UEFA Champions League (Official Thread)

[tmporter]

Last I read, Messi could be back by the end of April, just in time for the Champions League semi's. That would be a big lift for Barca. United are starting to pick up a few injuries. Vidic out for 3 weeks, Ferdinand hurt his foot in the draw at Middlesboro. Neville might be close to a 1st team run out, which would allow Wes Brown to move inside with either O'shea or Pique. This weeks games will be exciting for sure. I can see another Liverpool Arsenal draw going to extra time and maybe even spot kicks.

 

[jazzman]

Last I read, Messi could be back by the end of April, just in time for the Champions League semi's. That would be a big lift for Barca. United are starting to pick up a few injuries. Vidic out for 3 weeks, Ferdinand hurt his foot in the draw at Middlesboro. Neville might be close to a 1st team run out, which would allow Wes Brown to move inside with either O'shea or Pique. This weeks games will be exciting for sure. I can see another Liverpool Arsenal draw going to extra time and maybe even spot kicks.

The injury to Vidic certainly hurts Man U. He's been very solid at the back for them. I am not so confident when O'Shea or Brown play that central defense role. Having those 2 away goals should help Fergie take it a little easy with the injuries....especially with Ferdinand. Roma hasn't looked like a serious threat going forward, and Totti is still unlikely to return from what I have last heard.

Another update on key injuries....Petr Cech is out for the return leg at home against Fenerbahce after undergoing surgery on his chin following an on field accident. He has missed the last 9 games for Chelsea due to an ankle injury....no respite for this guy!

 

[tmporter]

Alright here goes my 4 picks for the upcoming 2nd legs.

Chelsea - 2
Fenebache - 1

Fenerbache through on penalty kicks

Chelsea dominate the game but that one mental lapse leads to the goal Fenerbache needed and then Chelsea's big stars can't find the net.

Liverpool - 2
Arsenal - 1

Liverpool through in an utterly awful display by both teams. Both teams will be ragged and undisciplined, with that "style" being more to Liverpools liking and a referee that allows bad tackle after bad tackle to go unpunished.

Barcelona - 1
Schalke - 1

Barca go through. In another sleeper of a game in which Schalke piss away more chances than a billionaire in a brothel. Unless you are a fan of either team don't bother watching.

Manchester United - 2
Roma - 0

Roma come out and press the action to little avail only to be caught on the counter for the first goal and then pack it in and give up a second late in the 2nd half. A better display than last year this time but still not enough.

So my match ups for the semi-finals:

Chelsea v Liverpool
Barcelona v Manchester United

Early predictions in this one
Fenerbache fall to Liverpool
Barcelona fall to United

Final

United beat Liverpool, as usual.

 

[jazzman]

you said that Fenerbahce "go through on penalty kicks", and then you have Chelsea them playing in the semis.....not consistent! :(

 

[jazzman]

Alright here goes my 4 picks for the upcoming 2nd legs.

Chelsea - 2
Fenebache - 1

Fenerbache through on penalty kicks

Chelsea dominate the game but that one mental lapse leads to the goal Fenerbache needed and then Chelsea's big stars can't find the net.

Liverpool - 2
Arsenal - 1

Liverpool through in an utterly awful display by both teams. Both teams will be ragged and undisciplined, with that "style" being more to Liverpools liking and a referee that allows bad tackle after bad tackle to go unpunished.

Barcelona - 1
Schalke - 1

Barca go through. In another sleeper of a game in which Schalke piss away more chances than a billionaire in a brothel. Unless you are a fan of either team don't bother watching.

Manchester United - 2
Roma - 0

Roma come out and press the action to little avail only to be caught on the counter for the first goal and then pack it in and give up a second late in the 2nd half. A better display than last year this time but still not enough.

So my match ups for the semi-finals:

Chelsea v Liverpool
Barcelona v Manchester United

Early predictions in this one
Chelsea fall to Liverpool
Barcelona fall to United

Final

United beat Liverpool, as usual.

Here are my predictions......

Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0

I think Chelsea are gonna do enough to win....they play solid at the back and get a 2-0 result to go through, with Drogba & Lampard playing key roles.

Barca 1 Schalke 0

Barca do enough at home to put this tie away for another berth in the semis.

Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

I don't think there are any goals in this one, with Benitez having Liverpool choke up midfield and tactically counter everything Arsenal throw at them! Liverpool go through on the away goal!

Man Utd 2 Roma 1

With injuries to Ferdinand and Vidic I see the Utd team's defense being a little more porous allowing for Roma to get a lifeline, before Man Utd start playing and put this one away in clinical style.

 

[tmporter]

Here are my predictions......

Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0

I think Chelsea are gonna do enough to win....they play solid at the back and get a 2-0 result to go through, with Drogba & Lampard playing key roles.

Barca 1 Schalke 0

Barca do enough at home to put this tie away for another berth in the semis.

Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

I don't think there are any goals in this one, with Benitez having Liverpool choke up midfield and tactically counter everything Arsenal throw at them! Liverpool go through on the away goal!

Man Utd 2 Roma 1

With injuries to Ferdinand and Vidic I see the Utd team's defense being a little more porous allowing for Roma to get a lifeline, before Man Utd start playing and put this one away in clinical style.

I could see all of that happening as well. I just don't think that Liverpool can play 90 minutes of defensive football and not letting up a goal. They get into problems with good teams attacking and heaping on the pressure. United might give up a goal, I am interested to see who plays where in the back 4. My best guess is Wes Brown at RB, O'shea & Pique in the center and Evra on the left.

 

[jazzman]

Wow! That Liverpool v Arsenal game was a classic!

Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2

There were 3 goals in about the last 5-7 minutes which had this one going either way. Arsenal must've thought that they had the semi-final spot all wrapped up after a stunning run by Theo Walcott followed by a perfect square ball into the box for Adebayor to tap home!

That was followed by a controversial penalty handed to Liverpool which Toure was adjudged to bring Babel down in the box. IMO it would have been justice after the first leg for the ref not to point to the spot.....Arsenal were robbed of one in the first leg. Anyways, Gerrard takes a brilliant penalty to seal the deal. Babel added one a few minutes later when Arsenal had pushed everyone up in attack and got hit on the counter.

I wouldn't do justice to Torres without mentioning his stunning strike to take Reds up 2-1!

 

[tmporter]

Here are my predictions......

Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0

I think Chelsea are gonna do enough to win....they play solid at the back and get a 2-0 result to go through, with Drogba & Lampard playing key roles.

Barca 1 Schalke 0

Barca do enough at home to put this tie away for another berth in the semis.

Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

I don't think there are any goals in this one, with Benitez having Liverpool choke up midfield and tactically counter everything Arsenal throw at them! Liverpool go through on the away goal!

Man Utd 2 Roma 1

With injuries to Ferdinand and Vidic I see the Utd team's defense being a little more porous allowing for Roma to get a lifeline, before Man Utd start playing and put this one away in clinical style.

Your Chelsea prediction was spot on. I didn't think Liverpool would bottle anything up. I can't wait to watch that game. It looked like Arsenal threw it away at the end. At least Kolo Toure did.

 

[jazzman]

Your Chelsea prediction was spot on. I didn't think Liverpool would bottle anything up. I can't wait to watch that game. It looked like Arsenal threw it away at the end. At least Kolo Toure did.

You were right about Liverpool's defense....Arsenal certainly had their chances. It's gonna be yet another Liverpool v Chelsea meeting in the semis. I hope the two teams play more attractively this time around.

 

[Buckeye513]

Kolo should get a rape whistle.

 

[Messi18Man]

crazy last 10 minutes to that liverpool arsenal game, definitely thought after Walcott's brilliant run to set up adebayor for the go-ahead-away-goal in the 83rd wouldve deflated liverpool. Crucial mistake by Kolo Toure on a somewhat questionable pk, however it couldve gone either way but imo it was a bit harsh as ive seen more physical play in games of this importance in the box not called, but what can u do ? either way its another Reds vs. Blues semi-final matchup so lets hope this tie isnt as boring as the last one

 

[Jake]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka_eBOpLP_g]YouTube - Liverpool Fans - You'll never walk alone[/ame]

 

[tmporter]

You were right about Liverpool's defense....Arsenal certainly had their chances. It's gonna be yet another Liverpool v Chelsea meeting in the semis. I hope the two teams play more attractively this time around.

crazy last 10 minutes to that liverpool arsenal game, definitely thought after Walcott's brilliant run to set up adebayor for the go-ahead-away-goal in the 83rd wouldve deflated liverpool. Crucial mistake by Kolo Toure on a somewhat questionable pk, however it couldve gone either way but imo it was a bit harsh as ive seen more physical play in games of this importance in the box not called, but what can u do ? either way its another Reds vs. Blues semi-final matchup so lets hope this tie isnt as boring as the last one

Unfortunately for all fans of the "beautiful game" this will be a morose contest played in the middle of the park at a 4 year old's pace. The Liverpool/Arsenal game was exciting because Arsenal is an attacking team. They don't play much counter attack football. They want the ball and they move forward. Chelsea and Liverpool are both pack it in, make it hard, slow and choppy teams. Liverpool can play attacking football but against Chelsea they won't. If 3 goals are scored total in 2 legs I will be suprised. Great for English football, bad for those of us watching.

 

[tmporter]

Kolo should get a rape whistle.

That was less contact than the Dirk Kuyt tug on Hleb in the first leg. Terrible call in my opinion. But that is the way it goes.

 

[thackattack]

I'm interested to see how Chelsea's goalkeeping situation plays out. Cudicini goes down midway through the first half and they're not sure how long he'll be out (maybe a month). Cech has surgery to repair his facial cut and they don't know how long he'll take to return. Hilario comes on and looks very questionable playing the ball with his feet, but makes some outstanding saves to preserve the lead until Lampard's late-game goal. Hilario no doubt gets the start against Wigan in the league, but what about April 23 at Anfield? I would assume either Cech or Cudicini will be back for their first leg game against Liverpool.