The normalities of life have resumed. Europe’s top club competition is back, and with it has come the unforgiving knock-out stages. The reformatted setting which stretches the ties over a two week period have added some spice and anticipation to what is already a gut wrenching affair. If the past is any indicator of the present, one thing is certain; tears will be shed! Whether tears of joy or sorrow, football respects no one. The simple truth is games can be won or lost in the blink of an eye, through pure footballing genius or a mishit shot, legends can be made.
Fortunately for us, luck is not the total determinant of success in the beautiful game. There are a myriad of factors one could list that significantly alter the result of games, but the ball is round as they say. Looking at the individual ties, some naturally stand out. AC Milan versus Manchester United is one which definitely catches the eye. In a replay of the 2007 semi-final, where a tired looking United bowed out with nothing more than a whimper, this time around may be more intriguing. There is reduced emphasis on tactics and balance when this match is viewed, with both teams driven by one individual. The bare truth is the effect Ronaldinho has on his Milan team mates versus the influence Wayne Rooney can exert on the game may just be the tipping point that settles matters.
One team not lacking fire power or significant influencers is Real Madrid. With an embarrassment of talent at their disposal, one should simply shine the trophy and present it to them from now, dont you think? Coupled with the fact that their French opponents have performed less than spectacularly in the preceding months leading to the tie, Madrid are a surety for the quarter-finals, right? Olympique Lyonnais however is no pushover. The record holding French league champions will be encouraged by the reality that if you isolate Ronaldo and stifle his influence on the game, Madrid are simply a lesser force to be reckoned with. Lyon though must take advantage of their home tie and do their best to keep a clean sheet if they hold realistic hopes of pulling off arguably the upset of the round.
The fairytale match of this round must go to the master of controversy, Jose Mourinho. Powerhouse Chelsea makes the trip to Italy to take on Inter Milan, reuniting with the coach that brought them success and singlehandedly, with the help of a couple hundred million, crafted them into genuine European giants. At a glance, the nature of the teams, as well as, their respective coaches gives off an impression of a tight, tactical affair lacking attacking prowess and filled with slow, calculated movements; I dare to predict otherwise. Is there a harder team to beat at home than Chelsea, I think not. This reality will force Inter Milan to go for the jugular at the San Siro, as going to Stamford Bridge with anything less than a two goal advantage will most likely spell disaster for FC Internazionale Milano.
The other ties in this round have their own individual angles to them, and will make for a fascinating watch. FC Porto versus Arsenal will most likely depend on whether the boys of Arsenal or the men show up to play, Arsene Wenger must find the most effective method of garnering the sublime from his ‘young’ charges. Bayern Munich versus Fiorentina is an unpredictable one at best. Bayern on paper are better than they actually are, underachieving at the point when it matters most. They may be encouraged by the fact that Fiorentina have imploded since their impressive progression from the group stages at the expense of Liverpool, and the distractions of Adrian Mutu’s most recent drug issues. Don’t write off the Italians however, football is a strange game.
Yoann Gourcuff, an AC Milan cast away has transformed Bordeaux into a team that is going places. The French team play beautiful football, and are solid from defence through midfield; this may be a step too far for Olympiacos, currently the pride of the Greek football world. It is fitting to end with the current European Champions. Not much can be said about the class of this Barcelona team that hasn’t already been said, and the chances of VFB Stuttgart overturning the Catalan team are slim, but as Rubin Kazan showed in the group stages, even the mighty Barcelona can be beaten.
Whether through tactics, pure footballing genius or the luck of the bounce; see you in the next round.
There are currently no comments highlighted.
