Well the Champions League returns on Tuesday and with that, the knock-out stage commences. There are a lot of wonderful ties to watch and there are only a few that you could look at and feel confident about a winner. Here is what I think will occur in this round.

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FC Schalke 04 v FC Porto

On paper and in person, these two are extremely evenly matched. Neither side is incredibly strong, nor are they incredibly weak. Schalke have been inconsistent in the German league this season, but having reached this far is a great accomplishment for them. While they lost at home on Friday, the fact that they'll have four days to rest for this match will be good but it doesn't give them the edge as Porto will have also been rested since Friday. Porto are running away with the Portuguese league and they could start to shift their focus in the hopes of reaching further in this competition. The question here is which team is actually stronger? Yes, Porto do lead their league, but is it in the same quality as Germany? The answer is no. Does that make Schalke a the stronger of the two because they play in a tougher league? Probably not, so again you're left looking at this match as an even contest. I like Schalke in the first leg because they're at home and the crowd will be with them. I expect a close first-half contest, with neither side putting up too many chances, but Schalke will open up in the 2nd half and score a goal. If Porto go down a goal, you'll see them move into the attack and try to grab an away goal. If they decide to play too defensive, then their only chance of scoring will be on the odd-counter attack.

Prediction: Schalke 04 v FC Porto = 2:1

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Liverpool v Inter Milan

With no FA Cup, No Carling Cup and the Premiership out of the question, there is only one trophy the Reds can win this season and the only thing that will save Rafa Benitez from being fired. They face the Italian leaders Inter Milan who have been on-fire this season both in Serie A and in the Champions League. It would be clear that Inter are the favorites in this tie, but in recent years, they have fallen and disappointed their fans in the knock-out stages. With this first match being played at The Anfield, you really have to put the edge at least in this match to Liverpool. Chances are they will play a 4-4-2 but with a midfield that will probably shift more towards aiding the defense rather than setting up the strikers. This match has draw written all over it, but the question will be does it end 0:0 or 1:1. As long as Liverpool do not give up an early goal or do not go behind in the first half, I expect them to stay with a draw. If they do manage to score first, then they could get one more, but I do not expect them to take any risks against Inter and rely on getting an away goal in the return leg.

Prediction: Liverpool v Inter Milan = 1:1

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AS Roma v Real Madrid CF

I am not a fan of either side but this is a really interesting match-up. Real should retain their La Liga title while Roma are trying to fight-off Juventus, Fiorentina and AC Milan for 2nd place in Italy. Roma suffered a 1:0 away loss to Juventus on Saturday but will be glad to have this match at home on Tuesday. Real Madrid also lost on over the weekend on the road after taking an early lead. On paper Real are the better side top-to-bottom but you can expect them to play for the draw here. They have had success against Roma in the past and this might put pressure on the club from the Italian capital to play extremely defensive at home, rather than trying to take their chances.  I expect Real Madrid to go for at least one goal and will not worry too much about taking risks up front. Roma might see this and react by shifting to a 5 in the back and play for that boring 0:0 draw. I want a goal in this match, and I expect it will come from the club in white.

Prediction: AS Roma v Real Madrid = 1:2

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Olympiakos v Chelsea

This is the match where everyone is stating, 'so who is Chelsea facing next?'. Olympiakos are the surprise team of the 16 left in the competition and they face an extremely tough side with Chelsea. Chelsea want to play in Moscow in May more than any club in this competition. They've reached the semis 3 times in the last 4 seasons missing out on the big match. Since the premiership title might be out of reach, they can focus their players on this match and I believe they will go at Olympiakos at full force. The problem with the Greek side is that they lack the experience in the later stages of this competiiton and their players are pretty old in comparison to the youth that fills the Chelsea squad. I expect Olympiakos to fight hard, but their lack of skill will only net them at best a scoreless draw.

Prediction: Olympiakos v Chelsea = 0:2

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Celtic v Barcelona

Yes, Barcelona have no performed as well as they should have this season. They have some of the best goal-scorers in the world with Messi, Henry, Ronaldinho and  Eto'o not to mention the young spark-plug that is Spanish-Serb Bojan Krkic; but due to some inconsistencies they have no played to their full potential. Celtic will probably look at this match and feel that they can cause some problems for the Barcelona side. I expect that Celtic will take their chances at home and try their hardest to score at least one goal because of their poor form outside of Scotland. Barcelona will hope that Celtic, with their risk-taking go too far and gift them a goal. I expect goals in this match from both sides and it will be the return leg that really decides the winner.

Prediction: Celtic v Barcelona = 2:2

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Lyon v Manchester United

At the beginning of this season, Lyon looked shaky at best. They didn't have their first choice keeper (Coupet) between the sticks and they were having a hard time against opposition that should be  easy 3 points. It also looked pretty bad for them when they lost their first two group stage matches, but they turned around won the matches they need to and now must feel extremely confident hosting Manchester United. Manchester had a mixed first part of their League season, but were incredible in the Champions League, although in a relatively weak group that they locked up pretty early. They will try to build on the 4:0 win over Arsenal on the weekend but this will be a very different opponent. I expect a tight contest, but I wouldn't be surprised if Manchester leave with a victory. Over the past few years, I have been a huge supporter of seeing Lyon going far in Europe but they always disapointed. I expect this year they will continue to disappoint. They'll put up a fight, but it will be a 2nd half mistake that will put them behind the 8-ball going to Manchester.

Prediction : Lyon v Manchester Utd. = 1:2

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Fenerbahce v Sevilla

Chances are if you're asked about Turkish club football, you'll respond by mentioning Galatasaray. While that's nice, they are actually not the most successful club from the country, but that Fenerbahce is. This will be the Turkish club's best chance at impressing people in Europe. They have a very diverse squad of younger Turkish players and experienced International talent. Sevilla will be favored in the grand scheme of this series, but their first match in Istanbul will be tough and something they have not experienced in either their previous UEFA Cup success or this season in the group stage. I really like Fenerbahce in the first leg; it won't be a comfortable win, but they'll squeeze out the result they need and head to Spain feeling as though they can advance to the Quarter-finals. Sevilla should not play too defensive but I am certain they will not take their chances.

Prediction: Fenerbahce v Sevilla = 1:0

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Arsenal v AC Milan

Milan looked like they were dead in the water as they couldn't win a league match at home, they were closer to relegation than to the title and nothing was going right. Then entered some young players and the entire team got a massive boost. The fountain of youth has been pretty good as of late and AC Milan are knocking on the door of finishing in the top 4 in Italy. Arsenal on the other hand have had success all season long and outside of missing out Cup trophies in England are on pace to win the Premiership for the first time since their undefeated season a few years back. The squad has developed a lot over the years but are still not that successful in knock-out competitions. They have also had some injury problems as of late and that could cause problems for them in what will be a tough contest. When you have two great clubs like this, you'd want them to have a high-scoring contest, but this has draw written all over it.

Prediction: Arsenal v AC Milan = 0:0

My predictions for the first legs of matches doesn't leave much to the imagination. The first leg is usually played with a lot of caution and clubs at home are not willing to take risks while the away squad do not play to take advantage of their defensive opposition. I think for the neutral, the match to watch will be Celtic v Barcelona while the Fenerbahce v Sevilla will definitely interest the true soccer fan. If there are any surprises, they will be in the Lyon v Manchester and any positive result for Olympiakos (meaning not losing) will also surprise a lot.

Enjoy the matches!

MatchDay 2 of the Champions League took place this weekend and while most people usually say that the Group Stage is uneventful, you have to admit that this season you already have some interesting situations. 

Group A : I doubt anyone would have thought that Marseille would be leading with maximum points and that Liverpool would be in third place with only a single point. Liverpool do not look anything but thankfully they do have the following two matches against Besiktas which should give them the points they need to creep back on top. I would expect Marseille and Porto to draw their two matches, but if Marseille manages to get 4 out of 6, they will advance in the group, while if Porto manages 4 out of 6, then it really opens the door for Liverpool to easily advance, even if they finish 2nd.

Group B: After Chelsea drew with Rosenborg and The Special One leaving, everyone thought that their season was over; chances are it is done in England, but Abramovich wants the Champions League, so that will be his only focus. After managing to beat Valencia in Spain will surely boost the morale of all the players. Their next matches against Schalke should be interesting. Schalke who are currently in 3rd will have to play above their abilities to steal points from Chelsea. If that happens, it could re-open the posibility for Valencia to take back the top of the group. While it is still early, what hurts for Chelsea in the long run is that they will have to go to Trondheim in late November and the lack of enough sun-light could pose a problem for the team.

Group C: This group should be the most difficult of the groups. Olympiakos and Real are tied for the lead and Lazio is close behind them with 2 draws while Bremen are surprisingly in last place with no points. I think that Bremen, even though are still in it, will not pose a threat if they fail to win maximum points in their next matches against Lazio. With Olympiakos and Madrid facing off, Lazio or Bremen could get back into the mix if the first two clubs draw with each other. Olympiakos must be playing now with purpose after finally winning a road match in the Champions League. Their fans would love nothing more than to finally go far in this tournament.

Group D: Shakhtar in First Place?! I really could not believe that in a group with AC Milan, that the team leading the group is from the Ukraine. While yes, they have not played Milan yet, this should surely be a boost in their confidence going into their next two matches. I doubt that Shakhtar will beat Milan in the San Siro, but if they manage a draw, it will be just as good as a win and it will put more pressure on Carlo Ancelotti who could be out before the end of the season. The true test here will be between Celtic and Milan, one team could miss out and at this moment, it looks like Milan could be that team out of the UCL and on the road to the UEFA Cup final.

Group E: Barca in first place, no surprise; Lyon with no points and Rangers with Maximum points, HUGE surprise. I doubt anyone who took a look at a group with powerhouse Barcelona and French Giant's Lyon would have said that they wouldn't be duking it out for first place, but the surprise from Glasgow only technically needs to get 3 more points in the next four matches to advance to the knockout rounds. The German Champs are in trouble and will probably lose to Lyon in their next match. If either side gets maximum points from at least one of their next two matches, then that club could still pose a problem, but if both matches are draws, then Rangers will advance and both the coaches for Stuttgart and Lyon will be out the door. Barcelona will probably play for a draw in Glasgow and a win at home, lock up first place and then rest players for the knockout stage.

Group F: Manchester are in control here and if they manage to win against Dynamo in their next match, will all but ensure a place in the next round. The real focus now is the battle between Roma and Sporting as both clubs standing a fighting chance to advance. If Dynamo manage to steal points from Manchester (especially in Kyiv) then things could get interesting, but it's highly doubtful. I really think the Roma v Sporting matches will be great for the neutral fan.

Group G: Another group that is great for Neutral fans, you have true Champions League Group with Champions from for respective countries and a group that is still wide open after two matches. While Inter are the team that should advance, the fact that Fenerbahce lead the group is a bit of a surprise but means nothing when they only have a 3 point cushion over last place CSKA. The jury is still out on this group, but if Inter fall or draw in their next match(es) over CSKA, could be problematic for them.

Group H:  Oh Arsenal and your Scientology ways. You are surely on the road to Moscow the way you are playing. Comfortable win against Sevilla and a nice road win against Steaua. With your upcoming matches against Slavia, you could/should win easily and enter be one of the first team to qualify for the Round of 16. Only a shock loss will cause problems for you, but that won't happen. The question here is if Sevilla can get accustomed to the Champions League and advance. Slavia and Steaua will both feel they can steal 2nd place and both will do their hardest to get the necessary points. Slavia will probably be the best bet to pip Sevilla, but only if they manage to steal a point or two against Arsenal.

 

After some really interesting first-leg matches, the next two days will be a delight for soccer fans with four interesting matches, three of which should not be missed.

Chelsea go to Spain and will really need to steal a goal in Valencia. I expect Valencia to play quite defensive knowing quite well that, like Inter Milan in the last round, Chelsea can score goals with almost anyone on their squad. With that, while Valencia do have the home field advantage, I still think Chelsea can manage a goal, but the question will be can Valencia score two to seal the deal. My money is on Chelsea for the time being, but this one could still go either way.

Prediction: Valencia v Chelsea 0:1

United are in trouble, after beling claimed by professional analysts as the best team in Europe, they have lost two straight, their lead in England is only three points and they need to score a goal to advance to the Semis. For them thankfully, they do have that one away goal to help them out, but I think that Roma will be able to score in Manchester and I fear that there won't be enough time on the clock for Man Utd to get back into this game. But if Man Utd can score early, Roma will probably change their tactics and that could lead to counter-attack oppertunities for Man Utd and two or more goals can be scored. I doubt SAF and his side will suffer another loss, so I'm thinking a Man Utd win, but it won't be easy

Prediction: Manchester United v AS Roma 1:0

Liverpool will be heading to the final four, it's just a question how they go in. With their 3:0 away win last week, they booked a shot to head to Athens but now must decide if they want to relax and play a defensive match or continue their offensive attacks and continue to build momentum into the semis. I don't expect any of the key players (Gerrard, Reina, Crouch) to start to save them for injuries and card suspensions. Even with that, I still see them being a stronger side and another victory in the cards

Prediction: Liverpool v PSV Eindhoven 2:0

Out of all the matches, the Bayern v Milan match should be the best one. Milan in my eyes, were not anything special last week and were lucky to get the Penalty call and foolish to let up near the end to give Bayern the edge going into this match in Munich. I think Bayern will manage at least a goal and that puts pressure on Milan to score twice. Even if Milan score first, Bayern can rebound and level the scoreline with their threats upfront. This match could end in a tie, but it won't be a shoot-out tie, but a low-goal one.

Prediction: Bayern Munich v AC Milan 1:1

The Quarter-finals begin tomorrow and here are my precicted outcomes of the following matches:

Tuesday:

AC Milan v Bayern Munich -

Should be an entertaining match that could end up being low scoring if there is any scoring. I think that while Milan are favored at home, they could still have a hard time scoring against a solid Munich side. With Bayern beating Schalke over the weekend they have renewed hope that they could still win the league title. While they are still behind 3 other teams, they will want to play strong and that strength will be used here. At the same time, Milan drew with Roma on Saturday and they are only 4 points out of a Champions League Qualifying spot. They need to pick up the burners and do well in Italy so I wonder if their focus will be completely on this game. The defence will determine the winner here, but the way I see it this could end in a scoreless draw.

Prediction: AC Milan v Bayern Munich = 0:0

PSV v Liverpool

I'm not a fan of PSV (I support Ajax in Holland) but you have to like them in European Competition because they are essentially the little guy at the big boy dance. They don't have any real super-stars that people can easily associate with, but they have players who work well together. They did play well against Arsenal, but Arsenal have been extremely inconsistent. Liverpool is not Arsenal and their talent will pose a problem for PSV. PSV have suffered a bit in their domestic league. Their once large lead is now only 3 points after a huge home-loss to Ajax sandwiched between two draws. Liverpool killed Arsenal over the weekend and that strength will be great as they head into Eindhoven. I have to give the edge to Liverpool and they should be able to leave with a cruical away goal. Forget about the 0:0 draw during the group stage, this is where the matches matter more and Liverpool are the better team

Prediction: PSV v Liverpool = 0:2

Wednesday:

Roma v Man United

Well before Saturday I was going to say this would end in a draw, but with the loss of Key defender Nemanja Vidic, Roma can really exploit the field and should be able to score at least one goal. Roma should be able to play well at home and that could pose a problem for Manchester. Chances are, you'll see United playing very defensive relying on counter-attacks for offensive chances. If Roma can score a goal early then they could cruise, but if Roma fail to score in the first half, that might give Manchester the confidence they'll be craving.

Prediction: Roma v Man Utd = 1:0

Chelsea v Valencia

Another toss-up here as this could go either way. Chelsea are still in the hunt for a treble (but just barely) and will be craving a victory. Valencia are in a similar boat but they will probably focus more on this match considering they know a single goal in London could be a great thing when heading back. Expect a tight contest and this could end up as being a draw. I know I haven't talked too much about this one, but when you look on paper, this is a toss-up to the highest degree.

Prediction: Chelsea v Valencia = 1:1

It's closing down to the showcase final in Athens in May and we are now down to 8 clubs and some really interesting possible match-ups. Here is what I have to say about the following fixtures.

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So it took AC Milan 183 minutes to finally score a goal and that was against Glasgow Celtic. While you could look at it from the other angle that AC Milan have a clean sheet for 210 minutes (in knockout stages). It's good that the AC Milan defence was able to keep the clean-sheet the lack of goals is going to hurt them if they want to get any further in this tournaments. Considering how well Bayern Munich played against Real Madrid over the two legs you have to give them the edge in this match-up. Bayern were able to score goals when they need a goal and they played well defensively against a Real team that even if they don't have their top players still have a great squad. I think the question mark here is can AC Milan score more than one goal, because this series should and will need someone to score multiple goals to win series. Right now, Bayern are my pick to advance, but if AC Milan can win the first leg by more than a goal, then they could advance. If they don't, then see Bayern in the semis.

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This is a nice match-up if you're a neutral spectator because these are both good teams and if you're from Eindhoven or support PSV, you feel that this should have been the 2005 Final. PSV travel again to England but this time will have to take on a club that can score plenty. In this series, the first leg is key and the scoreline there will dictate who will go to the semis. PSV will have to continue playing well defensively in order to stop Liverpool, while on the other side, Liverpool know that if they leave Eindhoven with at least one goal then they will really have the leg up. I'm giving the edge to Liverpool because of the talent they have and the fact that is the only title they can still realistically win. Chances are that coach Benitez will rest key players in the premiership to ensure he can field the best possible squad in both matches. PSV haven't locked up the the Dutch League yet, so they will need to keep their focus on both titles and ensuring that their players stay in shape.

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AS Roma really did surprise me when they managed to take down the talented Lyon side. It's not going to get any easier for them considering they must take on the leaders from England. Manchester are definitely heavy favorites here and with their rock-solid defence should be able to prevent Roma from scoring. Roma though will need to go away from their frequent lone-striker (Totti) because the only way they will break the Man Utd back four is to flood the box as much as possible. Injuries could be a problem for Manchester as they are still battling for 2 other titles (FA Cup and Premiership) so Sir Alex Ferguson needs to ensure the health of his key players.  I expect that the first leg will more than likely end in a draw, but that it will be Manchester who wins handily at home to advance to the semi-finals.

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The fourth and final quarter-finals sees Chelsea take on Valencia in another match-up that that will be interesting for the neutral fan. Chelsea are finally waking up and their new signings are showing their worth and that will be important later on. It still hasn't been said what punishments will be handed out to Valencia for their part in their fight with Inter Milan after their match-up so that could affect the outcome. Chelsea will be relying on winning the first leg at home and then coasting in the second leg, but with the problems in the back with injuries conceding a goal is likely. If Valencia do manage to leave London with a draw, then they could go on and win this series. While if Chelsea can win in London without conceding, then they should be able to head to the semis.

 

The first leg of all the knockout stage matches are complete and there is definately a lot to talk about. So here we go:

Celtic v Milan

I knew this game would be low scoring and I'm not surprised the match will go to Milan as it is, but while Milan are favored here, it means little. Celtic know the next leg will be low-scoring and one goal will be more than enough to see them through so I could see them playing cautiously in the first half, then hope to strike at Milan on a counter-attack. While that will also be the strategy of Milan, wait for a celtic mistake and then captialize. I don't want to make any predictions yet, but this one at this moment is pretty even with the edge only slightly on Milan based on talent.

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich

Had this match ended at 3:1 for Real, then I would give them this tie, but thanks to the margin only being one goal, it could still go in favor of Bayern. It's going to be an interesting match for both clubs but it will be the club which can play the better defensive play that will advance. The first half will decide the match; if Bayern score in the first half, they will play extra defensive and hope to keep it at 1:0. If Real scores first, I really doubt that Bayern will be able to comeback and score two goals to advance.

PSV v Arsenal

Arsenal did not play well and they are now going to have to rely on fan support and some fireworks will have to come from the feet of the Arsenal players. The problem here in my eyes is that Arsenal doesn't score a lot and with the need to score two goals to win, it might be a problem for them. I don't count them out, but a draw in Eindhoven would have been perfect for the Gunners but now the pressure is really on them.

Lille v Manchester United

I don't think we need to address the crowd problems and the near-walkout, there will be a second-leg and the Red Devils will/should win easily to progress. The first leg wasn't anything special, but it played exactly the way SAF would want and now all they need to do is score one goal and it's over. Lille won't have much in it to even try so the 2nd leg might not be worth watching

Roma v Lyon

I really thought there would be goals scored here, but nothing. The edge is in Lyon's favor but only slightly. They needed to score a goal and now they are going to have to rely on their offence to control the match and put Roma out of their misery. If Roma scores a goal in the first half, I still think Lyon have the power to score one goal, but to score two might be too much if the time isn't there, but with the talent they have, it's not out of the question

FC Porto v Chelsea

While a draw doesn't hurt either of them, a winner would have boosted the confidence of that club. Chelsea got the goal that could see them through, but if they want to play smart and effective, they will need to score at least a goal to really make them feel calm. But at the same time, if they give up a goal, I don't think they are going to worry too much since they should be able to be comeback from a goal deficit and do what is needed. Time will be the true marker here and if an upset comes, it will be at the worst possible moment for Chelsea

Inter v Valencia

Valencia are in the driver's seat with the 2:2 draw. Even at 2:1, they were in a good position to turn the tide in the 2nd leg. With Inter needing to win in Spain, it puts a lot of pressure on a club that doesn't handle it well. Valencia will definately be playing cautious football in the next leg and that isn't too bad, but playing too defensive might hurt them. A goal will see them through and if they have that goal, then playing defensive is the only smart thing to do.

Liverpool v Barcelona

Somebody hit the panic button for Barcelona because they are in trouble. You lead the game early and then you give up two away goals in the worst possible spot. Barcelona are struggling in all departments and now they need to get out of this hole quickly. The problem is that while they have the talent, I don't know if they can do it. Two goals on the road is tough and when you know Liverpool are going to play a 4-5-1 in the next match, it means relying on Ronaldinho to dribble through half the Liverpool squad to get the Barca strikers an oppertunity to score or to attempt at the rebound. Barca need Eto'o and you can almost be certain they'll probably play a 4-3-1-2 at anfield with the possiblity of trying the 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-4 because two goals is the only way Barca are advancing.

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So there you have it, my recap of the first leg of matches. While there is still 90 minutes to play, nothing is far from over and it's going to be a lot of great football to watch.

European Football action restarts this week and since I wrote my over-view of the matches a lot has changed and I just wanted to remind myself of the matches and what I think of them

Lille v Manchester United

Over the weekend, Lille lost to Lyon in the French League but are still in third place. Not bad considering the title race in France is all but over and for Lille their focus should be on making sure to finish in the top three this year. With Sochaux, Marseille, Toulouse and a host of other clubs within only 3 points or less of Lille, they might be more concerned with doing better in France than in Europe. The same can be said for Manchester who now have to play another game after Reading were able to force a replay in the FA Cup. While that match won't be a for a couple of weeks, Manchester are still on fire, with the EPL lead and being among the favorites to go far in this tournament. I love Manchester's defence with Rio and Vidic being so solid in the centre. With the addition of Henrik Larsson, the depth is incredible. I don't see Henrik starting this game, but could come in in the 2nd half depending on the scoreline.

Prediction: Lille v Manchester 0:1

Barcelona v Liverpool

Eto'o is back but there are problems in Barcelona. They lost on Sunday and are now tied for first place with Sevilla in La Liga. If this game was in Liverpool, I would be putting solid money on Steven Gerrard and company to win the game easily, but the home-field will help Barca momentarily, but it might be just enough to keep a draw. Liverpool are out of the FA Cup and can't catch up to the top 2 in England. The only way to avoid having to qualify for Europe is to win it all yet again. While it might be a really long shot, with their focus being only on this match, they'll play hard, but in the end the two team will cancel each other out and this will end in a draw. But when the return leg hits Liverpool, you have to expect them to be heavily favored, unless Barcelona wake up.

Prediction: Barcelona v Liverpool 0:0

Real Madrid v Bayern Munich

Two powerhouses in the past but both are playing poorly lately. Bayern fars worse of the two with their hopes of returning as German champions slipping every week. While they aren't out, with 3 clubs ahead of them (Schalke, Stuttgart and Werder) they might also be missing out from getting to appear next season. While I hate Real, I have to give them the win here because of the home-field advantage and the empty pantry Bayern has to choose from. I think it's time for Bayern to rethink their strategy and rebuild. Every club goes through these phases and now it's their time. Real Madrid aren't the best either, but in this match-up they definately have the players on the pitch to score enough goals and to go to Munich with a comfortable lead.

Prediction: Real Madrid v Bayern Munich 2:0

FC Porto v Chelsea

Porto are leading in Portugal while Chelsea are in second place in England. Porto are in a great position to win their domestic crown but the lack of talent on the European stage will not be enough to beat Chelsea. While questions still surround Jose's status next season, he still wants to repeat as a Champions League coach. Chelsea can still win four trophies and thankfully it seems that Shevchenko has gotten into the groove of things and with Drogba being a key-member on this squad, you can't go against them. On paper it's not contest, but Porto will play this game tough knowing it probably will the last match they play in Europe. In the end though, one goal will be enough but Chelsea will score two when Porto try to tie the match

Prediction: FC Porto v Chelsea 0:2

Celtic v AC Milan

So Celtic lead the Scotlish Premiership with a 20 point lead...really impressive (sic). I can't stand Celtic and the Scottish Premiership. It's always a two horse race and considering that they will win the title, I can see this club playing really hard against Milan. Thankfully for Celtic, Milan are still struggling. While they signed Ronaldo, he can't play in this match or any other matches since he already played for Real Madrid this season. The question will be who scores in this match. I don't see a lot of goals, in fact I don't see any. Celtic don't have the same talent, and while Milan are struggling and will not win in Italy, this will be an important match-up for them. In the end, I don't think this match will be memorable and it will stay scoreless

Prediction: Celtic v AC Milan 0:0

PSV v Arsenal

Back when I wrote if there is a shocker in any of the matches, I mentioned that the upset would come here. Today I still feel that way. While I'm not too impressed with either club, I think that PSV can compete against the Current Arsenal squad. In tough opposition, Arsenal play well, but when they play against teams of lesser quality, they struggle. I see that happening again here. PSV doesn't have their own league locked up but they will want to play this match with a lot of intensity and with Arsenal drawing at home against Blackburn in the FA Cup, they are not in the best shape. I really can't say too much about either side but I think that PSV will do enough to win this match but it won't be impressive either.

Prediction: PSV v Arsenal 1:0

AS Roma v Lyon

I mentioned earlier that Lyon have the French league all but locked up in their trophy case so their focus is shifted to this. They are a great team on paper and need to prove they are among the elite in Europe. Roma are too far away to catch Inter Milan in the race for first place, but can still lose their grip on 2nd place. This game will be monitored closely by UEFA because of the recent problems with fans in Italy and that might hurt Roma in the hopes of using home-field advantage to their gain. Lyon stand a good chance of scoring early and silencing the crowd and if Roma go down by two or more, you could see fans either leaving or showing their anger. I love Lyon and I expect them to win in Rome and to return home with a comfortable lead and progress into the Quarter-finals

Prediction: AS Roma v Lyon 1:3

Inter Milan v Valencia

It's too bad that the problems exist this season in Italy. Inter Milan will be winning their first legitimate title in over 20+ years but no one will care because of all the problems in Italy, from the scandal that punished nobody the way they should have, to the problems with fan violence. Yet again, UEFA has gone easy on the Italy Football Federation when they needed to clamp down on this BS that is coming from that country. Inter have history with crowd problems and yet again that could become visible in this match. Valencia will try to take advantage of this, but I just don't see them having enough talent to win this match. While Valencia have returned to higher ground in La Liga, I think they will not be able to win this match in Milan. I draw is possible, but more than likely this will end with a 2:1 scorline for Inter. But this loss doesn't hurt Valencia, as they would then only need a single goal in the return leg to advance, so it's still anyone's game.

Prediction: Inter Milan v Valencia 2:1

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There are my predictions. At 02:00 PST on Monday morning, I think I've gone into how I think the matches will end and knowing the real-world, I'll only be right on 60% of the matches. Whatever the scorelines end up, they won't decide the matches and the return legs should be just as interesting.

The draw for the 2nd round of UEFA's Champions League was held this morning and as I predicted there was one clear-cut easy match-up, two hard to predict matches and the rest are pretty evenly based.

 v  Lille v Manchester United: This really shouldn't be too tough for Manchester United who have among the best goalkeepers in the world with Edwin Van Der Sar and a slew of other great world-class players. As long as injuries are not a problem in the next two months I do not expect Manchester to have a problem in advancing. I predict a 0:1 or 1:1 scoreline in Lille with Man Utd will win easiliy 2:0 at home in the return leg.

 v Barcelona v Liverpool: The first of the two more difficult draws sees the winners from 2006 face-off against the winners of 2005. While on paper Barcelona is the better team, Liverpool are still among the best in Europe and will take these matches extremely seriously. I think the first leg will be the decider; if Liverpool can leave Barcelona with at least one goal in either a draw or a one-goal loss I think they can go back to Anfield and finish it off. But reversly, if Barcelona win the first leg comfortably, then it will be extremely difficult for Liverpool to come back considering their defense might not be able to handle the offensive weapons that Barcelona have.

v  Real Madrid v Bayern Munich: Two historically great clubs meet up again in this part of the CL and they must really hate it. Real Madrid had a tough time in a relatively easy group with Lyon, Steaua and Dynamo Kyiv finishing second and losing twice to Lyon. Bayern Munich is a good team on paper but Winter transfer rumors of players leaving Bayern (such as Owen Hargraves) might hurt them; while Real Madrid plan on buying during the holidays and they already have a world-class side. The factor in this tie is definately the first leg in Madrid. If Real win with ease then they will go through, but if Bayern steal a draw or victory, the deficit might be too much for Real to handle and the likelihood of silverware this year will disapear.

v  FC Porto v Chelsea FC: Jose again gets to face-off against his former team which has changed greatly over those two years. On paper this shouldn't be a tough one to choose as Chelsea are clearly the better team, but I think the first leg could be extremely interesting. The Porto players probably know the match at home will ultimately be the deciding factor and I could see them playing for a draw and that's all, likely playing a 5-4-1 or a 4-5-1. Chelsea will take their offensive threats and try their hardest to finish this contest as soon as possible so they can focus on the EPL and the next round. Another factor could in fact be the EPL. Chelsea will have played at least 4-6 matches in the EPL before this tie occurs and depending on how close or far they are from Leaders Manchester United are could be a factor. If Chelsea are too far from reaching the top of the EPL, they might try to focus their attention solely on winning the CL.

 v Glasgow Celtic v AC Milan: On paper Milan are the stronger of the of the two sides but are riding a two game losing streak and finished with the lowest point total of all the group winners. In fact, only Celtic and Lille finished with fewer total points than Milan (both had 9 points to Milan's 10). While Milan have struggled lately both domestically and in the CL, they are still one of the best teams around reaching the semi-finals last year, finalist the year before and winning the trophy in 2003. This is familiar territory for them and I feel that they will do what is necessary to win this tie. Celtic lack the depth that would require them to reach the later stages but will put up a fight. In the end, it won't be enough and Milan will progress.

 v  PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal: If there is going to be one 'shocker' in this round of the CL I am putting my money on PSV to be the surprise winners.  Unlike last year where Arsenal cruised through the group stage with little problem against weaker sides like Thun from Switzerland, they had a tougher time with their current group that included Porto, CSKA Moskva and Hamburg. I really think that PSV will win the first-leg 2:0 and that two goal cushion will be more than enough to hold them for the next round. Arsenal could prove me wrong, but will need to score a more than 1 goal to progress and if they go down in Eindhoven, I really do not see them scoring a lot in London to progress.

v  AS Roma v Olmpique Lyon: If you aren't a little fond of Lyon I really think there is something wrong with you. While they are clearly the strongest side in France, their play in Europe is hands-down one of the more interesting in all of the continent. Roma are not a stacked side, relying more on quality play rather than flash, but struggled to get into this stage, winning their last game against a half-#### Valencia side that already ensured itself 1st place. Lyon should be able to handle Roma the same way they managed to take care of Real Madrid in the group stage. Expect both games to go in favor for Lyon and they could reach the semi-finals in style.

v Inter Milan v Valencia CF: When I was looking over the groups, I was compelled to put this one in the extremely tough matches category considering that Inter lead Serie A while Valencia should be in the top 5 in Spain. While Valencia have struggled lately in La Liga, they are still a good side but the talent Inter have could terrorize Valencia. Once again, the first leg will determine this series and I predict Inter win that match comfortably and will advance with ease. I think for Valencia to be able to stay in this series they would need to score at least one goal in Milan do change the momentum. I think that Inter, if put in a situation where they are trailing, especially at home, could be really problematic. Inter need to ensure their fans are with them 100% from start to finish and if they give up an early goal, those fans will turn on them pretty quickly. If you're a neutral spectator, you should really enjoy this series.

So there you have it, my early predictions for the Champions League 2nd round. While these matches don't start until the end of February, the lead-up to these ties will be intense. With most of these leagues returning from winter break and/or entering the final 1/3 of their domestic leagues will be an added factor in how these teams play. Those who have already locked up enough of a lead domestically or who are not in the hunt will focus their attention on getting further in this tournament and will play their hearts out. As for who I like to actually win it all, I would not be surprised if there is a 'surprise' finalist and my money is right now on Lyon to reach the finals against a more respected club. I think Chelsea could be the other finalist, but that depends on where they are in the EPL next March.

The draw for the Champions League knockout stage is set for Friday. If you have seen the list of clubs involved you can see that most if not all of these teams have historically been some of the best in Europe and the possible match-ups that could occur would make any footie fan go insane.

Just take a look at the two pots:

Group Winners:       

Runner-Ups:              

These are the 16 clubs that will all be fighting for a chance to play in the finals in Athens. They are the best of the best. Of the 16 only two clubs have not reached the finals of this tournment: Lyon and Lille, both of the french clubs. Lyon has been at this point of the tournament numerous times, usually falling to a tough side while Lille is here for the first time and a lot of people are not expecting much from them.  Further more, of the sixteen tClubs, only 6 of them have not won the trophy: Chelsea, Valencia, Lyon, Arsenal, Roma and Lille while Chelsea and both French Sides have not reached the finals. If you want to go even deeper with the quality of these teams, only Roma, Lyon and Lille have not won a major European trophy (note: Lyon and Lille have each won the Intertoto Cup, but that is not an exclusive trophy and not considered here).

If you're a fan of a club from the group winners you are hoping that your club avoids Barcelona, Inter and Real. You're praying you get Lille but wouldn't mind playing against PSV,  Celtic, Porto or Roma, considering they 'should' be beatable. While if you are a fan of a club in the runner-up grouping, you are probably hoping you're club gets to face Valencia or Milan considering of they are the only two group winner's who are not in the top five of their respective countries (Arsenal is currently 6th but they have a match today (Wednesday) and that could change). While yes, Valencia and Milan are not among the best locally, they are definately teams that you need to watch out, but honestly, all the teams are.

I am anxious for Friday's draw and will be giving my early predictions from each match. I expect there to be at least one really tough draw and one really lop-sided draw (since UEFA always manages to 'pull' that off) so stay tuned for more over the weekend.

As an added bonus, I might even give my predictions on the UEFA Cup, but that's only if there are matches worth my time.