The Champions League is back and boy have we missed it.
Plans for overseas expansion in the Premier League may have grabbed the limelight for a short while, but Arsenal v AC Milan and AS Roma against Real Madrid sound so much more alluring that Bolton v Fulham in Shanghai.
While anger spreads against the Premier League proposals, the Champions League last 16 ties promise some sumptuous knockout football now the often tedious group stages are done with.
The beauty of the world’s premier club competition is that anything can happen. The guys at Offside are already in heaven.
Liverpool lost to Barnsley in the FA Cup and are generally in disarray, but a famous European night at Anfield will test Inter Milan to the limit on Tuesday even though the Serie A champions are unbeaten and 11 points clear in the league this season.
Four years ago Porto shocked everyone and won the title, beating Monaco in the final (Always a great occasion according to Liquid Football). The Portuguese side are in the last 16 again and have a kind draw against Germany’s Schalke.
With Sevilla taking on Fenerbahce in another game, at least two outside bets will make the quarters and could easily go further. On the other hand, the big teams that meet them in the next round could be given a less tricky passage.
But there has to be one surprise, so where it is going to come?
Mark Meadows, Milan
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7 comments so far
It will be in France or Rome. How about Lyon? If they manage win at home and then park a bus at Old Trafford then they can fancy chances.
- Posted by AdamItalians think Milan will win in Europe as they are not doing so well in serie A, like last year. But i think Arsenal will beat them in the two matches and could make the final.
- Posted by Claudia PennettaNo one would say that when Henry went away, thats the surprise, as wel as them at the top in England
[…] Lookin’ for an underdog upset (Reuters Soccer Blogs) […]
- Posted by Daily Dose.: 2.18.08 - Daily Dose - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the worldI think the shock of the round would be Celtic over Barca, but I’m just not sure the Celtic back four is strong enough to take them on, especially if Eto’o is back in the lineup. To me, that’s the only match that offers much in the way of an underdog chance - the others are fairly well matched.
- Posted by Ian RoseWe’ll have a better idea after tonight, but I’ve got a feeling this is going to be a year of surprises. In the build-up to the last European Championship you had an oddball semi-final line-up of Porto, Depor, Monaco and Chelsea. This time, how about Sevilla, Porto, Chelsea and Inter?
- Posted by Kevin FylanArsenal and Celtic have got the toughest draw playing AC Milan and Barca respectively.If either Arsenal or Celtic or both manage to win, that will surely be the biggest surprise of the tournament this year. Arsenal beating AC Milan looks and sounds more realistic though than Celtic beating Barca.
- Posted by Nachiket KelkarAn understandable business approach from the Premier League to plan on going abroad; generate more revenue and explode the world’s top footballers for a bit more cash, and give the hungry Asian “fanaticada” some to cheer apart from David’s hairstyles.
Liverpool did the job today. A not so interesting match as the back and forward game between Real and Roma, but goo enough for Liverpool as they have one foot on the other side. For Inter time to recap and hopefully rejoin forces to face an unstoppable Gerard at his own pitch.
- Footballer
http://footballerworld.blogspot.com/
- Posted by Footballer