The Round Football Column 03.31.08: 145th Edition – Champions League Preview, Plus More
Posted by Tim O'Sullivan on 03.31.2008
Cesc Fabregas celebrates an own goal as Arsenal stage a dramatic comeback at Bolton, Cristiano Ronaldo can’t stop scoring, Barcelona capitulate, plus more. One Click Away.
I hope all you wrestling fans enjoyed WrestleMania, however it went.
I hope all you non-wrestling fans enjoyed time with your girlfriend.
Hey oh! I'm joking of course. Let's go.
It was a good time to play the fading Aston Villa, but Man Utd were still unbelievable from the highlights I saw. When Wayne Rooney actually starts scoring he's unplayable. I've never considered him in the top bracket of strikers in Europe because of his goals tally (Dave Kitson had scored more Prem goals than him before Saturday), but his general play is usually exceptional. As for Ronaldo, well it's starting to get ridiculous. With Kaka's form hit-and-miss and Messi injured you can't really argue that he's quite clearly the best player in the world right now. He still needs to produce the goods in the latter stages of the Champions League and against Arsenal and Chelsea in April, but for the time being it's hard to argue that he's the world's best individual.
Arsenal are quite clearly out of the title race, but Saturday's comeback against Bolton was one of the season's most dramatic moments. 2-0 down with Abou Diaby rightly sent off, The Gunners fought back for a 3-2 win at The Reebok. Players who were hideous in the first half suddenly looked like superstars in the last half hour. Arsene Wenger made some great substitutions and the fightback had wheels. What followed was quite incredible.
The Merseyside derby was a bit of a damp squib in the end, although the fans made it a lively and watchable 90 minutes. Gerrard, Skrtel and Hyypia were really good, and Torres took his goal well, but Everton really suffer when they have injuries. Without some key players they really looked void of invention and threat.
Newcastle's win at Tottenham is one of the best stories of the weekend. They have been hideous all season and I guess their fans deserved an afternoon like this. We all knew they had a chance when Martins, Owen and Viduka picked it up, and that's been the key. They actually look like a decent side going forward right now.
Sunderland took a massive leap towards Prem survival with a good win at home to West Ham. After giving away a stupid early goal they fought back well and I guess that's why Keane deserves credit for his role this season. I do think he needs a director of football to buy him better players, but in terms of man-management he's done a very noteworthy job this season. Good for Big Kenners to get a goal, too.
Derby are relegated after a 2-2 draw with Fulham. I don't think it's even a little bit harsh saying they're the worst team in Premier League history. Maybe Porno Jewell will spark them back into life next season. Or not. Who cares?
Chelsea are still in the title race and stayed third in the process, after a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough. I'm still not convinced on Chelsea to be honest. They did well in the last 15 against Arsenal last week and took advantage of some awful defending by Gallas and Toure, but their general play still seems to be lacking something. Middlesbrough were really unlucky to lose this game and I see Chelsea being punished at Eastlands next week.
Birmingham eased past a rapidly-fading Man City side that need the summer to arrive with haste. The lad Zarate has looked lively in recent weeks, but now we know he can finish it could be a big coup for McLeish.
Reading and Blackburn said a big hello to boredom.
Jermain Defoe getting a bit of love = goal time. Shame Pompey can't use him in the FA Cup.
Barclays Premier League – Team of the Weekend
GK - David James (Portsmouth)
RB - Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
LB - Gael Clichy (Arsenal)
CB - Abdoulaye Faye (Newcastle)
CB - Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea)
CM - Matthew Taylor (Bolton)
CM - Paul Scholes (Man Utd)
RM - Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd)
LM - Nico Kranjcar (Portsmouth)
ST - Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
ST - Mauro Zarate (Birmingham)
Big week of first legs. This is how I see the ties going:
Roma v Man Utd
Tricky one for me. I really like Roma and I think last season's infamous quarter final was a freak. However, the second leg at Old Trafford married with United's current form makes this hard to go against the Prem leaders. Plus, Francesco Totti is out. How well Mirko Vucinic does in his absence will be key and like last season I see the Serie A giants winning the first leg. But what will happen at Old Trafford? It's really tough to call. I'm going to go for a shock win and a bald guy running down the touchline in celebration next Wednesday in Manchester.
Prediction: Roma to win 3-2 on aggregate.
Schalke v Barcelona
This is so boring. Barcelona are the most overrated side on the planet. Anyone who says they're a good side simply can't watch Spanish football. Schalke have nothing in attack, but defend well. However, they won't be able to handle a Camp Nou blitz. Either way, I see the winners going out in the semis…….unless Messi comes back.
Prediction: Barcelona to win 3-1 on aggregate.
Arsenal v Liverpool
More interesting than exciting, this will be tense stuff for sure. The Bolton comeback will help Arsenal on Wednesday and I see them sneaking a nervy 1-0 win. However, with Gerrard and Torres on top form last season's finalists certainly have a dangerous threat to grab an away goal. The form of Arsenal's back line (except Clichy) has simply not been good enough and they will have to step it up if they want to progress. It works both ways though, and Arsenal's quick movement will certainly test a Liverpool defence that can only rely on Skrtel for true mobility. Either way it'll be decided at Anfield and those nights always seem to end only one way.
Prediction: 1-1 on aggregate. Liverpool to win on penalties.
Fenerbahce v Chelsea
This tie is a million times more interesting than people are making out. Fenerbahce are a very dangerous side under Zico and their home record is exceptional. Chelsea have goals in them and a good defence on their day, but I see a shock unravelling here.
Prediction: Fenerbahce to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Wow, this league is just nuts at the moment.
Barcelona were 2-0 up on Real Betis on Saturday night after some neat finishes from Bojan and Sammy Eto'o, but an Edu-inspired Betis fought back to win 3-2 and surely that's got to end the Catalans' title aspirations.
Real Madrid picked it up against Sevilla, with a decent 3-1 win. Guti was class, but they really miss Van Nistelrooy. Higuain is so shit.
Villarreal climbed up to second after a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid. Their story over the past five years has been truly incredible and I think it could culminate in a shock title win. A word for Nihat too, who is one of Europe's most improved players. Another brace for him.
Speaking of braces, Daniel "The Geezer" Guiza bagged another on Sunday as Mallorca beat Valencia 3-0. Ronald Koeman had a great week with wins over Real Madrid and Barcelona, but the honeymoon period is over. This was a shocking home defeat.
Espanyol's season continues to capitulate as Racing Santander's rises to the Champions League clouds. The former lost 3-0 at home to the latter and Atletico Madrid now have some major competition for that fourth spot.
AC Milan's defeat to Arsenal has destroyed their season. They lost yet again on Sunday, this time at home to Atalanta. This is getting ridiculous. They won't even make the Champions League now and it'll be an even bigger story than Bayern Munich's last season.
That Borriello lad scored again as Genoa beat Reggina 2-0.
Di Natale and Quagliarella continue looking good for Udinese, both scoring during the 3-1 win over Fiorentina.
Francesco Totti scored and got injured as Roma stumbled to a draw at the resurgent Cagliari.
The title race is still alive though, as Inter were held at Lazio.
There were some international friendly matches on Wednesday. They all sucked more than but at least we saw a few nice new kits (Holland away in particular) and a couple of classy goals.
David Villa in particular……just a stunning goal.
Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho has denied having talks over the Inter Milan job. If you remember, he also denied meeting Ashley Cole a few years back. Make your own mind up.
Arsene Wenger admits he is interested in buying Hatem Ben Arfa from Lyon. Maybe he doesn't know that he would have to spend over ?12 million to buy him. When he finds out I'm sure the transfer talk will fizzle out.
David Bentley has hinted he may leave Blackburn this summer. Liverpool could be the team to ruin his overrated, yet decent progress.
Luis Fabiano is being chased by nearly everyone.
As is Luka Modric.
As is Diego.
Transfer talk is fun.
05 – Alexandre Pato v Sweden 04 – Obafemi Martins v Tottenham 03 – Edu's second v Barcelona 02 – Cristiano Ronaldo v Aston Villa 01 – David Villa v Italy
As noted above the Champions League quarters are this week. That should be exciting.
The UEFA Cup quarters could be interesting, with Fiorentina v PSV probably the standout tie.
The FA Cup semis could also raise some eyebrows. Without Jermain Defoe it's not impossible to think West Brom could cause a shock against Portsmouth. As for the other semi, well I don't watch enough of Cardiff or Barnsley to present a worthy prediction. Either way, the atmosphere of the latter should be incredible.
The weekend's Premier League games draw up some decent matches. Part two of the Arsenal v Liverpool trilogy will probably see a home win as Rafa rotates like a crazy man. As for the top two, well they have tricky away games I see them losing to be honest. Eastlands and The Riverside are dodgy places to go in the middle of Champions League week. I think they'll both lose, seriously.
Last Week's Match Predictions (Bold = Prediction ……. Italics = Actual Result)
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 29th
Birmingham v Man City 1-1 // 3-1
Bolton v Arsenal 0-1 // 2-3
Derby v Fulham 1-0 // 2-2
Man Utd v Aston Villa 3-0 // 4-0
Portsmouth v Wigan 2-0 // 2-0
Reading v Blackburn 2-1 // 0-0
Sunderland v West Ham 1-0 // 2-1
Sunday 30th
Chelsea v Middlesbrough 1-0 // 1-0
Liverpool v Everton 2-1 // 1-0
Tottenham v Newcastle 1-1 // 1-4
Next Week's Match Predictions
UEFA Champions League – Quarter Final, First Legs
Tuesday April 1st
Roma v Man Utd 2-1
Schalke v Barcelona 0-0
Wednesday 2nd
Arsenal v Liverpool 1-0
Fenerbahce v Chelsea 2-1
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 5th
Arsenal v Liverpool 2-0
Aston Villa v Bolton 2-0
Blackburn v Tottenham 1-2
Fulham v Sunderland 0-1
Man City v Chelsea 2-1
Newcastle v Reading 1-0
Wigan v Birmingham 2-1
