The Round Football Column 04.28.08: 149th Edition - Champions League Preview, Plus More

Posted by Tim O'Sullivan on 04.28.2008

Michael Ballack’s double helps Chelsea beat Man Utd, John Arne Riise loves interrupting “You’ll never walk alone”, Inter and Bayern Munich edge towards their titles, plus more. One Click Away.

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All that matters at the end of the season is the league table. No one will care how well United played for most of the season. If United don't win their last two games we could see one of the most shocking title wins in history. It hasn't felt like Chelsea's title all season, but when it's come to the crunch they have stood taller than anyone else.

When I went to the sickening FA Cup clash between Man Utd and Arsenal, the home fans I met in the pub before the game were not as complimentary towards Fergie and Ronaldo as I assumed they would be. According to them, Ronaldo is a bad role model and always moans off the ball – they prefer the likes of Evra and Rooney. Then, when it comes to Fergie they say his man-management and transfer budget draw clouds over his distinct lack of tactical brilliance.

I've watched a lot of Spanish football over the last five years and I've never seen a Barcelona side as bad as the current one. They're all individuals with zero team unity. They were there for the taking at Camp Nou, but Fergie bottled it. More on that later, but it signals just how nervous the guy can be at this stage of the season. His man-management and more to the point, players at his disposal, get him through a lot, but if you look over the years he's really bottled it at Leverkusen, Milan and now, Barcelona. It doesn't happen as much domestically, but Saturday's setup was a joke. Seriously, a team of United's stature should not be as negative as they were at The Bridge. They usually play with confidence and style, not pegged back in their own half scared of what's coming next. Chelsea are a very good side, but I can't believe how much better they were than United on Saturday. Aside from Rooney's goal and the late goal-line clearances they were poor.

As for Chelsea, well after all they've been through it was great to see Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko have such memorable moments.

Elsewhere in the land of the Prem, Everton and Aston Villa conjured up a decent match at Goodison on Super Sunday. I know Everton have had their injury problems, but without their full strength team it really has boggled the mind in recent weeks to think that they were once favourites for fourth spot. Aside from a really nice goal from Yobo I thought they were average here and Villa were the better side. Either way, the final ten minutes were a joy to watch.

From the UEFA Cup fight to the scrap for survival and whatever happens in two weeks time, the Fulham players can be proud of what they did at Eastlands last Saturday. 2-0 down with heads bowed, they turned the game around and Kamara's last-minute winner capped off some surprisingly excellent football from the strugglers.

Fulham may be hanging on, but Sunderland are safe after a late win at home to Middlesbrough. I know they've spent a lot of money, but 39 points after 36 games is a good return from The Black Cats. I still think Keano needs someone next to him to buy the players or at least give him a gentle nudge in the direction of worthwhile transfer targets, but in terms of general management the moody Man Utd legend has been a revelation.

West Ham continue to trudge through the second half of the season and letting a two-goal lead slip at home to Newcastle signified their obvious lack of x-factor right now. Ashton bagged a nice goal, but not even he can spark The Hammers' season back into life. After the drama of the 2006-07 campaign, a nice little tenth-place finish is beautiful in reality – yet something still seems off.

Wigan and Reading were the only clubs to ruin Match of the Day.

Roque Santa Cruz scored yet another goal in his remarkable season to give Blackburn all three points at Fratton Park. All credit to Blackburn, but Pompey really are only thinking about one thing………and it's not the Prem.

Liverpool reserves got another run-out in the big league and they fought back for a 2-2 draw at St. Andrews.

Dimitar Berbatov is a pimp, but he can't finish his dinner.




Thoughts on the first legs and a look ahead to the second legs.

Man Utd v Barcelona (First Leg: 0-0)

The first leg surprised me. I thought United would win easily to be honest, but much like Fergie I got it totally wrong. Paul Scholes is one of the best players in the 15-year history of the Premier League, but he's simply too pedestrian and static in games like these. Why Anderson didn't play is beyond me. There was nowhere near enough pressure on the Barcelona passers and the home side were free to do their thing. As for what happened in the first minute, well it's still funnt isn't it?



The second leg could be epic. Barcelona will be relying on their superstars for the breakthrough, but there's nothing wrong with that – team football is overrated! Messi looked good in spells against an excellent United defence and Henry was sharp when he came on, although Eto'o was a tad erratic and Bojan looked extremely lightweight and out of his depth. One of those four will really have to have a magic moment at Old Trafford to send the Barcelona faithful to Moscow. They have the quality to make it happen, but they also look incredibly vulnerable at the back. Maybe Cristiano Ronaldo will exploit that and finally eradicate his negative big match reputation.

Chelsea v Liverpool (First Leg: 1-1)

Let's make one thing clear – when a match is "the best of the bunch" it doesn't automatically mean it was an incredible game……….especially when talking about these two. We had some dramatic moments and nice tactical chess play, but it was still a pretty blah contest. What happened at the end was surreal though. According to Gerrard's (apparently) pathetic excuse for an autobiography, John Arne Riise is incredibly sensitive and insecure. I'm sure this won't help:



Thinking about the second leg has already given me a headache. Part of me thinks this is no drama for a Liverpool side who have Torres and Gerrard in the ranks. The other part can't help but remember that Liverpool's record under Rafa away to the big four is beyond a joke. Did you know that the last Liverpool player to score at Stamford Bridge was Bruno Cheyrou? Stats like that don't matter when its 11 vs. 11 on Wednesday night, but it does emphasise how shocking Rafa is in these games. I'm sure Liverpool's tactics won't be too outgoing, so I guess they just have to rely on their impact players producing some solo class and Carragher and Skrtel being clumsy legends like usual. As for Chelsea, well play Essien in the middle and its happy days – surely?




Javier Saviola and Arjen Robben scored as Real thrashed Bilbao.

Villarreal stopped Real Madrid winning the league with a Marcos Senna-inspired win at Real Betis.



Oh, Marcos!

Levante are relegated after losing to Recreativo.

Barcelona rested everyone and lost at Deportivo.

My mate, The Geezer scored again as Mallorca beat the slightly off-colour Racing.

La Liga's player of the season, Sergio Aguero continued to save Atletico's Champions League ambitions with a goal in the 1-1 draw at Getafe.

Valencia sacked Ronald Koeman, brought Canizares and Albelda back into the squad, and beat Osasuna 3-0. Hello, Ronald's tears.




A double from Mancini helped Roma beat Torino 4-1, but Inter beat Cagliari to stay six points clear.

The race for fourth got a lot more interesting, as Fiorentina conceded a 90th-minute equaliser at home to Sampdoria.

That coincided with AC Milan beating Livorno 4-1, with much thanks going to hat-trick hero, Super Pippo.

Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale continue to push Udinese higher than they have any right to be.

Rolando Bianchi scored again for Lazio, but they still lost 5-2 at Juventus.




The PFA awards were held on Sunday night and Cristiano Ronaldo scooped the main award yet again. I don't really understand how Fabregas won the young player of the year gong, but I'm not complaining!

Here were the teams of the season:

Premier League

DAVID JAMES
BACARY SAGNA
GAEL CLICHY
NEMANJA VIDIC
RIO FERDINAND
STEVEN GERRARD
CESC FABREGAS
CRISTIANO RONALDO
ASHLEY YOUNG
FERNANDO TORRES
EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR

Wow, I didn't see that coming. I actually agree with that team. Usually I have huge problems with the PFA team of the year, but that was reasonably accurate.

Championship

WAYNE HENNESSEY
BRADLEY ORR
RYAN SHAWCROSS
DAN SHITTU
PAUL ROBINSON
BRIAN HOWARD
MARVIN ELLIOTT
LIAM LAWRENCE
JONATHAN GREENING
RICARDO FULLER
KEVIN PHILLIPS

I really like Shawcross and Lawrence, so I'm glad they made the team. I'll have to take the PFA's word on a few others.

Franck Ribery scored two in a minute, as Bayern Munich beat Stuttgart 4-1 and pretty much cemented their Bundesliga title.

Speaking of the French wizard, he scored again on Thursday night during Bayern's 1-1 draw with Zenit in the UEFA Cup. The Russians have been overlooked from day one of this tournament, but they're decent and I expect them to qualify on Thursday.

The other semi saw Rangers and Fiorentina make me ask for my two hours back. Seriously, what an awful game that was.

Tottenham have made Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal fans jealous by signing diminutive Dinamo Zagreb playmaker Luka Modric for a fee thought to be around ?20 million, once certain clauses are met. Granted, I've only seen him a few times, but from what I have seen this is a major coup for Spurs.

Alex Hleb and Mathieu Flamini look very close to leaving Arsenal, with Inter and Juventus their respective destinations.

Jose Mourinho continues to whore himself out to get a job.

Guillem Balague reckons Chelsea have made a firm offer to Valencia for David Villa. I can hear Arsenal fans' tears.




We've already been over the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

Sunday sees the final day of the Championship arrive and at the top I guess a lot depends on how well West Brom do against Southampton tonight. It's been a crazy season in this league. For a time it looked like Bristol City and Hull would grab first-time promotions, but they seem to have buckled a little under the understandable pressure. West Brom and Stoke now look like the Prem-definites, but Hull still have a chance if Stoke lose next weekend.

As for the bottom, well again it depends on the West Brom v Southampton game. However, it looks like Leicester are in huge trouble.

Real Madrid could win La Liga if they beat strugglers, Osasuna.

The Milan derby hasn't got its usual appeal, but it's still here and you could still watch it on Saturday if you wish.

Fulham v Birmingham is this Saturday and it's huge.




Last Week's Match Predictions (Bold = Prediction ……. Italics = Actual Result)

UEFA Champions League – Semi Final, First Legs

Tuesday 22nd

Liverpool v Chelsea 0-0 // 1-1

Wednesday 23rd

Barcelona v Man Utd 1-4 // 0-0

UEFA Cup – Semi Final, First Legs

Thursday 24th

Bayern Munich v Zenit St. Petersburg 1-2 // 1-1
Rangers v Fiorentina 0-1 // 0-0

Barclays Premier League

Saturday 26th

Birmingham v Liverpool 0-2 // 2-2
Chelsea v Man Utd 0-1 // 2-1
Man City v Fulham 2-0 // 2-3
Sunderland v Middlesbrough 2-1 // 3-2
Tottenham v Bolton 1-1 // 1-1
West Ham v Newcastle 0-2 // 2-2
Wigan v Reading 1-0 // 0-0

Sunday 27th

Everton v Aston Villa 0-0 // 2-2
Portsmouth v Blackburn 0-1 // 0-1


Next Week's Match Predictions

UEFA Champions League – Semi Final, Second Legs

Tuesday 22nd

Man Utd v Barcelona 2-1

Wednesday 30th

Chelsea v Liverpool 1-0

UEFA Cup – Semi Final, Second Legs

Thursday May 1st

Fiorentina v Rangers 2-1
Zenit St. Petersburg v Bayern Munich 3-2

Barclays Premier League

Monday 28th

Derby v Arsenal 0-2

Saturday 3rd

Aston Villa v Wigan 3-0
Blackburn v Derby 3-0
Bolton v Sunderland 0-0
Fulham v Birmingham 2-0
Man Utd v West Ham 1-0
Middlesbrough v Portsmouth 3-0
Reading v Tottenham 1-1

Sunday 4th

Arsenal v Everton 2-0
Liverpool v Man City 2-1



Hobbsy was on The Bill last Thursday. Check out this clip:






THE WHOLE DAMN SPORTS ZONE

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O'Sullivan

Done.