Notwithstanding its strange name, the Champions League is club football's greatest tournament, and it's down to 16 teams.
Tuesday's Games
Liverpool - Inter Milan
Roma - Real Madrid
Shalke 04 - FC Porto
Olympiacos - Chelsea
Wednesday's Games
Arsenal - AC Milan
Lyon - Manchester United
Celtic - Barcelona
Fenerbahce - FC Sevilla
The return legs are two weeks later, with the controversial away-goals tie-breaker coming into play.
If Arsenal win 2-1 at home and lose 1-0 away, I'll be sick.
What kind of side will we see from Arsenal at home Wednesday against AC Milan?
Lehmann
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Eboue Cesc Flamini Hleb
Adebayor Eduardo
Arsenal Supporters who never want to see Eboue in an Arsenal shirt again will be disappointed if this is the lineup, and while I can hold my own denouncing some of his performances and antics, I allow for the possibility of redemption. He has the talent to play well. He obviously has psychological challenges, but those can ebb and flow, and maybe his atrocious outing on the weekend will have shocked him into an altered consciousness that will allow him to play well.
Hoepfully Cesc will be able to play well, as he was also disappointing in the 4-0 drubbing against United.
What about some of these other matches?
2 days ago
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6 comments:
Liverpool's tie will determine Rafa's fate. Home results today matter more to his future than away goals in a fortnight.
Torres says the rotation is not the cause of our underperforming, and that we're having a pretty good season. Carragher says we're not good enough. Rafa says we don't have a lack of confidence. A loss at home today to Inter will end all hopes of silverware, and this season will be officially deemed a "rebuilding year".
I believe we'll see the following line-up:
Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Skrtel, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Babel, Kuyt, and Torres.
Torres has been declared available, and I believe Skrtel is too. I can't see Hyypia playing again so soon. Babel must figure into the plans, since he was pulled off early on Saturday during a man-of-the-match showcase. Pennant provides better width and crosses, and I tip him to start over Benayoun. I don't think Arbeloa, Lucas, or Aurelio have a place in this tie. Look for Kewell on the bench.
This is going to be a nail-biter.
Benzema and Juninho frighten me.
It would be great if Benzema could score 3 or 4 goals tomorrow.
I don't think Lyon are good enough to beat Man. U.
The UEFA.com subscription is great for watching extended match highlights. Roma did really well coming back to win against Real Madrid, and Liverpool, although they were fortunate when Materazzi was sent off, they did really well to get two late goals.
Rafa Benitez can breath a little easier this week. Maybe Liverpool will do a bit better in the PL now that there is less distraction and fixture congestion. Same applies to Arsenal.
I was surprised to see the Arsenal-Milan game carried on ESPN2. I've got my recorder set!
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