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Champions League
Topic Started: Aug 13 2007, 02:00 PM (4,088 Views)
gaviota
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The only matchup that doesn't really appeal to me is Schalke-Porto, all the 7 other games look intriguing to me. Don't discount Olimpiacos. They are a skillful team with plenty of quality players. Chelsea obviously is favored against them but Olimpiacos won't be an easy foe. They'll also be riding on the spirit Greece had in Euro 2004!
CHAMP13NS
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Merengue
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Time to brush this topic off as it is Champions League time again! These are this week's games,

Tuesday, 19 February at 2045 CET.

Schalke vs Porto
AS Roma vs Real Madrid
Olympiacos vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Internazionale

Wednesday, 20 February at 2045 CET.

Celtic vs Barcelona
Lyon vs Manchester United
Fenerbahce vs Sevilla
Arsenal vs AC Milan

As always the home team is listed first. Looks like a lot of teams were caught with their minds elsewhere this past weekend as Real Madrid, Lyon, Arsenal, Liverpool, Schalke and Roma all lost in their respective leagues, or in the English clubs case, in Cup games. I think those results can be discounted for the reason these clubs had their mind on these European games but when the draw for this round was announced we were all asking about which teams would enter this round playing well and which would come in on a low?

Until this weekend I think you could have said Arsenal and Real Madrid were playing well recently but it seems to me Inter, Sevilla, Olimpiacos and Chelsea have all been on hot streaks in the past few weeks and that should help them entering this knockout round. Other teams like Barcelona and Manchester United had been playing less well recently but then they rebounded with wins this past weekend. Oh hell, I'm over analysing it all! Just enjoy the games as they all look good. Hopefully they live up to that billing and aren't marred by overly cautious play in these first legs.
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Simon
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I'm also looking forward to these matches.

Assessing the form of teams going into these games can only really be done on a case by case basis and as Merengue says in some instances it can be deceptive to look at the result this last weekend. To take an example, Schalke and Liverpool both lost on Saturday but while Schalke had previously been in tremendous form, Liverpool's defeat is representative of a terrible run of results that they've been on for a while now.

Tuesday, 19 February at 2045 CET.

Schalke vs Porto
I find this match-up very difficult to call. Schalke struggled at the start of the season, but have put together a string of good results during the CL recess to get back to the fringes of the German title race. Meanwhile Porto are 10 points clear in Portugal and seem set to win yet another domestic title. Their relative lack of domestic competition could either be beneficial in that they won't be too exhausted from fighting furiously on all fronts, or it could be damaging in that they'll find it harder to step their level up for the CL. Porto's greater CL experience should be considered, IMO they rely on goals from Lisandro Lopez to a slightly unhealthy degree and if Schalke can keep him quiet they must have a good chance.

AS Roma vs Real Madrid
Real Madrid have lost two of their last three league games but then so have Roma, and in any case I don't think those defeats for the respective teams will necessarily be too instructive in predicting what will happen here. Roma are dangerous opponents and can beat anyone on their day, but it's hard to forget the spectacular way they blew up at Old Trafford last season. Real Madrid seem more versatile to me and I would expect them to advance, even if they draw or narrowly lose in Rome.

Olympiacos vs Chelsea
Olympiakos are in good form, as Merengue says, but it's they who have to make the bigger step up in class for this fixture, and that can have an effect. Chelsea come into this match on the back of a fantastic run of results. No-one quite knew what would happen to Chelsea when Mourinho left so suddenly and contentiously in the autumn, but Avram Grant deserves utmost credit for the way his Chelsea have performed. He has a tough selection choice to make now that Drogba is back. Does he start Drogba with Anelka or even Shevchenko? Would playing two up front mean dropping either Ballack or the in-form Lampard? Can he drop Kalou, who's playing so well now? Whatever he decides, it's a nice headache to have, and it's hard to imagine Chelsea not advancing.

Liverpool vs Internazionale
Tuesday's most interesting game IMO. Liverpool have won just one of their last seven league games and on Saturday suffered a humiliating home defeat to lower league Barnsley in the FA Cup. The CL realistically represents Liverpool's last hope for a trophy this season, and on the face of it that would appear fanciful given that they face Italian champions Inter who sit 11 points clear in Serie A and still haven't lost a league game. And yet Liverpool make a habit of struggling in the league and yet excelling in the CL, and they have a track record of making illustrious opponents look very ordinary. As a United fan I hope I'm wrong, but I think Liverpool could be very dangerous opponents for Inter.

Wednesday, 20 February at 2045 CET.

Celtic vs Barcelona
Judging by Celtic's track record in Europe, I think we can discount the possibility of them going to the Nou Camp and winning, which means that their chances rest on them comfortably beating Barcelona at Parkhead. I expect Celtic to make a fight of it, the atmosphere will be electric in Glasgow and the Bhoys tend to rise to
the big occasions. They can be encoraged by their elimination of a similarly-talented Barcelona from the UEFA cup a couple of years back, as well as their home win over Milan this season and the fact that they took Milan to extra time at the same stage of the CL last season. But IMO it remains true that Celtic would have to be at their absolute best and Barcelona at something approaching their worst for the Scots to have a chance, particularly given their terrible away form.

Lyon vs Manchester United
Lyon's defeat at Le Mans on Saturday can be put down to this approaching game with United, although with 6 defeats in the league so far this season and a 3-0 stuffing at home to Rangers in the CL it does appear that Lyon are more inconsistent than in recent times. However, on their day they are capable of beating anyone and I think this was the most difficult draw United could have got. Players like Benzema, Govou and Ben Arfa can hurt anyone and Juninho and Kallstrom remain a potent threat from midfield. United's recent dip in form was a concern, but our revival in that 4-0 win over Arsenal at the weekend was so spectacular that my confidence has been renewed. I'm hopeful that we can give a strong account of ourselves in France and get a good result to take back to OT.

Fenerbahce vs Sevilla
Fenerbahce's league form has been excellent lately, but Sevilla have also been playing well. This could be a close match-up as there are good players on both teams, but it seems to me that Kanoute and especially Luis Fabiano are the two best strikers on either side and could swing the tie in Sevilla's favour. Sevilla's experience and success in knock-out European competition gained from the UEFA Cup could also be vital.

Arsenal vs AC Milan
I consider this to be the best tie of the round. AC Milan had a very poor first half of the season but such is the calibre of player that they have I think most of us, and especially our Milan contingent on this forum, were waiting for them to explode into form. It seemed like that had happened when they opened the new year with that 5-2 win over Napoli, but it hasn't subsequently turned out quite as planned. They've since played eight matches, winning five, losing one and drawing their most recent two games. In that time they've only once managed to score more than one goal in a game, and that was in their 2-0 win at home to Genoa. Arsenal have meanwhile been on sparkling form in opening up a five point lead at the top of the Premier League and in Adebayor they have probably the most in-form striker in Europe. And yet I couldn't unreservedly say Arsenal were favourites. Firstly, Milan are greatly experienced in this competition and showed last season how they are able to plot a course through the CL when they are way off the pace in the league. Indeed their lack of pressure league games was a great boost to them last season, although this year they're in a race for 4th place at least. Secondly, we do not yet know how Arsenal may be affected by their heavy defeat at Old Trafford. It should be a fascinating match-up.
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Sergio
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Wonderful preview, well done. It is difficult to add much more to what Simon has put down here. I'll say this though, I would not want to be playing Inter Milan right now. I know Liverpool have a fantastic record in this competition under Rafa Benitez and Inter have not but there is not a single series in this round with teams on a more opposite run of form. Add in Inter's intense desire to finally have a good Champions League run and Liverpool's turmoil between coach and owners and the recipe seems set for an Inter win. Of course this is football so everything will be turned upside down and Liverpool will win!
"You left as a champion, you will always be in our hearts. Rest in Peace Christian Benítez."
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Martin
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Great job Simon! I agree with Sergio it isn't easy to add much to your very comprehensive preview. I'll just say that it is extremely hard to handicap these games. Even such things as league form aren't necessarily good barameters of gauging how these kncokout games will go. But that probably is the best measuring stick we have (OK I'll knock off the metaphors!). Milan are going into the Arsenal game with a goalkeeping crisis. Kalac dislocated some fingers in training, the now number 2 goalie Dida, and I'm not lying about this, injured his back while sitting on the bench this weekend! (No truth to the rumors that a Scottish fan ran nearby!) So it is possible third choice goalie Valerio Fiore, who has not played since the 2003-4 season, may have to play in case Kalac cannot!

Real Madrid received good news that Gabriel Heinze is cleared to play against Roma who are so wound up for the game that Christian Panucci and Alberto Aquilani got into a training ground fight! Oh yes the stress and excitement of Champions League!
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Yogi
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I'll echo the others and thank Simon for a well done preview. I think Kalac will play for Milan. A dislocated finger(s), tape them up but it may cause him to try and punch the ball away when he'd normally try and catch it. Good news about Alexandre Pato, as we might expect from such a young guy, he has recovered quickly. What concerns me the most about Arsenal-Milan is Arsenal's quickness which could cause some problems for Milan's defense. But Milan is a team who know what it takes in these two legged matches and they may try and defend deeply to take away Arsenal's attacking speed.

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libero
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Maybe Ancelotti is playing it up to the media but today he said as the team departed for London that he didn't expect Kalac to play and that Dida definitely is out which leaves Fiori who hasn't played since December 2003!

Earlier somebody wrote they hoped these first leg games wouldn't be played too cautiously but unless one team scores early that is likely what will happen as both teams will be playing tactically and wait for it all to be decided in the second leg.
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Manzanares
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Fiori has gone 4 years without playing a professional match! Wow, he's either the most patient guy in the world or really, really bad.

I wouldn't really worry about last weekend's results in considering these teams form going into these games but their play the past few weeks prior to that is I think a good predictor of how they'll do in these knockout matches. That is why I don't think Liverpool will do well against Inter Milan. I don't think there is another team left who are in as poor of overlal form as Liverpool are now. Benitez has his hands full getting them on the right path.
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dafyd
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I'm watching the Liverpool Inter game as I write, and I have a question. Crouch just came on for Liverpool, and the announcers talked about him being a threat in the air... as I recall from previous discussions, this is not his strong suit. Has he improved this season, or are they just going on a bit because he's tall?

Ok, Torres had a couple near misses, Crouch one... and, no, based on what I've seen, he hasn't gotten that much better with his heading the ball. Julio Cesar certainly earned his pay on the day.

Liverpool had most of the play, expected as Inter went a man down during the 30th minute.

Finally, Liverpool scores during the 85th, Kuyt all alone in the area.

Mascherano played well defensively, but his passing was off. Gerard has played better... so he then scores during the 90th. Guess I just had to say something.

2-0 Liverpool. It's over. Only other thing to note was the fact that the ref had several handballs he could have call, but didn't call a single one.
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Winslow
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Manzanares,Feb 19 2008
08:42 AM
Fiore has gone 4 years without playing a professional match!  Wow, he's either the most patient guy in the world or really, really bad.

I had to look it up, but in the '90s Fiore (who's about 40) was number one at Lazio and Cagliari, so I don't think he's really, really bad. But I wonder if Milan's management feels silly now about giving away Christian Abbiati a couple of years ago.

On to Tuesday's results...
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Liverpool 2, Inter 0.
Olympiakos 0, Chelsea 0.
Roma 2, Real Madrid 1.
Schalke 1, Porto 0.

For about 85 minutes, I was certain that this would be Benitez's last game at Anfield, but as Dafyd noted the Reds pulled it out thanks to Kuyt, Gerrard, and a couple of lucky bounces. Crouch (who is pretty good in the air, though not a world-beater) was a key sub and so was Pennant, who set up both goalscorers. Inter didn't play that well and Liverpool really deserved to win, though the final result is a little flattering.

Elsewhere, Mancini scored early in the second half to give Roma the win, after Raul and Pizarro traded goals in the first half. Kuranyi potted a rebound from long distance to beat Porto in Gelsenkirchen, while Chelsea needs to do better at home in two weeks' time.
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Simon
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I bloody knew Inter couldn't be trusted against Liverpool. They were absolutely dreadful and Liverpool totally dominated throughout. The Materazzi sending off was a factor, but let's be honest the game was 1/3 through by the time he received his marching orders and it had been one-way traffic in favour of Liverpool from the first whistle.

What I found shocking was that Inter were either unwilling or unable to relieve the pressure on their box and string a few passes together. Being a man down is not such a handicap that you are unable to even try to play any football, especially against a team who are really struggling for form and confidence, like Liverpool. Inter defended pretty doggedly but I thought a better team in the CL would probably score a couple of goals against a team willing to concede all the possession and the initiative. Vieira was very lucky not to give away a penalty and I thought at that point that Inter might realise the error of their ways and come out, but no. Eventually it became a real probability that Liverpool would score and sure enough Kuyt did the honours. Staggeringly, Inter still played it cagey in the last five minutes and a trademark Gerrard drive from distance finished things at 2-0. I honestly don't really see a way back for Inter after that.

I presume that a team 11 points clear in Italy are capable of playing a bit of football despite a man disadvantage, so I just can't tell what happened. Did they lose their nerve? Surely not, when they're all so experienced. I can only assume that Mancini decided, possibly in his pre-game plan if the first 30 mins is anything to go by, that a 0-0 away draw would be an ideal result, which suggests he's living in some kind of 1970s timewarp. Very disappointing.
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historyman
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Simon,Feb 19 2008
02:12 PM
I bloody knew Inter couldn't be trusted against Liverpool. They were absolutely dreadful and Liverpool totally dominated throughout. The Materazzi sending off was a factor, but let's be honest the game was 1/3 through by the time he received his marching orders and it had been one-way traffic in favour of Liverpool from the first whistle.

I honestly don't really see a way back for Inter after that.


Never trust the Italians! :P

It's funny how perceptions differ about the same game. Whilst Inter were disappointing, I got the impression that this was all part of their masterplan, and that they were going to take a 0-0 draw back to the San Siro. But you have to give credit to Liverpool. They displayed the guts and determination to finally break through and Gerrard, annoying as he is, popped up with yet another late strike.

I was desperately disappointed with Ibrahimovic. These CL games are the only opportunity that I get to see Serie A's top stars in action, and he didn't really contribute anything outstanding. Except an uncanny ability to keep handling the ball. :rolleyes:

I hope that we're not going to see Benitez and co. creep towards another final.
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TCK
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I'm just wondering whether or not the second leg will be like that of 1965...

A two nil win is comfortable especially since Inter didn't take the full advantage of scoring any away goals. Hyppia had a few chances in the game and could've made it 1-0 only for the Goalkeeper to tip the ball over the bar. I reckon Hyppia is better in the air than Crouch.
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rosarino
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I don't know what was going through Mancini's mind but he just had Inter playing so passively. Historyman is right he came in with the mindset that 0-0 was what he was looking for, and this was before Materazzi's sending off, which was harsh in my mind. Inter didn't deserve anything out of this game and a wounded Liverpool were given a real let off by Inter's passivity. Ibrahimovic was awful in this game and I kept wondering why down a man and looking to counter attack, Inter never put Suazo in as this game was perfectly suited for him. Gerrard's late goal was absolutely perfectly placed and that two goal lead will be tough to overcome even for a team who've scored as freely at home as Inter have. Liverpool will sit back and defend with tooth and nail and they won't be easy to break down.

A nice come from behind win by Roma in a very even game. A pair of slight deflections led to the first goals for either team then Roma, with a typical counter got the game winner as Heinze overcommitted and got burned by Totti who set Mancini up perfectly for 2-1. Van Nistelrooy hit the post late in the game as Madrid looked for the equalizer but the second leg in this series should be a real classic as both teams put on a good show tonight.

I'm glad I missed Olimpiacos-Chelsea and Schalke-Porto as neither of those sounded too interetsing.
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siralfred
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I should've posted my trepidations about this match earlier to avoid sounding like sour grapes now, but I really did see this coming. It's one thing to dominate Serie A with a collection of superstars, and something entirely different for the same team to win away at an English side that seems to have made European success its specialty - and one that is inspired by having nothing else to play for. Losing to Barnsley certainly showed surprisingly poor form, but I'm sure it was a wake-up call as well. Inter didn't look cagey as much as tired and off the pace. The defending was sloppy throughout and Liverpool could've scored more and earlier. Maybe this is where Inter's multitude of injuries is finally showing some effect. Having Vieira back in play is good, but he didn't look ready for this particular challenge. In fact, none of my beloved nerazzurri seemed prepared for their opponents the way the Liverpool players did. Obviously, I'm partial to that Zlatan guy, but his effort didn't match up to the determination of Carragher and company, regardless of poor service. If Mancini really thinks that 0-0 away is strategically desirable someone needs to take him aside and explain how they count away goals in this tournament.
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