Madsear's Guide to the Champions League
Celtic Glasgow v. Milan AC
I wouldn't want people to lose interest in this game in particular but the bout will take place in Milan. Celtic has never won against an Italian team in Italy during this competition and Milan has never lost to the Celtic in 6 confrontations. Add that to the fact that Milan has won 14 out of their 17 last games at home in European competitions and that Nakamura's boys have lost 11 out of their last 12 European games on the road, and this game seems practically a done deal for a team that will be complete, focused and healthy whereas Celtic's most lethal weapon Shunsuke Nakamura (best player in his league by far) is still hurt and has not practiced today. If by any chance they win, it easily will be the biggest upset since 2004 when Monaco won 3-1 in Madrid after having lost 4-2 at home.
And speaking of Madrid...
Real Madrid v. Bayern Munchen
The White House won 3-2 in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeù but they are not going through that easy. They lost their best player they have of the moment (some guy called David Beckham) and former Arsenal wiz Jose Antonio Reyes for a month. Fabio Capello will have to go and win in the most tricky arena there is with a team that has been crippled by criticism and rumors. He doesn't achieve anything near unanimity anymore and people talk about him being replaced before the end of this season. If he loses tomorrow, the white handkerchiefs will be waving this Saturday (asking for the removal the head as soon as possible, a bullfighting tradition). All the Germans need is a 1-0 victory and they go through. Knowing how their season has been so far, this feat seems possible. I'm leaning towards Munich to win it... but Madrid is still Madrid.
PSV Eindhoven v. Arsenal
Arsenal put themselves in an uncomfortable position by losing to an always hard-to-maneuver Dutch team. Their loss was not a big upset but people expected them to play better. Tomorrow in their own arena, they'll have to create and be imaginative if they want to go through Phillip Cocù and his defensive midfielder Timmy Simmons (these two are as efficient as Essien, Makelele and Lampard on their best day). Thierry Henry started training again Sunday and did some shooting yesterday but he'll have to reach deep inside if he wants to be as efficient as he was before his injury. And let us not forget that Rosicky, Van Persie, Eboué, Flamini and Hoyte won't partake due to various injuries. If they don't win tomorrow night, Arsenal's season will be the second in a row without any trophy. On defense, the Gunners need to make sure Jefferson Farfan doesn't get as much free space as he did during the first leg - on offense, they quite simple need to give the ball to Henry. I'm leaning towards Arsenal for this one but Eindhoven has beaten stronger teams in the past on their own turf. Should be interesting.
And now onto the most talked about match of the day...
Lille v. Manchester United
The first leg was the most controversial match of the year. On one hand the English like to believe that a tragedy was avoided whereas the French focus on feeling that they were cheated of a victory. The problem is - both sides are right. An extra thousand tickets were counterfeited and sold to Manchester fans, which certainly could have led to disaster given the French Police's utterly stupid attitude of trying to keep English fans off the pitch at all costs, causing three women to have panic attacks. Meanwhile, on the pitch a rookie-referee (only his fourth European game) accepted a free-kick - Ryan Griggs' now infamous goal - that would have been refused anywhere else because the wall was not ready. Throw in the fact that Sir Alex Fergusson and Claude Puel do not shake hands (after a draw with Lille at Old Trafford last year, Sir Alex called Monsieur Claude some nasty names while his mike was still on), and all of these chilly relationships undoubtedly will make for a fiery confrontation. Lille's player of the year Kader Keita will be back after the first leg's suspension, and he'll be their number one threat. Rooney, who was hurt against Liverpool on Sunday, will be able to play after one last MRI early this morning. Personally, I'm hoping Lille wins because Manchester cheated when they never used to and never needed to. I'm disappointed by their whole attitude - it's not worthy of such a great squad.
I wouldn't want people to lose interest in this game in particular but the bout will take place in Milan. Celtic has never won against an Italian team in Italy during this competition and Milan has never lost to the Celtic in 6 confrontations. Add that to the fact that Milan has won 14 out of their 17 last games at home in European competitions and that Nakamura's boys have lost 11 out of their last 12 European games on the road, and this game seems practically a done deal for a team that will be complete, focused and healthy whereas Celtic's most lethal weapon Shunsuke Nakamura (best player in his league by far) is still hurt and has not practiced today. If by any chance they win, it easily will be the biggest upset since 2004 when Monaco won 3-1 in Madrid after having lost 4-2 at home.And speaking of Madrid...Real Madrid v. Bayern Munchen
The White House won 3-2 in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeù but they are not going through that easy. They lost their best player they have of the moment (some guy called David Beckham) and former Arsenal wiz Jose Antonio Reyes for a month. Fabio Capello will have to go and win in the most tricky arena there is with a team that has been crippled by criticism and rumors. He doesn't achieve anything near unanimity anymore and people talk about him being replaced before the end of this season. If he loses tomorrow, the white handkerchiefs will be waving this Saturday (asking for the removal the head as soon as possible, a bullfighting tradition). All the Germans need is a 1-0 victory and they go through. Knowing how their season has been so far, this feat seems possible. I'm leaning towards Munich to win it... but Madrid is still Madrid.
PSV Eindhoven v. Arsenal
Arsenal put themselves in an uncomfortable position by losing to an always hard-to-maneuver Dutch team. Their loss was not a big upset but people expected them to play better. Tomorrow in their own arena, they'll have to create and be imaginative if they want to go through Phillip Cocù and his defensive midfielder Timmy Simmons (these two are as efficient as Essien, Makelele and Lampard on their best day). Thierry Henry started training again Sunday and did some shooting yesterday but he'll have to reach deep inside if he wants to be as efficient as he was before his injury. And let us not forget that Rosicky, Van Persie, Eboué, Flamini and Hoyte won't partake due to various injuries. If they don't win tomorrow night, Arsenal's season will be the second in a row without any trophy. On defense, the Gunners need to make sure Jefferson Farfan doesn't get as much free space as he did during the first leg - on offense, they quite simple need to give the ball to Henry. I'm leaning towards Arsenal for this one but Eindhoven has beaten stronger teams in the past on their own turf. Should be interesting.
And now onto the most talked about match of the day...
Lille v. Manchester United
The first leg was the most controversial match of the year. On one hand the English like to believe that a tragedy was avoided whereas the French focus on feeling that they were cheated of a victory. The problem is - both sides are right. An extra thousand tickets were counterfeited and sold to Manchester fans, which certainly could have led to disaster given the French Police's utterly stupid attitude of trying to keep English fans off the pitch at all costs, causing three women to have panic attacks. Meanwhile, on the pitch a rookie-referee (only his fourth European game) accepted a free-kick - Ryan Griggs' now infamous goal - that would have been refused anywhere else because the wall was not ready. Throw in the fact that Sir Alex Fergusson and Claude Puel do not shake hands (after a draw with Lille at Old Trafford last year, Sir Alex called Monsieur Claude some nasty names while his mike was still on), and all of these chilly relationships undoubtedly will make for a fiery confrontation. Lille's player of the year Kader Keita will be back after the first leg's suspension, and he'll be their number one threat. Rooney, who was hurt against Liverpool on Sunday, will be able to play after one last MRI early this morning. Personally, I'm hoping Lille wins because Manchester cheated when they never used to and never needed to. I'm disappointed by their whole attitude - it's not worthy of such a great squad.
1 Comments:
put me down for 20 squid on the Ladybugs.
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