We are finally down to 16 clubs in the Champions League. Some of these draws look to be very exciting and could go either way, while others promise to be a one-sided affair.
Who will advance? Who will win it all?
A few days ago I have asked could Ibrahimović do this and he answered right away, of course he can. Here’s one of four goals he scored against Anderlecht.
What an amazing played with a ton of remarkable goals.
From a recent Champions League match where Bayern Munich’s Tiki-Taka has been set to the Benny Hill tune and it really does make Manchester City look a little ridiculous…
Here’s a good example how NOT to clear the ball. Courtesy of Micah Richards from Manchester City vs. Ajax
Rumors are flying and two prominent “theories” are:
1. He was upset that Sergio Ramos (one of his best friends) didn’t play
2. A much more believable reason is that there are still some unresolved issues between Casillas and Ronaldo over Casillas’ fiancée
In any event, it’s interesting to see a man who eats, sleeps and breathes Real Madrid stand motionless as they are winning an important game in the 90th minute…time will tell what really happened.
Sergio Ramos missed a penalty kick against Bayern Munich last night.
Now, we all know why.
By the way, this kid would be in serious trouble if he did this at an eastern European match (speaking from personal experience).
Champions League Final will be held on May 19, 2012 in Munich, Germany on Allianz Arena (home field of one of the finalists by the way). We now know that the 2012 UEFA Champions League finalists are Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Each of the teams have advanced to the final in slightly different fashions. Chelsea, with a lot of heart, textbook team defense (remember, defense wins championships) collective tireless effort and a bit of luck which was certainly needed to beat the raining champions and arguably the best team in the world, Barcelona. Bayern on the other hand, simply played better football and as such has advanced past Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
Now onto the part that bothers me and makes this final less than ideal. Due to archaic and nonsensical yellow cards rule both clubs will have players missing due to suspensions. Bayern will be missing David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo, while Chelsea will be without Branislav Ivanović, Raul Meireles, Ramires and John Terry. I among many others urge UEFA to change this rule and change it now (don’t wait until next year). Finals are considered “holidays of football” and as such millions of fans across the world deserve to see two BEST teams play with their BEST players. This should pertain to all of those players except John Terry whose idiotic, self-centered move nearly cost his team the final – for him I have no sympathy. Then again, who knows, he could have “helped” his team by not playing.
Either way, I’m looking forward to the final, one that will be won by Chelsea (2:1).
Groups are set and here they are:
Group A
FC Bayern München (GER)
Villarreal CF (ESP)
Manchester City FC (ENG)
SSC Napoli (ITA)
Group B
FC Internazionale Milano (ITA)
PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
LOSC Lille Métropole (FRA)
Trabzonspor AŞ (TUR)
Group C
Manchester United FC (ENG)
SL Benfica (POR)
FC Basel 1893 (SUI)
FC Oţelul Galaţi (ROU)
Group D
Real Madrid CF (ESP)
Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
AFC Ajax (NED)
GNK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
Group E
Chelsea FC (ENG)
Valencia CF (ESP)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
KRC Genk (BEL)
Group F
Arsenal FC (ENG)
Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
Olympiacos FC (GRE)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Group G
FC Porto (POR)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)
APOEL FC (CYP)
Group H
FC Barcelona (ESP)
AC Milan (ITA)
FC BATE Borisov (BLR)
FC Viktoria Plzeň (CZE)
So who do YOU think will advance out of each of the groups to the round of 16?
Here are my predictions:
Group A – FC Bayern München (GER) and Manchester City FC (ENG)
Group B – FC Internazionale Milano (ITA) and PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
Group C – Manchester United FC (ENG) and SL Benfica (POR)
Group D – Real Madrid CF (ESP) and Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
Group E – Chelsea FC (ENG) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
Group F – Arsenal FC (ENG) and Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Group G – FC Porto (POR) and FC Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)
Group H – FC Barcelona (ESP) and AC Milan (ITA)