Short previews of the upcoming games in an express fashion, because no preview, no matter how long, can make up for the joy of watching the actual games. So here is an outline, absolutely horrible format I agree. Also, if you have your own predictions please please post them, it’s always nice to be able to say “I was right”.
Bayern Munich – Manchester United
History: Everyone remembers the 1999 final and Solkjaer’s last minute winner, but the Red Devils have an otherwise poor record against the Germans. Bayern has lost their previous European aura whereas Manchester has acquired a strong one over the last couple of years.
Context: Bayern have just lost the lead of the Bundesliga and find themselves in a bit of slow spot in their season. Their victory against Fiorentina was somehow far fetched with the help of poor refereeing and away goals. Manchester disposed of an unworthy Milan, and continues its cruise through the EPL, setting itself as strong contender in this year’s UCL. To be confirmed vs. confirmed big team.
Bayern side: The ultimate strength of the Bavarians this year is on their bench, in the person of their coach and mastermind Van Gaal. The Dutchman further demonstrated his master of rhetoric by evading the question of the starting line-up (Robben and Ribery or not?). The weakness of the German side lies within their defence, old and slowly dying or young and inexperienced.
Manchester side: Rooney is undoubtedly the muscle of the Red Devils this season. Shrek was rested over the weekend to be in shape for the European rendez vous. Van Der Sar also seems back on top of the world. Other than that, the players are now used to big time games like these, after two successive finals. They know how to do the job, but an excess of confidence is never outlawed these times around.
The Fourth Official Predictions: Bayern 0-3 Manchester (Rooney vs. Van Buyten, who are we kidding?)
Probable Result: Bayern 1-1 Manchester (Rooney indeed, but Robben and/or Ribery come/s in during the game to score the survival goal)
History: Everyone remembers the 1999 final and Solkjaer’s last minute winner, but the Red Devils have an otherwise poor record against the Germans. Bayern has lost their previous European aura whereas Manchester has acquired a strong one over the last couple of years.
Context: Bayern have just lost the lead of the Bundesliga and find themselves in a bit of slow spot in their season. Their victory against Fiorentina was somehow far fetched with the help of poor refereeing and away goals. Manchester disposed of an unworthy Milan, and continues its cruise through the EPL, setting itself as strong contender in this year’s UCL. To be confirmed vs. confirmed big team.
Bayern side: The ultimate strength of the Bavarians this year is on their bench, in the person of their coach and mastermind Van Gaal. The Dutchman further demonstrated his master of rhetoric by evading the question of the starting line-up (Robben and Ribery or not?). The weakness of the German side lies within their defence, old and slowly dying or young and inexperienced.
Manchester side: Rooney is undoubtedly the muscle of the Red Devils this season. Shrek was rested over the weekend to be in shape for the European rendez vous. Van Der Sar also seems back on top of the world. Other than that, the players are now used to big time games like these, after two successive finals. They know how to do the job, but an excess of confidence is never outlawed these times around.
The Fourth Official Predictions: Bayern 0-3 Manchester (Rooney vs. Van Buyten, who are we kidding?)
Probable Result: Bayern 1-1 Manchester (Rooney indeed, but Robben and/or Ribery come/s in during the game to score the survival goal)
Lyon – Bordeaux
History: First time these two clubs meet in an important European games. Lyon and Bordeaux know each other by heart, which promises a boring game. At least there will be a French club in the UCL semi finals…
Context: Bordeaux have basically led the Ligue 1 since the beginning and showed little signs of weakness. In Europe, they ate some Juventus and Munich in the first round before disposing of a minor Olympiakos. After six years of undisturbed rule over the French Ligue 1, Lyon is now in a delicate and position in their local championship, a couple of places below from the podium. But their previous and regular appearances in the UCL have given the side a taste for these appointments, as you probably saw when they eliminated Real.
Lyon side: Lyon seem to know how to prepare themselves for the European games, a real display of experience and control, worthy of the bigger names. Their providential men are called Lisandro Lopez, real worker and terribly efficient in front of goal, and Hugo Lloris, fantastic in goal.
Bordeaux side: The real hit movie of these two past seasons, everyone loves Gourcuff, Chamakh and Laurent Blanc. Their team solidity is their best asset, with rigorous defending. They live off of dead balls, whether corner or free kicks.
Fourth Official Predictions: Lyon 0-0 Bordeaux (nothing will happen)
Probable Result: Lyon 0-0 Bordeaux (nothing will happen, everyone waiting for the return game)
History: First time these two clubs meet in an important European games. Lyon and Bordeaux know each other by heart, which promises a boring game. At least there will be a French club in the UCL semi finals…
Context: Bordeaux have basically led the Ligue 1 since the beginning and showed little signs of weakness. In Europe, they ate some Juventus and Munich in the first round before disposing of a minor Olympiakos. After six years of undisturbed rule over the French Ligue 1, Lyon is now in a delicate and position in their local championship, a couple of places below from the podium. But their previous and regular appearances in the UCL have given the side a taste for these appointments, as you probably saw when they eliminated Real.
Lyon side: Lyon seem to know how to prepare themselves for the European games, a real display of experience and control, worthy of the bigger names. Their providential men are called Lisandro Lopez, real worker and terribly efficient in front of goal, and Hugo Lloris, fantastic in goal.
Bordeaux side: The real hit movie of these two past seasons, everyone loves Gourcuff, Chamakh and Laurent Blanc. Their team solidity is their best asset, with rigorous defending. They live off of dead balls, whether corner or free kicks.
Fourth Official Predictions: Lyon 0-0 Bordeaux (nothing will happen)
Probable Result: Lyon 0-0 Bordeaux (nothing will happen, everyone waiting for the return game)
Arsenal – Barcelona
History: The last time these two met was in the UCL final of 2006, back when Ronaldinho and Henry still knew how to make a ball dance. We all know the Blaugrana won and haven’t stopped since, Arsenal haven’t achieved much.
Context: Barcelona, as always seem on cloud nine, winning games even when they don’t feel like it, in a local duel with rivals Real Madrid. Their path in Europe has been clement this year (thanks Platini), and this is possibly the first time we will see the Catalans opposed to a worthy opponent. Arsenal has let some precious points slip by in the EPL this past week and plan to make the best out of their European campaign (which has also been very clement, thanks Platini, again). Both teams appreciate the same style of play letting us hope for a great game!
Arsenal side: With a newfound striker in the person of Bendtner, the Arsenal side finally seems complementary enough to tussle with the big boys. Their defence will probably be a couple of pounds overweight thanks to M. Campbell though, which could be the starting point of their demise. Time to bring out the big game if you want everyone to shut up about how they never win anything.
Barcelona side: It’s simple; everywhere you look in the starting line-up there is material of the utmost quality, Messi being the little cherry on top, especially when he is in great form, like lately. Iniesta will be absent and Henry (who lost his penis btw) has openly said he did not want to play this game… But wait who cares?
Fourth Official Predictions: Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona (Guardiola shows Gladiator again, Messi humiliates the five in the back)
Probable Result: Arsenal 1-1 Barcelona (the Gunners find an early lead but a steady Barcelona fight back)
History: The last time these two met was in the UCL final of 2006, back when Ronaldinho and Henry still knew how to make a ball dance. We all know the Blaugrana won and haven’t stopped since, Arsenal haven’t achieved much.
Context: Barcelona, as always seem on cloud nine, winning games even when they don’t feel like it, in a local duel with rivals Real Madrid. Their path in Europe has been clement this year (thanks Platini), and this is possibly the first time we will see the Catalans opposed to a worthy opponent. Arsenal has let some precious points slip by in the EPL this past week and plan to make the best out of their European campaign (which has also been very clement, thanks Platini, again). Both teams appreciate the same style of play letting us hope for a great game!
Arsenal side: With a newfound striker in the person of Bendtner, the Arsenal side finally seems complementary enough to tussle with the big boys. Their defence will probably be a couple of pounds overweight thanks to M. Campbell though, which could be the starting point of their demise. Time to bring out the big game if you want everyone to shut up about how they never win anything.
Barcelona side: It’s simple; everywhere you look in the starting line-up there is material of the utmost quality, Messi being the little cherry on top, especially when he is in great form, like lately. Iniesta will be absent and Henry (who lost his penis btw) has openly said he did not want to play this game… But wait who cares?
Fourth Official Predictions: Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona (Guardiola shows Gladiator again, Messi humiliates the five in the back)
Probable Result: Arsenal 1-1 Barcelona (the Gunners find an early lead but a steady Barcelona fight back)
FC Inter – CSKA Moskva
History: Inter and CSKA were in the same qualifying group during the 2007-2008 UCL. Inter won the two confrontations and CSKA were ousted of the UCL shortly after. Since then, much has changed: Inter have said goodbye to Ibra and hello to Mourinho whereas CSKA have replaced their deluding foreign attack once composed of Wagner Love and Jรด. Who would have thought to see these two again in the quarterfinals two years later?
Context: The (my) Nerazzuri have seen Roma come back to the smallest margin in the Serie A, but can rely on an extremely solid performance that eliminated Chelsea during the eighths. CSKA are undoubtedly the smallest club still in competition. Their season has just started but the Russians have previously eliminated Sevilla, full of hopes, for a historic qualification, finally living up to (and even beyond) the expectations placed in them a couple of years back.
Inter side: Once again, the big asset is on the bench, in the person of the Special One. Milito is extremely regular within the Serie A but has been subdued in the European games, where Snejder has often shined. Lucio is suspended for this first leg, but the team is at its most complete otherwise. Eto’o is expected to bring the crucial goals that Inter have lacked over the previous years. And after eliminating Chelsea, it would be stupid (this is the fan speaking) to loose against CSKA.
CSKA side: The Russians have shown all of us that the ball can be handled just as well on the other side of Europe, with a fast paced and rigorous game. The figureheads of this year’s promotion are the tinted Honda and the goalie Akinfeev, although the most regular European scorer is Krasic.
Fourth Official Predictions: Inter 3-0 CSKA (in my dreams)
Probable Result: Inter 2-1 CSKA (sometimes the heart tells you things you can’t deny)
TFO
History: Inter and CSKA were in the same qualifying group during the 2007-2008 UCL. Inter won the two confrontations and CSKA were ousted of the UCL shortly after. Since then, much has changed: Inter have said goodbye to Ibra and hello to Mourinho whereas CSKA have replaced their deluding foreign attack once composed of Wagner Love and Jรด. Who would have thought to see these two again in the quarterfinals two years later?
Context: The (my) Nerazzuri have seen Roma come back to the smallest margin in the Serie A, but can rely on an extremely solid performance that eliminated Chelsea during the eighths. CSKA are undoubtedly the smallest club still in competition. Their season has just started but the Russians have previously eliminated Sevilla, full of hopes, for a historic qualification, finally living up to (and even beyond) the expectations placed in them a couple of years back.
Inter side: Once again, the big asset is on the bench, in the person of the Special One. Milito is extremely regular within the Serie A but has been subdued in the European games, where Snejder has often shined. Lucio is suspended for this first leg, but the team is at its most complete otherwise. Eto’o is expected to bring the crucial goals that Inter have lacked over the previous years. And after eliminating Chelsea, it would be stupid (this is the fan speaking) to loose against CSKA.
CSKA side: The Russians have shown all of us that the ball can be handled just as well on the other side of Europe, with a fast paced and rigorous game. The figureheads of this year’s promotion are the tinted Honda and the goalie Akinfeev, although the most regular European scorer is Krasic.
Fourth Official Predictions: Inter 3-0 CSKA (in my dreams)
Probable Result: Inter 2-1 CSKA (sometimes the heart tells you things you can’t deny)
TFO
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