After a three week break, the Champions League is back with a number of scintillating matchups on the cards. The way the first two rounds have gone, it is simply must-see.
This year we have another fourth pot team making some noise, in the form of BATE Borisov. After last matchday's shocking 3-1 win over Bayern Munich, they must now be seriously considered as contenders to make the knockout round. A quick background on BATE - their name is pronounced bah-tay; their home stadium holds 5,402 people from the town of Barysaw, a town in central Belarus of about 150,000 people; this is their 14th consecutive year in European competition; they have won six straight domestic titles and are seven points clear this season. A mini-giant, so to speak, despite being located in a relatively small city. They haven't had much success in Europe, but clearly now they are in great shape, as they not only have been winning games, but playing with much more fancied and skilled opponents. Valencia will be another test this week, but this isn't the strong Valencia side of recent years, and they have been dreadful away from home. I'm not as optimistic still on BATE as I was with APOEL last year, but I think at the very least, they will take a point from the contest. This game is just as big - a loss along with two of their last three ties being away from home would leave their chances in the balance. It's nice to see another underdog doing well though - a reminder that money doesn't completely run the football world. Still, just an "almost."
HEADLINER: Borussia Dortmund v. Real Madrid
Again, it has to be Group D, as Dortmund hosts Real Madrid, making the group 3/3 in my headliner choices. The two-time German champions have been much stronger this year in the Champions League in both performances and results. They have struggled a bit domestically, but the quality is there to make this a great game to watch. Madrid are back to rolling along after a tough start, as it was only a matter of time before they corrected their problems. This game matches up two teams that are typically in attack mode and rarely play defensively, so I think we see an open game with plenty of scoring opportunities for both sides. Dortmund will feel hard done by after they should have taken all three points in Manchester, while Real could be a little more conservative as they are away from home. Dortmund should continue their solid European form and could take all three points, but Madrid will come prepared and will likely earn a share of the spoils.
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Real Madrid
UPSET ALERT: Arsenal v. Schalke 04
Arsenal had another roller-coaster summer and their season is again off to a disappointing start. A pitiful performance in a loss to Norwich on Saturday lacked creativity and cutting edge, leading to very few scoring chances and a 1-0 result. The Gunners do not get Jack Wilshere back quite yet, and Olivier Giroud has hardly been a replacement for Robin Van Persie, so it does not appear promising against German power Schalke. The addition of Ibrahim Afellay has added more width to an already strong attacking side, and they match up very well against a very average Arsenal defense. Arsenal are historically dominant at home in Europe, but Schalke can break them down and inflict a damaging result away from home. Look for this game to also feature plenty of scoring chances and the Germans be in position to snatch a shock victory.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Schalke
CONTRASTING FORTUNES: Malaga v. AC Milan
How things can change. Eight months ago, AC Milan were challenging for another Scudetto and competing in the knockout round of the Champions League, while Malaga were struggling to hold on to the success the new owners had promised due to a financial crisis. Today Malaga are third in La Liga and top of Group C after two 3-0 wins, while Milan are 15th in Serie A and in complete turmoil. Predictably, there are problems on both ends of the field after selling their best attacker and defender to PSG. I thought they would go down to Zenit, but took advantage of a team in more disarray than their own to steal a victory. In this matchup, they face a disciplined, though slightly inexperienced, in-form side in Malaga. They will be prepared to play. While it could be called an upset because of the difference in the histories of the two clubs, Malaga should come away with a victory. They are simply in much better form and things don't appear to be getting better anytime soon for the Italians.
Prediction: Malaga 2-1 AC Milan
Full Predictions (Rankings in parentheses):
Spartak Moscow - Benfica (21) : DRAW
FC Nordsjaelland - Juventus (6) : AWAY WIN
BATE Borisov (24) - Valencia CF : DRAW
LOSC Lille - Bayern Munich (4) : AWAY WIN
Shakhtar Donetsk - Chelsea FC (3) : DRAW
Barcelona (2) - Celtic FC (25) : HOME WIN
Galatasaray - CFR Cluj-Napoca : DRAW
Manchester United (7) - Sporting Braga : HOME WIN
Zenit St. Petersburg (15) - RSC Anderlecht : HOME WIN
Dinamo Zagreb - PSG (12) : AWAY WIN
FC Porto - Dynamo Kiev : HOME WIN
Arsenal (9) - Schalke 04 (13) : AWAY WIN
Montpellier - Olympiakos : HOME WIN
Malaga (14) - AC Milan (17) : HOME WIN
Ajax Amsterdam - Manchester City (5) : AWAY WIN
Borussia Dortmund (8) - Real Madrid CF (1) : DRAW
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
International Review - FIFA World Cup Qualification
There were a number of intriguing international results in this week's games. This was expected because the matchups were far more even than previous weeks - the first two days were primarily made up of heavy victories for the bigger countries. However, there are some results to pull out of the pile that may have long-term significance.
Result: Romania 1-4 Netherlands
What it means: The Romanians and Dutch both started with three wins from three, and this game was a test to see if the Romanians were for real after several years of domestic scandal and international turmoil. They failed - miserably. The Dutch dominated the game and showed that there is a large difference in quality between the two sides. It is not devastating for the Romanians - they are level on points with second-place Hungary, who lost to the Dutch by the same scoreline in September. Holland showed yet again that despite some of their stars aging, this is still one of the premier teams in Europe. Last year's disastrous showing at the Euros is behind them and they are a full-go for the World Cup. They will have no trouble qualifying from this group and could possibly go ten for ten.
Result: Ukraine 0-1 Montenegro
What it means: Montenegro go level on points at the top of Group H with England while Ukraine fall five points off the pace. Group H features both hosts of last summer's European Championship, but Montenegro are out to prove that their play-off appearance in the qualification for that tournament was no fluke. Montenegro are never going to overwhelm the public with their style of play, but they are very solid at the back and rarely concede more than one goal. This is a huge win to pick up away from home. For Ukraine, the first three qualification games have brought some bright spots but very poor results. Their 1-1 draw in England was a solid performance and a good result, but that was countered by a poor 0-0 draw in Moldova. Now this loss sets them back quite a bit. There is very little margin for error left for the Ukrainians if they wish to finish in the top two.
Result: Germany 4-4 Sweden
What it means: Definitely the most shocking result of the day - not because Sweden was able to gain a point, but because they trailed by four goals with a half hour remaining and somehow managed to snatch an equalizer in stoppage time. A truly improbable and spectacular comeback from the Swedes, who looked to be in a bit of trouble after struggling through a 2-1 win against the Faroes on Friday. The Germans will still be favorites in this group but questions must be asked of their defense in the second half - we know they can score but their defense was all over the place in the second half and Manuel Neuer had one of his worst games in goal. This seems like more of a wake-up call than anything for Germany. They have been progressing quickly with a very young batch of players and this could be a reminder that they need to continue working hard in order to reach their goal of winning a major trophy. Look for the Germans to improve immensely on the defensive end of the field as they win this group.
Result: Spain 1-1 France
What it means: Olivier Giroud's last-second equalizer gave France a draw in Spain, meaning a win in the return fixture would likely give the French an automatic spot in the World Cup. For the French, the performance was just as key as the result. France played with Spain with most of the match, although they were kept in it by Fabregas's missed penalty (which followed an abysmal challenge by Koscielny on Pedro). They had more possession than was expected and dominated the last twenty minutes. It's a very encouraging sign for Didier Deschamps. For Spain, they must know that a target will be on their back wherever they go, having won the last three major tournaments. Their key players should still be young enough (and effective enough) to feature at the World Cup, but games like this are a reminder
Result: Portugal 1-1 Northern Ireland
What it means: Portugal trip over a very short hurdle at home against Northern Ireland, dropping them into third in Group F. It seems that in every qualification, Portugal have a game like this - for Euro 2012 it was a 4-4 draw against Cyprus. One bad result is typically not killer, but these types of performances have been preventing Portugal from coming in first in their groups, forcing them to qualify through the playoffs. If Portugal ever want to be on the same level as their Iberian neighbors, they must be more disciplined and ruthless to take three points from this game. It's not as if this is the Northern Ireland that defeated Spain and England in the last decade. They drew with Luxembourg in their last match.
Result: USA 3-1 Guatemala
What it means: The USA are through to the next round of CONCACAF qualifying while Guatemala is out. The USA needed this win and got it - it was not as easy as it should have been but the result is what mattered. The more I see the USA, the more I find it hard to imagine them winning a game without Clint Dempsey. The man has come into his own over the last twelve months, moving into a more forward position (and thriving) at Fulham and playing the same role with the USA and Tottenham. He is by far the most important player on this team, which is a testament to his form, but also to the lack of form from the rest of the squad. Dempsey himself mentioned the team being occasionally "jet-lagged" for their away fixtures, as many more players than ever before are playing in Europe. Whatever the issue is, it must be sorted out immediately, because if the Americans don't start playing to a much higher level, they may miss out on the World Cup. While I do believe they will squeak through, temper your expectations.
Result: Bolivia 4-1 Uruguay
What it means: Lowly Bolivia hammered South American champs Uruguay, meaning they have now conceded eleven goals in their last three away fixtures in qualifying. Uruguay are now barely in the qualification places, only because Chile has been just as awful. You do see some shocks in South America but this question re-asks the questions about Uruguay's midfield. We know they have the forwards to compete with anyone but to better their fourth-place finish in the World Cup, they will need to strengthen their defensive strategy. For Bolivia, this is an unlikely lifeline. They are only four points behind with plenty of matches to go. Stranger things have happened.
Result: Romania 1-4 Netherlands
What it means: The Romanians and Dutch both started with three wins from three, and this game was a test to see if the Romanians were for real after several years of domestic scandal and international turmoil. They failed - miserably. The Dutch dominated the game and showed that there is a large difference in quality between the two sides. It is not devastating for the Romanians - they are level on points with second-place Hungary, who lost to the Dutch by the same scoreline in September. Holland showed yet again that despite some of their stars aging, this is still one of the premier teams in Europe. Last year's disastrous showing at the Euros is behind them and they are a full-go for the World Cup. They will have no trouble qualifying from this group and could possibly go ten for ten.
Result: Ukraine 0-1 Montenegro
What it means: Montenegro go level on points at the top of Group H with England while Ukraine fall five points off the pace. Group H features both hosts of last summer's European Championship, but Montenegro are out to prove that their play-off appearance in the qualification for that tournament was no fluke. Montenegro are never going to overwhelm the public with their style of play, but they are very solid at the back and rarely concede more than one goal. This is a huge win to pick up away from home. For Ukraine, the first three qualification games have brought some bright spots but very poor results. Their 1-1 draw in England was a solid performance and a good result, but that was countered by a poor 0-0 draw in Moldova. Now this loss sets them back quite a bit. There is very little margin for error left for the Ukrainians if they wish to finish in the top two.
Result: Germany 4-4 Sweden
What it means: Definitely the most shocking result of the day - not because Sweden was able to gain a point, but because they trailed by four goals with a half hour remaining and somehow managed to snatch an equalizer in stoppage time. A truly improbable and spectacular comeback from the Swedes, who looked to be in a bit of trouble after struggling through a 2-1 win against the Faroes on Friday. The Germans will still be favorites in this group but questions must be asked of their defense in the second half - we know they can score but their defense was all over the place in the second half and Manuel Neuer had one of his worst games in goal. This seems like more of a wake-up call than anything for Germany. They have been progressing quickly with a very young batch of players and this could be a reminder that they need to continue working hard in order to reach their goal of winning a major trophy. Look for the Germans to improve immensely on the defensive end of the field as they win this group.
Result: Spain 1-1 France
What it means: Olivier Giroud's last-second equalizer gave France a draw in Spain, meaning a win in the return fixture would likely give the French an automatic spot in the World Cup. For the French, the performance was just as key as the result. France played with Spain with most of the match, although they were kept in it by Fabregas's missed penalty (which followed an abysmal challenge by Koscielny on Pedro). They had more possession than was expected and dominated the last twenty minutes. It's a very encouraging sign for Didier Deschamps. For Spain, they must know that a target will be on their back wherever they go, having won the last three major tournaments. Their key players should still be young enough (and effective enough) to feature at the World Cup, but games like this are a reminder
Result: Portugal 1-1 Northern Ireland
What it means: Portugal trip over a very short hurdle at home against Northern Ireland, dropping them into third in Group F. It seems that in every qualification, Portugal have a game like this - for Euro 2012 it was a 4-4 draw against Cyprus. One bad result is typically not killer, but these types of performances have been preventing Portugal from coming in first in their groups, forcing them to qualify through the playoffs. If Portugal ever want to be on the same level as their Iberian neighbors, they must be more disciplined and ruthless to take three points from this game. It's not as if this is the Northern Ireland that defeated Spain and England in the last decade. They drew with Luxembourg in their last match.
Result: USA 3-1 Guatemala
What it means: The USA are through to the next round of CONCACAF qualifying while Guatemala is out. The USA needed this win and got it - it was not as easy as it should have been but the result is what mattered. The more I see the USA, the more I find it hard to imagine them winning a game without Clint Dempsey. The man has come into his own over the last twelve months, moving into a more forward position (and thriving) at Fulham and playing the same role with the USA and Tottenham. He is by far the most important player on this team, which is a testament to his form, but also to the lack of form from the rest of the squad. Dempsey himself mentioned the team being occasionally "jet-lagged" for their away fixtures, as many more players than ever before are playing in Europe. Whatever the issue is, it must be sorted out immediately, because if the Americans don't start playing to a much higher level, they may miss out on the World Cup. While I do believe they will squeak through, temper your expectations.
Result: Bolivia 4-1 Uruguay
What it means: Lowly Bolivia hammered South American champs Uruguay, meaning they have now conceded eleven goals in their last three away fixtures in qualifying. Uruguay are now barely in the qualification places, only because Chile has been just as awful. You do see some shocks in South America but this question re-asks the questions about Uruguay's midfield. We know they have the forwards to compete with anyone but to better their fourth-place finish in the World Cup, they will need to strengthen their defensive strategy. For Bolivia, this is an unlikely lifeline. They are only four points behind with plenty of matches to go. Stranger things have happened.
UEFA Top 25 - October 17
Top 25 for this week. There are a number of important ties coming up after the international break involving these squads so keep a look out the next few weeks.
Here is the distribution by country: England 6, Italy 4, Spain 4, France 3, Germany 3, Russia 2, Portugal 1, Belarus 1, Scotland 1
1 (1) Real Madrid CF (ESP)
2 (2) FC Barcelona (ESP)
3 (6) Chelsea FC (ENG)
4 (4) Bayern Munich (GER)
5 (3) Manchester City FC (ENG)
6 (7) Juventus FC (ITA)
7 (5) Manchester United FC (ENG)
8 (8) Borussia Dortmund (GER)
9 (12) Arsenal FC (ENG)
10 (15) Atletico de Madrid (ESP)
11 (14) SSC Napoli (ITA)
12 (9) Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
13 (13) Schalke 04 (GER)
14 (17) Malaga CF (ESP)
15 (10) Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
16 (16) Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
17 (11) AC Milan (ITA)
18 (18) Olympique de Lyon (FRA)
19 (19) CSKA Moscow (RUS)
20 (23) Everton FC (ENG)
21 (20) SL Benfica (POR)
22 (24) SS Lazio (ITA)
23 (NR) Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
24 (NR) BATE Borisov (BLR)
25 (NR) Celtic FC (SCO)
Out of rankings: 21. Borussia Monchengladbach (GER), 22. Ajax Amsterdam (NED), 25. Montpellier HSC (FRA)
Notes:
1-10: Real Madrid are finally returning back to form, clinging to that number one place after a Clasico 2-2 draw with Barcelona. Whether they can maintain their focus against the smaller clubs remains to be seen.. Atletico Madrid are one of the scariest teams to play right now. With Falcao in world-class form (8 goals in 7 games), Atleti have scored 18 goals in 7 games to go joint-top on points with Barcelona. It makes their board's decision to put a price on Falcao Monday even more questionable. Why disturb the team right now?.. Santi Cazorla looks like an early candidate for buy of the season, showcasing his talent with a cracking goal in Arsenal's 3-1 win over gritty West Ham. Cazorla has been the best player in Arsenal's team by a wide margin, and returns of Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna will boost their quality further. You can't help but think this is same-old Arsenal though, especially as Olivier Giroud continues to flounder around up top.. In the same vein, this is not same-old Chelsea. Free-flowing playmakers have tranformed Chelsea from the counter-attacking defensive scheme to a more attractive attacking style. It is still too early to hand Chelsea an edge in the title race, but despite having a young starting XI, Chelsea look to challenge for the length of the season. Young does not always mean inexperienced.. Dortmund showed against Manchester City that they are a much-improved side in Europe. Last year's fourth-place finish was the result of inexperience and injuries. Dortmund deserved all three points away to the English champions. It only reinforces my belief that they will navigate through that group with Real Madrid.
11-25: It's amazing how AC Milan have gone from being Italian champions two years ago to a middling side this year. I know it's early - but this is not a form problem, it's a talent problem. Very few clubs are built to sell their best two players in the summer and contend (pretty much only Arsenal, kind of). Bringing in Pep won't help. Milan need to buy big in January if they hope to qualify for next season's Champions League. Forget about the title.. Tottenham look very impressive under AVB. I'm glad to see him doing better than his short reign at Chelsea. It's simply a better fit for an overhaul. He also has young players who can play - whereas his Chelsea youngsters weren't quite good enough yet. Spurs could be a very dangerous side this season.. Well, well BATE. Nothing but praise for the Belorussian ride after they systematically took down Bayern Munich 3-1 in Borisov. They proved that their win against Lille was no fluke, and are now in a great position to go through the group. Their next UCL game, home to struggling Valencia, is even more important. Another win would virtually send them through, amazingly.. Celtic deserve some praise as well. They acquired just their second win in a rich European tradition by coming from behind to defeat Spartak in Moscow. Scottish football has taken a beating from many people, due to their recent poor performance in Europe and the recent collapse of Rangers. The Bhoys could do wonders for their country by qualifying for the next stage.. Napoli are just as strong as last season, despite selling Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG. Goran Pandev has slipped seamlessly into the starting lineup, and the club have started with nineteen points out a possible twenty-one. Juventus are the best team in Serie A, but Napoli could establish themselves as a definitive second.. Zenit are leading the race of most disappointing team this season, if only slightly over PSG. The only team in Russia spending nearly as much money as Zenit are Anzhi, whom they trail by five points in the league. Couple that with two listless Champions League defeats to teams who sold off their best players this summer in Malaga and AC Milan. There is too much of a talent gap for Zenit to not recover domestically, but their European campaign looks dead in the water.
Here is the distribution by country: England 6, Italy 4, Spain 4, France 3, Germany 3, Russia 2, Portugal 1, Belarus 1, Scotland 1
1 (1) Real Madrid CF (ESP)
2 (2) FC Barcelona (ESP)
3 (6) Chelsea FC (ENG)
4 (4) Bayern Munich (GER)
5 (3) Manchester City FC (ENG)
6 (7) Juventus FC (ITA)
7 (5) Manchester United FC (ENG)
8 (8) Borussia Dortmund (GER)
9 (12) Arsenal FC (ENG)
10 (15) Atletico de Madrid (ESP)
11 (14) SSC Napoli (ITA)
12 (9) Paris Saint-Germain FC (FRA)
13 (13) Schalke 04 (GER)
14 (17) Malaga CF (ESP)
15 (10) Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
16 (16) Olympique de Marseille (FRA)
17 (11) AC Milan (ITA)
18 (18) Olympique de Lyon (FRA)
19 (19) CSKA Moscow (RUS)
20 (23) Everton FC (ENG)
21 (20) SL Benfica (POR)
22 (24) SS Lazio (ITA)
23 (NR) Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG)
24 (NR) BATE Borisov (BLR)
25 (NR) Celtic FC (SCO)
Out of rankings: 21. Borussia Monchengladbach (GER), 22. Ajax Amsterdam (NED), 25. Montpellier HSC (FRA)
Notes:
1-10: Real Madrid are finally returning back to form, clinging to that number one place after a Clasico 2-2 draw with Barcelona. Whether they can maintain their focus against the smaller clubs remains to be seen.. Atletico Madrid are one of the scariest teams to play right now. With Falcao in world-class form (8 goals in 7 games), Atleti have scored 18 goals in 7 games to go joint-top on points with Barcelona. It makes their board's decision to put a price on Falcao Monday even more questionable. Why disturb the team right now?.. Santi Cazorla looks like an early candidate for buy of the season, showcasing his talent with a cracking goal in Arsenal's 3-1 win over gritty West Ham. Cazorla has been the best player in Arsenal's team by a wide margin, and returns of Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna will boost their quality further. You can't help but think this is same-old Arsenal though, especially as Olivier Giroud continues to flounder around up top.. In the same vein, this is not same-old Chelsea. Free-flowing playmakers have tranformed Chelsea from the counter-attacking defensive scheme to a more attractive attacking style. It is still too early to hand Chelsea an edge in the title race, but despite having a young starting XI, Chelsea look to challenge for the length of the season. Young does not always mean inexperienced.. Dortmund showed against Manchester City that they are a much-improved side in Europe. Last year's fourth-place finish was the result of inexperience and injuries. Dortmund deserved all three points away to the English champions. It only reinforces my belief that they will navigate through that group with Real Madrid.
11-25: It's amazing how AC Milan have gone from being Italian champions two years ago to a middling side this year. I know it's early - but this is not a form problem, it's a talent problem. Very few clubs are built to sell their best two players in the summer and contend (pretty much only Arsenal, kind of). Bringing in Pep won't help. Milan need to buy big in January if they hope to qualify for next season's Champions League. Forget about the title.. Tottenham look very impressive under AVB. I'm glad to see him doing better than his short reign at Chelsea. It's simply a better fit for an overhaul. He also has young players who can play - whereas his Chelsea youngsters weren't quite good enough yet. Spurs could be a very dangerous side this season.. Well, well BATE. Nothing but praise for the Belorussian ride after they systematically took down Bayern Munich 3-1 in Borisov. They proved that their win against Lille was no fluke, and are now in a great position to go through the group. Their next UCL game, home to struggling Valencia, is even more important. Another win would virtually send them through, amazingly.. Celtic deserve some praise as well. They acquired just their second win in a rich European tradition by coming from behind to defeat Spartak in Moscow. Scottish football has taken a beating from many people, due to their recent poor performance in Europe and the recent collapse of Rangers. The Bhoys could do wonders for their country by qualifying for the next stage.. Napoli are just as strong as last season, despite selling Ezequiel Lavezzi to PSG. Goran Pandev has slipped seamlessly into the starting lineup, and the club have started with nineteen points out a possible twenty-one. Juventus are the best team in Serie A, but Napoli could establish themselves as a definitive second.. Zenit are leading the race of most disappointing team this season, if only slightly over PSG. The only team in Russia spending nearly as much money as Zenit are Anzhi, whom they trail by five points in the league. Couple that with two listless Champions League defeats to teams who sold off their best players this summer in Malaga and AC Milan. There is too much of a talent gap for Zenit to not recover domestically, but their European campaign looks dead in the water.
Monday, October 1, 2012
UEFA Champions League - Matchday 2
The first matchday was a great encapsulation of what the Champions League is all about. We had high-quality competitive matches between top sides, tentative performances between lower-tier ones, as well as a few shocks. Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Manchester City was dubbed the match of the week and did not disappoint, as Madrid came from 2-1 down in the last three minutes to snatch a 3-2 win in stoppage time. Rivals Barcelona also had to come from 2-1 down to defeat Spartak Moscow 3-2. Defending champions Chelsea played out a tight 2-2 draw with Juventus in a game featuring many chances. The level of play was very high and was great to see across the board. The three German sides in the competition all won and Spanish sides won three of their four matches, while Russian, French and Italian sides combined to win just one of their seven matches. Nothing is easy in Europe, as ten of the sixteen matches in Matchday 1 were decided by a goal or less. This field was anticipated to be tough, and it's looking like a very competitive year throughout the groups.
The shock of the round was secured by BATE, the Belorussian champs who ran out to a 3-0 first half lead away to Lille before holding on to win 3-1. Could BATE be this year's surprise package? There are very few recognizable names in their squad (unless you are familiar with Belorussian football), but the most noticeable is the return of former Arsenal and Barcelona man Aleksandr Hleb. Even if Hleb's skills are not as honed as they once were, he will bring professionalism and experience to the squad. Their credentials will be tested quickly - Bayern Munich come to town this week. The win at Lille looks like it could be the highlight of their European campaign, but a shock performance against Bayern could have me believe they have a chance of getting out of this group. They still have quite a bit to prove.
The most impressive and most calamitous performance in the first match day came from the same game. Malaga's 3-0 win over Zenit was both a scintillating performance by the cash-strapped Spanish club as well as a disastrous output from the high-spending Russians. Malaga have certainly proven that they can still excel despite their club's questionable financial strategy, and a positive result in Belgium this week could really send them off to a flying start. Eleven points in five La Liga games have given the club's supporters good reason to hope for more success. On the other hand, Zenit have been very poor since Hulk and Axel Witsel joined the club for a fee in the region of 80 million Euros. Many of the long-serving players are rumored to be asking for pay raises after the club's spending spree. It is up to manager Luciano Spalletti to right the ship as AC Milan, another big club in poor form, head to St. Petersburg.
This week does not feature as many top-quality ties, but in this kind of Champions League, almost every game will be competitive. There are a few games we should take a closer look at this week.
HEADLINER: Manchester City v. Borussia Dortmund
Group D is going to make headlines every matchday because the "Group of Death" features so much quality. City are coming off the 3-2 loss in Madrid while Dortmund got by Ajax 1-0. Dortmund have one of the most formidable attacking quartets, with Lewandowski heading the lines in front of playmakers Reus, Gotze, and Blaszczykowski. Man City's leaky defense will have a tough time keeping them out, but their own attacking force, boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero, is quite strong itself. Expect another high-scoring game, and at the very least, both sides to score. I'm still not convinced by City in Europe - I think a draw could be on the cards in a game similar to their tilt with Napoli last year. Regardless of the score, there will be lots of chances.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Dortmund
UPSET ALERT: CFR Cluj v. Manchester United
Yes, Manchester United lands in this spot this week. While I do think they will come away from Romania with a victory, United have been very shaky in the back this year and have been generally poor away from Old Trafford. Now captain Nemanja Vidic is facing a lengthy absence, making already shaky matters even worse. The Red Devils did win both games against last year's Romanian champs Otelul, but Cluj are a much more formidable side. They have won three domestic of the past five titles and posted an impressive 2-0 win at Braga on the first match day. They have the attackers to cause United trouble, and last year's European form along with their current away form should give United fans some cause for concern. This game could be much closer than anticipated and United must put its stamp on the game early to avoid dropping points in Eastern Europe.
Prediction: CFR Cluj 1-2 Manchester United
DO OR DIE: Zenit St. Petersburg v. AC Milan
I touched on Zenit's issues earlier - the 3-0 loss to Malaga created a deep hole to pull themselves out of already, while Milan's uninspiring 0-0 draw with Anderlecht at the San Siro was almost as distasteful. Malaga and Anderlecht are by no means poor opposition, but for these two clubs, those results are far below expectations. Milan can't score. Excluding a 3-1 win at Bologna, they have scored one goal in their other four competitive matches. With Zlatan and Thiago Silva sold to PSG, Cassano to Inter, and Robinho injured, Milan's team sheet looks very, very ordinary. They look to be in a lot more trouble than Zenit, who have the talent, but lack team chemistry. It's more of a matter of time before Zenit gets it together, as Milan look more like they could endure a very tough season. If there is a loser in this game (especially for Zenit) they could be in a world of trouble - Anderlecht are better than they are given credit for and Malaga is on a roll. I expect Zenit to show some urgency and take the game to the Rossoneri.
Prediction: Zenit 2-0 AC Milan
Full Predictions (Rankings in parentheses):
Spartak Moscow - Celtic: HOME WIN
BATE Borisov - Bayern Munich (4): AWAY WIN
Benfica (20) - Barcelona (2): DRAW
CFR Cluj - Manchester United (5): AWAY WIN
Galatasaray - Braga: HOME WIN
Juventus (7) - Shakhtar Donetsk: HOME WIN
FC Nordsjaelland - Chelsea (6): AWAY WIN
Valencia - Lille: HOME WIN
Zenit St. Petersburg (10) - AC Milan (11): HOME WIN
Ajax Amsterdam (22) - Real Madrid (1): AWAY WIN
Anderlecht - Malaga (17): DRAW
Arsenal (12) - Olympiakos: HOME WIN
Dynamo Kiev - Dinamo Zagreb: HOME WIN
FC Porto - Paris Saint Germain (9): DRAW
Manchester City (3) - Borussia Dortmund (8): DRAW
Schalke 04 (13) - Montpellier (25): HOME WIN
The shock of the round was secured by BATE, the Belorussian champs who ran out to a 3-0 first half lead away to Lille before holding on to win 3-1. Could BATE be this year's surprise package? There are very few recognizable names in their squad (unless you are familiar with Belorussian football), but the most noticeable is the return of former Arsenal and Barcelona man Aleksandr Hleb. Even if Hleb's skills are not as honed as they once were, he will bring professionalism and experience to the squad. Their credentials will be tested quickly - Bayern Munich come to town this week. The win at Lille looks like it could be the highlight of their European campaign, but a shock performance against Bayern could have me believe they have a chance of getting out of this group. They still have quite a bit to prove.
The most impressive and most calamitous performance in the first match day came from the same game. Malaga's 3-0 win over Zenit was both a scintillating performance by the cash-strapped Spanish club as well as a disastrous output from the high-spending Russians. Malaga have certainly proven that they can still excel despite their club's questionable financial strategy, and a positive result in Belgium this week could really send them off to a flying start. Eleven points in five La Liga games have given the club's supporters good reason to hope for more success. On the other hand, Zenit have been very poor since Hulk and Axel Witsel joined the club for a fee in the region of 80 million Euros. Many of the long-serving players are rumored to be asking for pay raises after the club's spending spree. It is up to manager Luciano Spalletti to right the ship as AC Milan, another big club in poor form, head to St. Petersburg.
This week does not feature as many top-quality ties, but in this kind of Champions League, almost every game will be competitive. There are a few games we should take a closer look at this week.
HEADLINER: Manchester City v. Borussia Dortmund
Group D is going to make headlines every matchday because the "Group of Death" features so much quality. City are coming off the 3-2 loss in Madrid while Dortmund got by Ajax 1-0. Dortmund have one of the most formidable attacking quartets, with Lewandowski heading the lines in front of playmakers Reus, Gotze, and Blaszczykowski. Man City's leaky defense will have a tough time keeping them out, but their own attacking force, boosted by the return of Sergio Aguero, is quite strong itself. Expect another high-scoring game, and at the very least, both sides to score. I'm still not convinced by City in Europe - I think a draw could be on the cards in a game similar to their tilt with Napoli last year. Regardless of the score, there will be lots of chances.
Prediction: Manchester City 1-1 Dortmund
UPSET ALERT: CFR Cluj v. Manchester United
Yes, Manchester United lands in this spot this week. While I do think they will come away from Romania with a victory, United have been very shaky in the back this year and have been generally poor away from Old Trafford. Now captain Nemanja Vidic is facing a lengthy absence, making already shaky matters even worse. The Red Devils did win both games against last year's Romanian champs Otelul, but Cluj are a much more formidable side. They have won three domestic of the past five titles and posted an impressive 2-0 win at Braga on the first match day. They have the attackers to cause United trouble, and last year's European form along with their current away form should give United fans some cause for concern. This game could be much closer than anticipated and United must put its stamp on the game early to avoid dropping points in Eastern Europe.
Prediction: CFR Cluj 1-2 Manchester United
DO OR DIE: Zenit St. Petersburg v. AC Milan
I touched on Zenit's issues earlier - the 3-0 loss to Malaga created a deep hole to pull themselves out of already, while Milan's uninspiring 0-0 draw with Anderlecht at the San Siro was almost as distasteful. Malaga and Anderlecht are by no means poor opposition, but for these two clubs, those results are far below expectations. Milan can't score. Excluding a 3-1 win at Bologna, they have scored one goal in their other four competitive matches. With Zlatan and Thiago Silva sold to PSG, Cassano to Inter, and Robinho injured, Milan's team sheet looks very, very ordinary. They look to be in a lot more trouble than Zenit, who have the talent, but lack team chemistry. It's more of a matter of time before Zenit gets it together, as Milan look more like they could endure a very tough season. If there is a loser in this game (especially for Zenit) they could be in a world of trouble - Anderlecht are better than they are given credit for and Malaga is on a roll. I expect Zenit to show some urgency and take the game to the Rossoneri.
Prediction: Zenit 2-0 AC Milan
Full Predictions (Rankings in parentheses):
Spartak Moscow - Celtic: HOME WIN
BATE Borisov - Bayern Munich (4): AWAY WIN
Benfica (20) - Barcelona (2): DRAW
CFR Cluj - Manchester United (5): AWAY WIN
Galatasaray - Braga: HOME WIN
Juventus (7) - Shakhtar Donetsk: HOME WIN
FC Nordsjaelland - Chelsea (6): AWAY WIN
Valencia - Lille: HOME WIN
Zenit St. Petersburg (10) - AC Milan (11): HOME WIN
Ajax Amsterdam (22) - Real Madrid (1): AWAY WIN
Anderlecht - Malaga (17): DRAW
Arsenal (12) - Olympiakos: HOME WIN
Dynamo Kiev - Dinamo Zagreb: HOME WIN
FC Porto - Paris Saint Germain (9): DRAW
Manchester City (3) - Borussia Dortmund (8): DRAW
Schalke 04 (13) - Montpellier (25): HOME WIN
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)