Champions League round of 16 Part 1

Here we go...the Champions League gets ramped up again with the first round of knock outs

12 February 2013

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Celtic		20.45		Juventus
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (ESP) – Stadium: Celtic Park, Glasgow (SCO)
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Valencia		20.45		PSG
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (ITA) – Stadium: Estadi de Mestalla, Valencia (ESP)

13 February 2013

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Shakhtar Donetsk		20.45		Dortmund
Referee: Howard Webb (ENG) – Stadium: Donbass Arena, Donetsk (UKR)
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Real Madrid		20.45		Man. United
Referee: Felix Brych (GER) – Stadium: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid (ESP)

Some interesting clashes, none more interesting than the Real Madrid v Man United tie!

Celtic v Juventus: The Italian giants are playing well these days, quietly. While the Scottish giants are without their traditional rivals, as Rangers have been dropped into what appears to be purgatory! Both sides had some surprises in the group stages, most notably Celtic defeating Barcelona at home. Unfortunately I think the Old Lady is poised for a deep run. Juventus get through 3-1 on aggragate

Valencia v PSG: Ah the Manchester City on the Siene. They are starting to click in Ligue 1 and I think they will do so in Champions League. Valencia is no push over, and could be a dark horse themselves. They did have a relatively easy group BATE and LOSC not providing much resistance Valencia and Bayern. I just think that Ibra and co will find a way to get through. PSG go forward 3-3 on away goals.

Shakhtar v Dortmund: The Ukraine giants always seem to be in the mix...but get no respect. Unfortunately I think Dortmund will get through on their creative genius Gotze. Remember that Dortmund finished tops of what was seen as the group of death, besting the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Ajax. Nothing to sneeze at. Dortmund advance 5-2 on aggragate.

Real Madrid v Manchester United: Wow, talk about story lines. The Special One facing off against the team many believe is the one he will head to once SAF retires. Ronaldo heading back to Manchester! The key is that the first leg is in Spain, which I think plays to the United favor. SAF will probably look to play conservative, maybe hold RVP or Rooney on the bench to try and get a late goal, head back to Manchester even and win back home. But could Ronaldo have something to say, he is wonderful form currently...but so is RVP. Real Madrid go through on PKs when it ends 4-4 on aggragate, Ronaldo strikes home the winning PK something he did not have the chance to do at the Euros!

Liverpool continues to struggle...is Rafa close to the exit?

Rafa's boys once again disappoint by dropping 2 points to Wolves with a 0-0 draw (those are the Wolves that find themselves just above the drop zone). Granted the draw moves Liverpool closer to the top 4 -

Position	Team	P	GD	PTS
1	Man Utd	23	34	50
2	Arsenal	22	34	48
3	Chelsea	21	34	48
4	Tottenham	23	20	41
5	Liverpool	23	14	38
6	Man City	21	12	38
7	Aston Villa	21	11	36
8	Birmingham	21	2	33
9	Fulham	22	0	27
10	Everton	21	-4	26
11	Stoke	21	-7	25
12	Blackburn	22	-16	24
13	Sunderland	21	-8	23
14	Wigan	20	-21	22
15	Bolton	21	-13	21
16	West Ham	22	-9	20
17	Wolves	22	-21	20
18	Burnley	22	-22	20
19	Hull	22	-26	19
20	Portsmouth	21	-14	15

However look at the games played - the 3 closest teams chasing Liverpool have 2 games in hand versus the Reds. Dropping points to the 17th place team is not what makes a champion either. Clearly Liverpool continues to tread water. I still do not think getting rid of Rafa right now makes sense, this can only be seen as a lost season for the Reds. So let Rafa manage to the end of the season then allow the new gaffer a full off season to prepare for the next campaign. Then again Rafa might escape to northern Italy if the rumors are to be believed. Which I think would be a poor choice for Juventus, granted they had their manager when Deschamps was there and got them back into Serie A, too bad they could not agree on how to keep him at his former club.

The manager merry go around continues.

Bravo Bordeaux!!!!

Girondins de Bordeaux and Laurent Blanc are making believers of me...at least until I see who they draw for the first round of the knock out stage! However after controlling their group, which included Bayern Munich and Juventus, one has to think that Bordeaux have a good chance of advancing once the knock out starts. Plus, they were without Gourcuff in their 2-0 defeat of Juventus.

Watching the match it was clear that Bordeaux were by no means in awe of their opponents pedigree and trophy case. Rather Bordeaux came out and played the Old Lady as if they were playing a match against Grenoble from Ligue 1. They took their chances, played a smart game and were rewarded on set pieces. Juventus were unlucky not to draw even after a Del Piero cross could not be poked in by either Deco nor Amauri in the 64th minute. Now Bordeaux end top of their group and will be matched against a "weaker" opponent to start the knock out stage - as of the current standings unless they fall on Milan or Inter they should be a slight favorite to get past that stage.

Their current form is a testament to Laurent Blanc's coaching. For the return leg against Juventus he decided to line up a 4-2-3-1...sounds familiar? But he did so to block the Turin club and look to beat them on the counter, as well as make up for the loss of his play maker - Gourcuff. He also has his club believing in themselves, after a timid Champions League run last season, Bordeaux appear to go much deeper this year. I would not be surprised if Blanc is not spoken about for some bigger jobs next summer...maybe even running Les Bleus...