Champions League 2008/09

[JK]

Ah ok, so realistically they'll still get through

Nope. Realistically they'll cock it up because they are Chavski and they don't win cups.

I'll be cheering for the Gypos.

Yeah but realistically they only cock it up once they are tantalisingly close .. Too early for them to get bundled

[RoosterMarty]

Well done to Liverpool on making it to the last 16 yet again.

It's not really that difficult, it would take a huge disaster for any English club to not make it to the knockout rounds.

The group stages are pretty boring these days.

Agree Marty, although Chavski haven't been the same since we did them over.

I think I speak for everyone here when I say I hope you draw them in the FA Cup too...

[devilsadvocate]

Well boys and girls, it's getting down to the pointy end again, when the fixtures get very interesting. The last 16 have been draw for the UCL as follows:

2008/09 UEFA Champions League
First knockout round – to be played 24/25 February and 10/11 March
Team named first at home in first leg
Chelsea FC (ENG) v Juventus (ITA)
Villarreal CF (ESP) v Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) v FC Bayern München (GER)
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) v FC Porto (POR)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v FC Barcelona (ESP)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) v Liverpool FC (ENG)
Arsenal FC (ENG) v AS Roma (ITA)
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) v Manchester United FC (ENG)

A couple stick out for me:

RM v Scouse - Real have a fairly ordinary record in recent years in Europe. I would not be surprised at all if the Scousers progress.
Inter v Manue - IMO, this will be where the special one proves himself once and for all. If he can get Inter past Utd, he's a genius.

The following round will be drawn when all results of the above games are known.

IMO, it's Barca's year this year. They are playing unreal football. Whoever prgresses from Inter/Man U will challenge too, and depending on what mood Stevie G is in, Liverpool are always an outside chance.

Come on Roma!

[BALLHOG]

Tough gig first up for Man Utd if they can get through this round of the knock out stage they are a great chance to go back to back. They have plenty of time to prepare,come on you Devs let's take all the silver wear this season.

[JK]

Man U are much more talented than Inter, and have a better gaffer IMHO, I reckon the Devils do it comfortably (lol be happy if Im wrong .

[Dirko]

My tips to go through highlighted on BOLD

Chelsea FC (ENG) v Juventus (ITA)
Villarreal CF (ESP) v Panathinaikos FC (GRE)
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR) v FC Bayern München (GER)
Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP) v FC Porto (POR)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA) v FC Barcelona (ESP)
Real Madrid CF (ESP) v Liverpool FC (ENG)
Arsenal FC (ENG) v AS Roma (ITA)]
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) v Manchester United FC (ENG)

Can see this years winner being from the Continent. The Old Lady Juve are in reasonable form in the
Serie A sitting second behind Inter. Chelsea have shown a bit of fragility the past month in Europe
and the home form has been unusually subdued. Can see Juve getting over them 3 - 1 on aggregate.

Villareal too strong for Panathinaikos despite not doing exceptionally well in the Primera Division. 4 -1

Bayern have pulled themselves to equal points on top, and their form has lifted over the past month. Can
see them getting through in a true German dour manner over Sporting 2 - 1.

Atletico are having a good season in Spain, sitting third behind the rampaging Barca & Sevilla. Will be too strong for their
neighbouring country's side Porto and get through 4 - 2.

Barca will steamroll Lyonnais. Too good, too strong, too many superstars running around...Alvarez, Eto'o, Messi, Henry, da Silva,
Hleb, Yaya bloody hell ! 6 - 1

OK. First sort of upset. For some strange reason can see Real pulling their finger out, realising they can't win the Primera so going
after the Champions League. What would be in the minds of the Scousers ? Winning the Premiership or Champions League ? They haven't
the depth of a Man U or Chelsea, so man management will play a part. If they pick up a injury or two to a first teamer then I can see them falling
away a bit. Real 3 - 2.

Well Roma's form is shit. Le Arse have been a bit dodgy lately too. Just not as bad as Roma's. Sitting 11th in the Serie A hardly conjures up a good image of doing anything here. Arsenal 4 - 1.

The two big guns go at it. Man U fresh off their World Club Championship, will be fired up for a tilt at back to back Champions League trophy's.
Inter have been in exceptional form 6 points clear from Juve and looking good. They too have a fantastic squad with Zlatan Ibrahimovic being in fine form. Can see Man U being primed for a huge tilt again, and can see them getting through and winning the whole shebang again. 4 - 3 in a thriller....

[johntheclaret]

My tips, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U to progress. Chelski have imploded (maybe we should start a 'Chelski have implodsed' thread, now that would be a 1st on the Soccer forum

Liverpool are a great European Cup side. they know how to play European football and do it very well. Prediction, possible semi's place.

Arsenal are playing much better football in the CL than they are in the league. Maybe a last 4 but I think more like a last 8.

Man U are still the dominant side in Europe in my opinion. they've had a break from the League, with the World Club matches, but thet travelling won't phase them one little bit. they are sat nicely behind Pool and Chavski in the league with games in hand whilst they are dropping points all over the place. Prediction Finalists

[Dirko]

Jesus...this thread was buried. So results from Overnight are

Atlético drew Porto 2 all
Lyon drew Barcelona 1 all
Arsenal def Roma 1 nil
Internazionale drew Man. United nil all.

So good results for Le Arse & Manure.
Porto & Barca have handy away goals for the home leg.

Tonight fixtures are
Real Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Juventus
Villarreal v Panathinaikos
Sporting v Bayern

[RoosterMarty]

United should have scored at least one away goal but they proved how crap Inter are at this level. They can beat up the teams in the very weak Serie A but that is all. Ibrahimovic is a joke as well, extremely overrated.

Serie A is rubbish now though really. Arsenal should progress even though it's 1-0.

Juninho's goal was sublime for Lyon, what a peach of a freekick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itIKjnghzr8&e

[Il Duce]

United should have scored at least one away goal but they proved how crap Inter are at this level. They can beat up the teams in the very weak Serie A but that is all. Ibrahimovic is a joke as well, extremely overrated.

Serie A is rubbish now though really. Arsenal should progress even though it's 1-0.

Juninho's goal was sublime for Lyon, what a peach of a freekick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itIKjnghzr8&e

What is your basis for this cause they dont score as many goals as the epl? Also i hate inter but i wouldn't call ibrahimovic a joke and overrated, he has been one of the best players in the serie a for the last 3 season

[BALLHOG]

United should have scored at least one away goal but they proved how crap Inter are at this level. They can beat up the teams in the very weak Serie A but that is all. Ibrahimovic is a joke as well, extremely overrated.

Serie A is rubbish now though really. Arsenal should progress even though it's 1-0.

Juninho's goal was sublime for Lyon, what a peach of a freekick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itIKjnghzr8&e

Man U certainly had their chances in the first half very unlucky not be taking a lead back to Old Trafford. Very certain they can get a result in the return leg will have some handy inclusions aswell.

[RoosterMarty]

United should have scored at least one away goal but they proved how crap Inter are at this level. They can beat up the teams in the very weak Serie A but that is all. Ibrahimovic is a joke as well, extremely overrated.

Serie A is rubbish now though really. Arsenal should progress even though it's 1-0.

Juninho's goal was sublime for Lyon, what a peach of a freekick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itIKjnghzr8&e

What is your basis for this cause they dont score as many goals as the epl? Also i hate inter but i wouldn't call ibrahimovic a joke and overrated, he has been one of the best players in the serie a for the last 3 season

It has nothing to do with goals mate, they are just behind England and Spain at the moment. Ibra does well in the Seria A but on the big stage he offers nothing. Just my opinion though.

With United... a few injuries to defenders made me pretty nervous but they were rock solid again. How good is Johnny Evans? Fergie just keeps picking him for the big games and he continues to shine. He would be a regular if we didn't have the best CB pairing in the world - Rio and Vidic. He is proving to everyone why Fergie refused to let Roy Keane buy him for Sunderland.

[smithy]

It has nothing to do with goals mate, they are just behind England and Spain at the moment. Ibra does well in the Seria A but on the big stage he offers nothing. Just my opinion though.
.

Gotta agree with that RM.
Everytime I've seen him in the UCL I've wondered what all the hype was about.

[JK]

Yossi continues a fine season, Liverpool 1 - Real 0, get in you Redmen!!

[Dirko]

Other results

Chelski 1 def Juve 0 - goal to Drogba
Real 0 lost to Liverpool 1 - goal to Benayoun
Sporting 0 lost to Bayern 5 goals to Ribery x 2, Klose & Toni x 2
Villareal 1 drew Panathinaikos 1 - goals to Rossi & G. Karagounis

[Swooper16]

After the story in todays paper, what odds on Liverpool & Man Utd getting knocked out in the second leg so they dont have to leave the country anymore...

Nice to see they added in the final paragraph the story about the 2 robbers who attempted "blagging" Duncan Fergusons place. He caught them in the act, took matters into his own hands and put them both in hospital.

Duncan Disorderly would have to be up there with Le Tiss as my all time fav non United player.

[whufc]

After the story in todays paper, what odds on Liverpool & Man Utd getting knocked out in the second leg so they dont have to leave the country anymore...

Nice to see they added in the final paragraph the story about the 2 robbers who attempted "blagging" Duncan Fergusons place. He caught them in the act, took matters into his own hands and put them both in hospital.

Duncan Disorderly would have to be up there with Le Tiss as my all time fav non United player.

Ah Le Tissier, a highlight reel of all his goals would match anyone in the world, what a finisher.

[JK]

After the story in todays paper, what odds on Liverpool & Man Utd getting knocked out in the second leg so they dont have to leave the country anymore...

Nice to see they added in the final paragraph the story about the 2 robbers who attempted "blagging" Duncan Fergusons place. He caught them in the act, took matters into his own hands and put them both in hospital.

Duncan Disorderly would have to be up there with Le Tiss as my all time fav non United player.

Ah Le Tissier, a highlight reel of all his goals would match anyone in the world, what a finisher.

No argument there, the quintessential neutral favourite

[smithy]

Liverpool are absolutely destroying Real Madrid in the 1st 15 minutes.
Liverpool 1 - Madrid 0..........2-0 on aggregate.

If it wasnt for Casillas making 2 world class saves in the 1st 4 mins the tie would've already been beyond doubt.

[smithy]

Liverpool 2 (3) - Madrid 0 (0)
Penalty to Gerrard.

28mins gone

If Ian Walker was in goal Madrid would be 6-0 down at the moment.

Slightly unlucky penalty in fairness to Madrid