So, we're down to the round of sixteen, and four of the matchups have already begun:
Leverkusen vs Barcelona 1-3
Lyon vs Nicosia 1-0 (embarassingly narrow win)
Zenit vs Benfica 3-2
Milan vs Arsenal 4-0 (sic!) I expected Milan to win, but not by this much!
I'd be surprised if the teams that win the first leg aren't the ones to move on.
OK, I give Benfica a fair shot at turning this around, but I think Zenit looked hungrier and will prevail.
The other four matchups will play their first leg on the 21st and 22nd:
CSKA Moscow vs Real Madrid
Napoli vs Chelsea
Marseille vs Inter
FC Basel vs Bayern Munich
I expect all four teams that start on the road to move on to the quarters.
The Russians are getting better every year, but still - it's Real Madrid!
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/league/_/i ... ue?cc=5739
Champions League
Moderator: Referees
Champions League
Whatever you do, always give 100 %!
Except when donating blood.
Except when donating blood.
Re: Champions League
Wow! 1-1 for the Moscovites against Real... equaliser in injury time by Wernbloom.
Impressive, but can they repeat that in Madrid? I stick with the Madrileños as projected winners.
Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea... what was that? A 1-3 loss against Napoli?
Now, I do tend to think that English football is overrated, but Chelsea is a powerhouse! And Napoli is not.
I predicted Chelsea to win this matchup, but they'll have a tough time doing it now. Sure, 2-0 at home will suffice, but a one goal victory is not enough, nor is winning by 4-2. 3-1 will take them to overtime.
And more fun to look forward to tonight!
Impressive, but can they repeat that in Madrid? I stick with the Madrileños as projected winners.
Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea... what was that? A 1-3 loss against Napoli?
Now, I do tend to think that English football is overrated, but Chelsea is a powerhouse! And Napoli is not.
I predicted Chelsea to win this matchup, but they'll have a tough time doing it now. Sure, 2-0 at home will suffice, but a one goal victory is not enough, nor is winning by 4-2. 3-1 will take them to overtime.
And more fun to look forward to tonight!
Whatever you do, always give 100 %!
Except when donating blood.
Except when donating blood.
Re: Champions League
The Gunners really came out firing on all cylinders last night! They had a 3-0 lead by half time already, and it almost looked like they could overcome the 4-0 loss in Italy. In the second half things changed though and Milan looked more in control, Game ended 3-0 in Arsenal's favour, which means close, but no cigar.
Milan on to the quarter finals.
And in other news Benfica beat the Russians 2-0 at home.
Benfica on to the quarter finals.
Who's next?
Milan on to the quarter finals.
And in other news Benfica beat the Russians 2-0 at home.
Benfica on to the quarter finals.
Who's next?
Whatever you do, always give 100 %!
Except when donating blood.
Except when donating blood.
Re: Champions League
Barcelona, not to much surprise. Have to say that it was somewhat unexpected Messi would score five though
Apoel on the other hand... quite a surprise. But when it got down to penalty shots the pressure was on Lyon, and Apoel was suddenly the favorite to win it.
Ahhh... can't say that I care that much anyway... but I do think it's a bit funny that whenever Ibrahimovic leaves a team, the same team seems destined to win it all, and his new team is eliminated early on. Too bad Arsenal could score one more yesterday, van Persie had a huuuge opportunity in the second.
Apoel on the other hand... quite a surprise. But when it got down to penalty shots the pressure was on Lyon, and Apoel was suddenly the favorite to win it.
Ahhh... can't say that I care that much anyway... but I do think it's a bit funny that whenever Ibrahimovic leaves a team, the same team seems destined to win it all, and his new team is eliminated early on. Too bad Arsenal could score one more yesterday, van Persie had a huuuge opportunity in the second.
Re: Champions League
Well, when it comes to the Champions League, yeah, but he ALWAYS wins the national championship...Bret H wrote:Ahhh... can't say that I care that much anyway... but I do think it's a bit funny that whenever Ibrahimovic leaves a team, the same team seems destined to win it all, and his new team is eliminated early on.
2004 Dutch league (Ajax)
2005 Italy Serie A (Juventus)
2006 Italy Serie A (Juventus)
2007 Italy Serie A (Inter)
2008 Italy Serie A (Inter)
2009 Italy Serie A (Inter)
2010 Spain La Liga (Barcelona)
2011 Italy Serie A (Milan)
... and Milan are favourites to win in 2012 as well, four points ahead of the second place team.
The man hasn't finished the season without winning a national championship since 2003!
(and he actually won with Ajax in 2002 as well)
I actually saw a journalist describe Serie A as a league where all teams play each other twice, and then whoever has Ibrahimovic on the roster wins il Scudetto.
Champions league on the other hand.....
Yet I hear he's the only player to have scored goals in Champions League for five different teams.
Whatever you do, always give 100 %!
Except when donating blood.
Except when donating blood.
Re: Champions League
So, it was expected that the Bavarians reach the quarters, but Marseille eliminating Inter was more of a surprise imho.
Now they've drawn the lots for the quarter finals, and we find ourselves with these matchups:
Apoel Nicosia - Real Madrid
Mourinho must be pinching himself. Then again, Belarus looked like an easy enough opponent in the 2002 Olympic hockey quarter final...
Marseille - Bayern München
The Germans have a tendency of marching all over France, and I expect them to do so again.
Benfica - Chelsea
Benfica were better than expected against Zenith and Chelsea worse than expected vs Napoli, but I still think Chelsea will prevail.
Milan - Barcelona
Wow. It happens again. Zlatan against his former coach Peps Guardiola... And in the end Messi prevails.
Milan has great offense, but I doubt they have a defense that can handle the Argentinian midget.
Now they've drawn the lots for the quarter finals, and we find ourselves with these matchups:
Apoel Nicosia - Real Madrid
Mourinho must be pinching himself. Then again, Belarus looked like an easy enough opponent in the 2002 Olympic hockey quarter final...
Marseille - Bayern München
The Germans have a tendency of marching all over France, and I expect them to do so again.
Benfica - Chelsea
Benfica were better than expected against Zenith and Chelsea worse than expected vs Napoli, but I still think Chelsea will prevail.
Milan - Barcelona
Wow. It happens again. Zlatan against his former coach Peps Guardiola... And in the end Messi prevails.
Milan has great offense, but I doubt they have a defense that can handle the Argentinian midget.
Whatever you do, always give 100 %!
Except when donating blood.
Except when donating blood.