[EU] Champions League 06/07 (38 Viewers)

[Jun-hide]

I hope barca face milan in the next round

you might be regretting that.

I can't imagine Milan being as bad as they are right now. We are talking about playing in 3 months later here. On their top of potential, they are few teams I believe are more than capable of knocking Barca out, espeically given their orientation within the side. Beside, they almost did that when the sides last met in the Semis last year.

 

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[Marc]

Milan will not be that bad as they are now, they are always good in Champions League, however not good enough for Barca, especially if Barca gets Eto´o and Messi back until then.

 

[Jun-hide]

Milan will not be that bad as they are now, they are always good in Champions League, however not good enough for Barca, especially if Barca gets Eto´o and Messi back until then.

I don`t know Mark, I think the way Milan is set up they could do well against big teams.

Last time these two teams net, Nesta had Eto`o in his pockets. Nesta is a clever defender and he was back-tracking half a yard or so to not get blown away from silverquick Samuel and inviting to have a crack from long range which we know isnt Eto`o strenghts. I think that is vital because I thought John Terry got punished a bit too much against Barca last year because he was sitting too close to Eto`o who is just about the most explosive forward in the world IMO.

Then again Messi didnt play last year, and we know this kid can bit a bit too, dont` we?

The key will obviously the midfield battle. Both team failed to dominate the pace of the game and consequently struggled badly at their HOME matches. My advice for Carletto is he should drop Inzaghi and play Christmas tree with Gourcuff being the third man. Firstly, Gila is very underrated lone hitman. And two, this should help them to retain the ball a bit better which is needed when you are as old as Milan and as wobbly as their defence is ATM. Although I do not know whether dear old Silvio understand this.

 

[king Ale]

I hope barca face milan in the next round

And I hope Milan crush 'em.

 

[flieeeekke]

i hope celtic wins it

 

[Maher]

i hope celtic wins it

good joke

 

[Maher]

Milan will not be that bad as they are now, they are always good in Champions League, however not good enough for Barca, especially if Barca gets Eto´o and Messi back until then.

 

[king Ale]

good joke

Barca is a better one.

 

[Falafel]

Barca is a better one.

+rep

 

[ReBeL]

The final 16


GROUP WINNERS

Chelsea

Shevchenko and Ballack may not be setting the Premiership alight, but they were bought with Europe in mind. Jose Mourinho has set his stall out; the midfield diamond is virtually impregnable and the substitutes' bench unrivalled.
Prediction: Winners

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Bayern Munich

Typically Teutonic in defence, Bayern are also showing a cutting edge up front. Felix Magath's side secured top spot in Group B with Claudio Pizarro and Roy Makaay scoring freely. World Cup hero Lukas Podolski is still to return from injury.
Prediction: Quarter-finals


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Liverpool

Liverpool continue to flounder in the Premiership, but Rafa Benitez's side are a different proposition abroad, where their comparatively pedestrian game finds greater reward and Gerrard's all-action displays are highly effective.
Prediction: Quarter-finals


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Valencia

Fernando Morientes couldn't hit a barn door at Liverpool but he's rediscovered his appetite for goals in Spain. Mediocre league form would seem to suggest that injury-hit Valencia cannot continue the fight on all fronts.
Prediction: Last 16


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Lyons

Every year, football's cognoscenti tip Lyons to go all the way. This year is no different. Gerard Houllier's team destroyed Real Madrid at the Stade Gerland. In Juninho, they also have a free-kick specialsist par excellence.
Prediction: Finalists


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Arsenal

Capable of playing the most attractive football in Europe, Arsenal are also prone to losing to the likes of Bolton. Luckily for them, Bolton are not in the Champions League (yet) and their style should prevail for a while.
Prediction: Quarter-finals


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Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson promised it wouldn't be such a tight squeeze, but it was. When United are on song they look world beaters, but they lack the depth to fight on two fronts and January signings may be ineligible to help them in Europe.
Prediction: Semi-finals


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AC Milan

Six-times champions Milan breezed through Group H, Kaka putting his World Cup disappointment firmly behind him with five goals, including a hat-trick against Anderlecht. Look light in attack without Shevchenko and Crespo.
Prediction: Quarter-finals


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GROUP RUNNERS-UP

Barcelona

The reigning champions left it late, but victory over Werder Bremen on Tuesday secured their passage and, what is more, Ronaldinho was back to his best. The absence of Samuel Eto'o could yet prove decisive.
Prediction: Semi-finals


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Inter Milan

The chief benefactors of Juventus' fall from grace, Roberto Mancini has assembled a staggering array of talent. Vieira has added ballast in midfield, but Adriano is still overweight and Inter remain inconsistent.
Prediction: Quarter-finals


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AS Roma

A shock 1-0 loss at Shakhtar Donetsk meant Roma were sweating it out until Tuesday's narrow win over Valencia. Luciano Spalletti's side trail only Inter Milan in Serie A but rely overly on their mercurial captain Francesco Totti.
Prediction: Last 16


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Real Madrid

Cannavaro has added class at the back, while van Nistelrooy keeps up a frightening goals-to-games ratio. But there is a lack of leadership in midfield, where Beckham and Emerson are on the wane and Diarra is not the finished article.
Prediction: Semi-finals


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Porto

The 2004 champions are massive outsiders but they do have pedigree. Porto top their domestic league, where they are unbeaten in 10 games. Even more incredible; Spurs reject Helder Postiga has scored eight times in that run.
Prediction: Last 16


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lille

Lille will be on a roll after an incredible combination of results last night. Claude Puel's side were given no hope at the San Siro but managed to march through regardless. Short on star quality, that feelgood factor can only go so far.
Prediction: Last 16


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PSV Eindhoven

Runners-up in a fairly weak group, recent defeats to Liverpool and Bordeaux suggest that PSV's defence may not be up to the knockout stages. Ronald Koeman's team are, however, cruising at the top of the Eredivisie.
Prediction: Last 16


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celtic

Strachan has assembled a decent squad, and shown courage to play youngsters such as Sno, although United should still have buried them last month. They are up against it, but do not discount the Celtic Park factor.
Prediction: Quarter-finals


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Uefa Cup qualifiers: Werder Bremen, Spartak Moscow, Bordeaux, Shakhtar Donetsk, Steaua Bucharest, Benfica, CSKA Moscow, AEK Athens

Champions League schedule
Draws:
Friday, Dec 15 for first knockout round
Friday, March 9 for quarter-finals, semi-finals and final

Fixtures:
First knockout round, 1st leg Feb 20/21, 2007
First knockout round, 2nd leg March 6/7, 2007
Quarter-finals, 1st leg April 3/4, 2007
Quarter-finals, 2nd leg April 10/11, 2007
Semi-finals, 1st leg April 24/25, 2007
Semi-finals, 2nd leg May 1/2, 2007
Final (Athens) May 23, 2007

 

[sateeh]

i can't believe arsenal got through, fucking porto

anyway i hope we dont see Inter-chelsea or chelsea-madrid or madrid-inter....cuz then we will see something similar to the porto-arsenal game

Milan will do well imo and the break with some news players will do them good.Also if Galliani gets convected it will do wonders to them

 

[Marc]

I don`t know Mark, I think the way Milan is set up they could do well against big teams.

Last time these two teams net, Nesta had Eto`o in his pockets. Nesta is a clever defender and he was back-tracking half a yard or so to not get blown away from silverquick Samuel and inviting to have a crack from long range which we know isnt Eto`o strenghts. I think that is vital because I thought John Terry got punished a bit too much against Barca last year because he was sitting too close to Eto`o who is just about the most explosive forward in the world IMO.

Then again Messi didnt play last year, and we know this kid can bit a bit too, dont` we?

The key will obviously the midfield battle. Both team failed to dominate the pace of the game and consequently struggled badly at their HOME matches. My advice for Carletto is he should drop Inzaghi and play Christmas tree with Gourcuff being the third man. Firstly, Gila is very underrated lone hitman. And two, this should help them to retain the ball a bit better which is needed when you are as old as Milan and as wobbly as their defence is ATM. Although I do not know whether dear old Silvio understand this.

You´ll see Jun, that would be a tight game, but Barcelona has a little more quality and squad depth to make the difference.

Inter Milan

The chief benefactors of Juventus' fall from grace7

 

[Maher]

Barca is a better one.

 

[Jun-hide]

You´ll see Jun, that would be a tight game, but Barcelona has a little more quality and squad depth to make the difference.

Barca is favorites no doubt, but I just don't think margin is that big especially if Milan can get Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Nesta fit for that match (Though that would be quite an effort. ).

I think key for Barca is midfield. I like Iniesta (After all I dubbed him as top 5 most underrated player in the world), Xavi, et al. And I do recognize that Edmilson (great passer) and Motta are also decent. But collectively they are a bit too soft (despite Marquez and Motta's acts to look hard).

The key for me is Messi. Ronaldinho will be heavily marked. But if you got another phenomenal player roaming around, then I just cant see how teams can stop both of them.

 

[Marc]

Barca is favorites no doubt, but I just don't think margin is that big especially if Milan can get Paolo Maldini, Cafu, Nesta fit for that match (Though that would be quite an effort. ).

I think key for Barca is midfield. I like Iniesta (After all I dubbed him as top 5 most underrated player in the world), Xavi, et al. And I do recognize that Edmilson (great passer) and Motta are also decent. But collectively they are a bit too soft (despite Marquez and Motta's acts to look hard).

The key for me is Messi. Ronaldinho will be heavily marked. But if you got another phenomenal player roaming around, then I just cant see how teams can stop both of them.

There are also Giuly and Deco who can torn appart Milan´s defense.

Milan´s defense is not good like it was for the last 2-3 years.

Stam is gone, Nesta is in crisis, I´m not too convinced in Bonera, Jankulovski is probably better ofensively, Cafu, Serginho and Maldini are not getting any younger.

Simply, I think Barcelona has more class players and that they are too good in going forward for Milan.

 

[JCK]

I hope Barcelona meet Lyon.

 

[Jun-hide]

I hope Barcelona meet Lyon.

Jeeks is truly at his mid-season form.

Mark83,

Their defence of Zambrotta - Puyol, Marquez, - Gio arent too bad is it?

I have got a feeling Rijkaard might move up Marquez and put Thuram at the back in big matches.

 

[JCK]

Jeeks is truly at his mid-season form.

What's wrong in a quality football match? Or you are afraid Barcelona might leave the tournament meeting Lyon?

 

[Martin]

The forecast Rebel posted seems quite reasonable to me. Although I think Celtic will go out at the first opportunity now.

 

[Jun-hide]

What's wrong in a quality football match? Or you are afraid Barcelona might leave the tournament meeting Lyon?

Jacques,

I am no Barca fan here. Personally, I do not really care as to who Barca meet (for that matter Milan or Lyon). But you and I know Lyon has pretty good chance of beating Barca and I was merely pointing out your curse(?) on Barca. Any team that meet Lyon is seriously unlucky, and I could not help but chuckle on you wishing Barca to be so unlucky to meet so underrated opponent.

Its like Arsenal and us. They have nothing to gain by beating Lyon but with everything to loose.