Champions league preview

Finally the waiting time is over – soccer fans around the world have survived without their weekly injection of international cup football since the beginning of December and now its time for Europe’s top 16 teams to compete for European glory in the final stages of the UEFA Champions league.

In the following preview Expertbookmakers will give you an update of the favourites and also list a few outsiders to look out for, but let it be said – there are no poor teams or easy matches left. At the end it will come down to who is best on the given day.

Favorites:

FC Barcelona
The defending champions Barcelona went through the group stage without putting to much effort into it, just doing enough to finish 1st in front of Inter Milan. In the league they are also placed first especially thanks to Loinel Messi who has been amazing to watch. It seems like he is doing what ever he wants and is currently Spanish League top-scorer with 15 goals. A bit further down on the top-scorer list is Zlatan Ibrahimovic with 12 goals – he started off lightning fast scoring in the first many games but recently he has struggled a bit to find the back of the net. This week saw Barcelona loosing their first league match of the season at Atletico Madrid but it also saw the first goal in a while from Zlatan and maybe it is signs that he is slowly awakening from his winter hibernation, just in time. However Barca is finding themselves with some injury problems as the last game resulted in side-lining Xavi with a thigh injury for 15days. He Joins Seydou Keita, Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal on the injury list.

Never underestimate Barcelona or Lionel Messi and as goes for the rest of the teams, yes they can win it. However I do not find value in the odds as it is simply to low compared to the quality of the remaining teams.  

Chelsea
Is this the year where Chelsea finally breaks the spell and win the Champions League. At StamfordBridge they sure hope so. Recent years have seen them come so close loosing in the semi-finals or finals. They have the players and it seems that they have also found the right coach in Carlo Ancelotti who has lead them to 1st position in the league, 1 point ahead of Manchester United. This weekends result saw them win in the FA Cup against Cardiff. For this game they played without captain John Terry who had been given a few days off, following his recent turmoil in the press revealing a hidden affair with former team member WayneBridge’s wife. Inside the pitch Didier Drogba has returned from the African Nations cup and seems in good shape. Throughout the season Chelsea’s biggest (or only) weakness have been at standard situations e.g. free-kicks or corner-kicks where they have conceived several goals. Peter Chech has not looked good and has been victim of much criticism. This has resulted in a few odd results but it can not ruin the overall picture of Chelsea being a serious contender. In their last 16-match they face an old relative of Chelsea, Jose Murinho’s Inter Milan.

There are no easy matches left in the Champions League and for sure the match against Inter is going to be anything but easy. I believe Mourinho will have something up his sleeve and I predict this one to go down to the wire. If Chelsea doesn’t find a way to fix their defending at standard situations, they could take an early exit here.

Real Madrid
Christiano Ronaldo, Kaká, Benzema, Raúl, Higuan – the list is long and no doubt that with a squad like Madrid’s you fancy your chances in any match. Real are looking to end a 5-year drought in the Champions League. Coming off a 3-0 win at Xerex in the league, Real are showing good form and especially Christiano Ronaldo has performed from the minute he set his foot on Spanish soil. 2 goals in the last game and totally 11 in the league, despite being injured and suspended in a number of games witnesses of an in-form and determined Ronaldo. In their first round leg they face Olumpique Lyon, a team of which they have lost to in their last two visits to France. However with Lyon finding themselves in mixed form coming into this game I do not expect Real to have troubles beating them over 2 games.

Valued at around 5-6 times your money back, Real is a team to look out for. Like with the rest of the top teams, they can beat anybody on the right day and with Ronaldo you never know. He can singlehandedly decide the game with his brilliance but also sometimes loose his head and do stupid things. Along side him they have maybe the most exiting offensive so the key to them going all the way is as I see it their defensive skills amongst others in the hand of balance player Xabi Alonso.

Outsiders:

Bayern Münich
Probably the most red-hot team going into the last 16. Currently on a 9-game winning streak (29-8 goal-difference) in the German Bundesliga, Luis Van Gaals’s troops are playing fearless. After a unsecure start to the season  that almost saw Van Gaal getting fired, they have now settled into his tough leadership and are performing on extremely high level. This weekend they defeated Borussia Dortmund after going down 0-1 in the 5th minute but goals from Van Bommel, Robben and Gomez decided the game. Especially Arjen Robben is playing tremendous, finally feeling fit after numerous injuries. He has received the top-rating (1) from the German magazine Kicker twice this season which is very rare. If Bayern are to go all the way to the finals and win it, it requires that Robben and Ribery stay’s fit.

If you want value for you money, Bayern is the team to put your money on with them currently paying you money back around 15times. Alternatively put your money that they will reach the finals. 

  
 

Manchester United

Never underestimate Manchester United at this stage of the tournament – they have won it before and hence knows what it takes to get a result when you need it the most. Their form in the league has been excellent, currently being one point behind leaders Chelsea. Especially Wayne Rooney has been amazing this season and has really carried the load after Ronaldo’s exit to Real Madrid. Unfortunately they will miss Ryan gigs (broken arm) and Nemanja Vidic (leg) for this match and especially the prospects of not having Giggs available for most of the rest of the season looks to be a major blow to United’s charge for domestic and European glory. They face AC Milan in this last-16 match and the topic of the game has really been the return of David Beckham to Old Trafford and his former club. Looking beyond this I believe that this clash will be a close one against a highly motivated Milan side. Klas Jaan Huntelaar finally paid off a little of his debt this weekend with 2 goals and could prove a handful for United. 

  


I doubt that Manchester has the dept in their squad to go all the way and win it, but on the right day they can beat anybody.