The first knockout stage of UEFA Champions League is nearing its climax. After the first leg, most of the matches are still in balance apart from a few like Bayern - Sporting. The performance of few of the big clubs in the group stages were poor and they could manage only second positions in their groups, which had lead to the fixtures we had got for the Round of 16. When one sees the fixtures, they might get a feeling that each of these fixtures should have been the finals. But only 8 teams can go through to the quarterfinals. Liverpool, who play particularly well in the Champions League have got a lead against Real Madrid and they are at Anfield. So I can't see them losing against Real. Manchester United battered Inter Milan at the San Siro but could not get a goal but it was a totally different team that played in Milan with Rooney on the bench for that. And at Old Trafford they will play their normal 4-4-2 formation and they are real favourites to progress. Chelsea have 1-0 lead going to Turin against Juventus. That's a small lead considering Juve's home form so the match will be real tight one. Arsenal too have a 1-0 lead going to Rome but AS Roma will be heavily dependent on Totti. If he plays Arsenal will have some serious problems. This match too is a tight one. I fancy Arsenal as this is the only trophy that they are left to play for this season and they will be fired up. Barcelona have a crucial away goal against Lyon and at Camp Nou you would expect them to walk over Lyon. Sporting were buried at Lisbon and I would not be surprised if Bayern play a second string team at Munich as overturning a 0-5 deficit is near impossible for the Portugese club.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
UEFA Champions League 2009: Round of 16 - Second leg preview
The first knockout stage of UEFA Champions League is nearing its climax. After the first leg, most of the matches are still in balance apart from a few like Bayern - Sporting. The performance of few of the big clubs in the group stages were poor and they could manage only second positions in their groups, which had lead to the fixtures we had got for the Round of 16. When one sees the fixtures, they might get a feeling that each of these fixtures should have been the finals. But only 8 teams can go through to the quarterfinals. Liverpool, who play particularly well in the Champions League have got a lead against Real Madrid and they are at Anfield. So I can't see them losing against Real. Manchester United battered Inter Milan at the San Siro but could not get a goal but it was a totally different team that played in Milan with Rooney on the bench for that. And at Old Trafford they will play their normal 4-4-2 formation and they are real favourites to progress. Chelsea have 1-0 lead going to Turin against Juventus. That's a small lead considering Juve's home form so the match will be real tight one. Arsenal too have a 1-0 lead going to Rome but AS Roma will be heavily dependent on Totti. If he plays Arsenal will have some serious problems. This match too is a tight one. I fancy Arsenal as this is the only trophy that they are left to play for this season and they will be fired up. Barcelona have a crucial away goal against Lyon and at Camp Nou you would expect them to walk over Lyon. Sporting were buried at Lisbon and I would not be surprised if Bayern play a second string team at Munich as overturning a 0-5 deficit is near impossible for the Portugese club.
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