UEFA Champions League Soccer

[tmporter]

Last I read, Messi could be back by the end of April, just in time for the Champions League semi's. That would be a big lift for Barca. United are starting to pick up a few injuries. Vidic out for 3 weeks, Ferdinand hurt his foot in the draw at Middlesboro. Neville might be close to a 1st team run out, which would allow Wes Brown to move inside with either O'shea or Pique. This weeks games will be exciting for sure. I can see another Liverpool Arsenal draw going to extra time and maybe even spot kicks.

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by tmporter

Last I read, Messi could be back by the end of April, just in time for the Champions League semi's. That would be a big lift for Barca. United are starting to pick up a few injuries. Vidic out for 3 weeks, Ferdinand hurt his foot in the draw at Middlesboro. Neville might be close to a 1st team run out, which would allow Wes Brown to move inside with either O'shea or Pique. This weeks games will be exciting for sure. I can see another Liverpool Arsenal draw going to extra time and maybe even spot kicks.

The injury to Vidic certainly hurts Man U. He's been very solid at the back for them. I am not so confident when O'Shea or Brown play that central defense role. Having those 2 away goals should help Fergie take it a little easy with the injuries....especially with Ferdinand. Roma hasn't looked like a serious threat going forward, and Totti is still unlikely to return from what I have last heard.

Another update on key injuries....Petr Cech is out for the return leg at home against Fenerbahce after undergoing surgery on his chin following an on field accident. He has missed the last 9 games for Chelsea due to an ankle injury....no respite for this guy!

[tmporter]

Alright here goes my 4 picks for the upcoming 2nd legs.

Chelsea - 2
Fenebache - 1

Fenerbache through on penalty kicks

Chelsea dominate the game but that one mental lapse leads to the goal Fenerbache needed and then Chelsea's big stars can't find the net.

Liverpool - 2
Arsenal - 1

Liverpool through in an utterly awful display by both teams. Both teams will be ragged and undisciplined, with that "style" being more to Liverpools liking and a referee that allows bad tackle after bad tackle to go unpunished.

Barcelona - 1
Schalke - 1

Barca go through. In another sleeper of a game in which Schalke piss away more chances than a billionaire in a brothel. Unless you are a fan of either team don't bother watching.

Manchester United - 2
Roma - 0

Roma come out and press the action to little avail only to be caught on the counter for the first goal and then pack it in and give up a second late in the 2nd half. A better display than last year this time but still not enough.

So my match ups for the semi-finals:

Chelsea v Liverpool
Barcelona v Manchester United

Early predictions in this one
Fenerbache fall to Liverpool
Barcelona fall to United

Final

United beat Liverpool, as usual.

[jazzman]

you said that Fenerbahce "go through on penalty kicks", and then you have Chelsea them playing in the semis.....not consistent!

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by tmporter

Alright here goes my 4 picks for the upcoming 2nd legs.

Chelsea - 2
Fenebache - 1

Fenerbache through on penalty kicks

Chelsea dominate the game but that one mental lapse leads to the goal Fenerbache needed and then Chelsea's big stars can't find the net.

Liverpool - 2
Arsenal - 1

Liverpool through in an utterly awful display by both teams. Both teams will be ragged and undisciplined, with that "style" being more to Liverpools liking and a referee that allows bad tackle after bad tackle to go unpunished.

Barcelona - 1
Schalke - 1

Barca go through. In another sleeper of a game in which Schalke piss away more chances than a billionaire in a brothel. Unless you are a fan of either team don't bother watching.

Manchester United - 2
Roma - 0

Roma come out and press the action to little avail only to be caught on the counter for the first goal and then pack it in and give up a second late in the 2nd half. A better display than last year this time but still not enough.

So my match ups for the semi-finals:

Chelsea v Liverpool
Barcelona v Manchester United

Early predictions in this one
Chelsea fall to Liverpool
Barcelona fall to United

Final

United beat Liverpool, as usual.

Here are my predictions......

Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0

I think Chelsea are gonna do enough to win....they play solid at the back and get a 2-0 result to go through, with Drogba & Lampard playing key roles.

Barca 1 Schalke 0

Barca do enough at home to put this tie away for another berth in the semis.

Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

I don't think there are any goals in this one, with Benitez having Liverpool choke up midfield and tactically counter everything Arsenal throw at them! Liverpool go through on the away goal!

Man Utd 2 Roma 1

With injuries to Ferdinand and Vidic I see the Utd team's defense being a little more porous allowing for Roma to get a lifeline, before Man Utd start playing and put this one away in clinical style.

[tmporter]

Originally Posted by jazzman

Here are my predictions......

Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0

I think Chelsea are gonna do enough to win....they play solid at the back and get a 2-0 result to go through, with Drogba & Lampard playing key roles.

Barca 1 Schalke 0

Barca do enough at home to put this tie away for another berth in the semis.

Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

I don't think there are any goals in this one, with Benitez having Liverpool choke up midfield and tactically counter everything Arsenal throw at them! Liverpool go through on the away goal!

Man Utd 2 Roma 1

With injuries to Ferdinand and Vidic I see the Utd team's defense being a little more porous allowing for Roma to get a lifeline, before Man Utd start playing and put this one away in clinical style.

I could see all of that happening as well. I just don't think that Liverpool can play 90 minutes of defensive football and not letting up a goal. They get into problems with good teams attacking and heaping on the pressure. United might give up a goal, I am interested to see who plays where in the back 4. My best guess is Wes Brown at RB, O'shea & Pique in the center and Evra on the left.

[jazzman]

Wow! That Liverpool v Arsenal game was a classic!

Liverpool 4 Arsenal 2

There were 3 goals in about the last 5-7 minutes which had this one going either way. Arsenal must've thought that they had the semi-final spot all wrapped up after a stunning run by Theo Walcott followed by a perfect square ball into the box for Adebayor to tap home!

That was followed by a controversial penalty handed to Liverpool which Toure was adjudged to bring Babel down in the box. IMO it would have been justice after the first leg for the ref not to point to the spot.....Arsenal were robbed of one in the first leg. Anyways, Gerrard takes a brilliant penalty to seal the deal. Babel added one a few minutes later when Arsenal had pushed everyone up in attack and got hit on the counter.

I wouldn't do justice to Torres without mentioning his stunning strike to take Reds up 2-1!

[tmporter]

Originally Posted by jazzman

Here are my predictions......

Chelsea 2 Fenerbahce 0

I think Chelsea are gonna do enough to win....they play solid at the back and get a 2-0 result to go through, with Drogba & Lampard playing key roles.

Barca 1 Schalke 0

Barca do enough at home to put this tie away for another berth in the semis.

Liverpool 0 Arsenal 0

I don't think there are any goals in this one, with Benitez having Liverpool choke up midfield and tactically counter everything Arsenal throw at them! Liverpool go through on the away goal!

Man Utd 2 Roma 1

With injuries to Ferdinand and Vidic I see the Utd team's defense being a little more porous allowing for Roma to get a lifeline, before Man Utd start playing and put this one away in clinical style.

Your Chelsea prediction was spot on. I didn't think Liverpool would bottle anything up. I can't wait to watch that game. It looked like Arsenal threw it away at the end. At least Kolo Toure did.

[jazzman]

Originally Posted by tmporter

Your Chelsea prediction was spot on. I didn't think Liverpool would bottle anything up. I can't wait to watch that game. It looked like Arsenal threw it away at the end. At least Kolo Toure did.

You were right about Liverpool's defense....Arsenal certainly had their chances. It's gonna be yet another Liverpool v Chelsea meeting in the semis. I hope the two teams play more attractively this time around.

[Buckeye513]

Kolo should get a rape whistle.