the job well. And who are we kidding, the Germans always win when they can.
Everyone knows it, everyone has heard it, everyone now says it, Fiorentina’s season is horrible. At a very low eleventh place within the Serie A, the Viola are destroying all the hopes that were place in them over the last couple of seasons of attaining the top of Italian Football. Some say it is because Melo left (the way he is playing at Juve, I doubt it), others say it’s Mutu’s absence (17 millions weren’t enough?). We can’t really tell, maybe a question of simple alchemy? In any way, Fiorentina has only the Champion’s League to make up for it. Unfortunately the Florentines find themselves in the thick of the season, with games against direct opponents within the Serie A or the bigger teams. The result is this: eight defeats, two wins and three draws out of the last 13 games (all competitions). And that’s without counting the upcoming games with Napoli, Genoa and Inter. The squad is most complete and most talented (see: Vargas, Marchionni, Montolivo); it’s time to bring out the big game for a historic qualification, although that might not compensate for the disillusionment. Against them, the Germans, who have been running out of breath lately after a series of 13 consecutive victories. A couple of harmless draws, some problems scoring, just the usual mid season obstacles. Yet Bayern are now at the top of the Bundesliga. Van Gaal will probably align his troops in his usual way: Robbery on the flanks, Gomez on top, Van Bommel to show some muscle and finally…..drum roll….Van Buyten on the bench, where he belongs the most. The Dutch technician has obviously seen enough mediocrity from the Belgian defender and seems most inclined to start with Badstuber next to Demichelis. This might be the only small flaw in a side that knows how to do the job well. And who are we kidding, the Germans always win when they can.
Fourth Official predictions: Fiorentina 3-0 Bayern (with fans chanting “Gilardino, Gilardino, suonaci il Violino!”)
Probable result: Fiorentina 0-0 Bayern (The Germans know how to defend)
Probable result: Fiorentina 0-0 Bayern (The Germans know how to defend)
Wednesday
Manchester United – Milan AC
(first leg: Milan 2-3 Manchester)
In two weeks Manchester have lost to Everton, won their first trophy of the season, seen Vidic and Rio back together and taken the lead of the Premier League. Amidst these busy times though, none of them seemed to care: from the mellow celebration after the win at Aston Villa to Berbatov’s goal non-celebration, all the minds are on this night. Why? Well in part because in 2007, Kaka came over and traumatized all of Old Trafford, and although the Red Devils won that first leg, Kaka stayed in their nightmares long after the painful 3-0 return loss in Milan. But this is 2010 and the providential man is this time on Fergie’s side. In fact Wayne Rooney will probably score Wednesday, and simultaneously send his team in the quarterfinals. If not, then Manchester can still rely on their old (understatement) guard such as Scholes and Giggs. As always Manchester offer a very homogeneous and experienced squad, although Nani and Valencia both seem on the low after a couple of good performances in 2010. On the Milan side, the telenovela continues. First, the obligated Ronaldinho mentioning, for which I will only say that his performances could really be of his past standard if a) he ran a bit more and b) looked less at the referee for fouls. Secondly the lego defense where except Nesta no one is really sure of playing: from a transparent Zambrotta to an injured Thiago Silva, even Jankulovski might get to start (MAREK). On the field side, the Rossoneri have been performing well with consecutive wins against Bari and Atalanta, but have hit a solid rock against Roma last weekend. Good against smaller teams but out of ideas against the big ones. The task appears near impossible for Leonardo’s team, but who knows, maybe Seedorf, Pirlo and co. will remember the good old days and simply outplay every expectation (which is what we really want). “Serene and focused” versus “ecclesiastic and unpredictable”.
Fourth Official predictions: Manchester 0-1 Milan (Seedorf releases everyone with a 90th minute strike from 30 meters out, that’s how plausible this scenario is)
Probable result: Manchester 1-0 Milan (Rooney goal after a super counter attack, Beckham does a lap of honour nevertheless)
Probable result: Manchester 1-0 Milan (Rooney goal after a super counter attack, Beckham does a lap of honour nevertheless)
Real Madrid – Lyon
(first leg: Lyon 1-0 Real Madrid)
(first leg: Lyon 1-0 Real Madrid)
Madrid have reunited with their fans. After a flaky start to the season, Pelligrini seems to finally have found that oh-so-needed balance in his star system. With a set against Villareal (6-2), a 5-1 victory at Tenerife, and finally a last-second-win against Sevilla to take the lead of the Primera Division, Real Madrid and the Bernabeu seem rejuvenated. The custom defeat at Gerland against Lyon now seems far away, and the Madrilènes can count on a resourceful bench as well to complete the job. There is not much more to say about Real, except that if they continue to grow as dramatically as they have over the past week, the damages will be enormous and the trophy there. On the Lyon side, after a promising start to 2010 with consecutive victories and good solidity, things have slowed down a bit, as if they just realized that everyone can fight to the Ligue 1 title, not just them and Bordeaux. On the European side, Benjamin-Button-Toulalan and his teammates still believe in the quarterfinals and can rely on a defence in good shape lately. Unfortunately though, it’s not Sochaux, it’s Real and its Kaka and Ronaldo and Higuain. Lloris will probably also deliver an outstanding performance. Benzema is out on injury which saves me lines about reunions. And let’s face it all together, we really want to see Real Madrid go up against a big name club like Manchester or something.
Fourth Official predictions: Real Madrid 5-0 Lyon
Probable result: Real Madrid 5-0 Lyon
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