Redemption, Retribution, and Reunions: Just Another Champions League Draw

Just hours ago the match ups for the UEFA Champions League first knockout round were announced. As usual, there are the stinkers, the dazzlers, and of course, the reunions. In the order in which they were drawn, I will briefly dissect each match-up, and predict a winner. Predicting scorelines of course, is impossible. (see below)BARCELONA Vs. STUTTGART

Results from Spain suggest that defending champions Barcelona are even better than last year. Pep Guardiola has put on a master class in resting and managing his deep squad. Barcelona have jogged past every opponent this season, and only three ties mar their domestic record. It looks as though Guardiola is playing a video game on the Amateur setting.

Barcelona beat Madrid and their multi-million euro facelift, outclassing and outpassing los blancos in a 1-0 defeat courtesy of Barcelona's only big summer signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Stuttgart are stuttering in Germany, and look only a shadow of the side that attained Champions League qualification last term.

Barcelona should take their first step towards defending their title with ease.

OLYMPIAKOS Vs. BORDEAUX

While all eyes will be on Manchester, Milan, and London, it is easy to forget that sometimes the less touted matchups provide the most fire.

Olympiakos, the champions of Greece, are big fish, but they've just swam right into the biggest ocean in club football. With all the sharks lurking, they'll be glad they've only landed themselves a date with the piranha-like Bordeaux, who bit and fought their way to unsettling Lyon from their perch at the top of Ligue 1 last season.

However, Bordeaux beat Bayern Munich twice and Juventus once on their way to winning a group most thought they wouldn't make it out of. Olympiakos, comparatively, won't be as much of a test, and Bordeaux should see themselves through.

INTERNAZIONALE MILAN Vs. CHELSEA

The Heavyweight bout of this round, possibly of the entire tournament. Storylines abound in this mouthwaterer. Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge. Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti square off for another derby, this time in London. The two best African strikers on the planet, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o, are pitted against eachother. Oh, and it's the best team in Italy against the best team in England.

Carlo Ancelotti arrived in London and inherited the remains of Mourinho's old back-to-back Premier League Champions of 2005 and 2006. He added some Italian tact and instated his own interpretation of the diamond midfield onto Chelsea. It's been a match made in heaven, and Chelsea have squashed every opponent in their way with relish.

Mourinho arrived at Inter with a very clear job description from the board: win the Champions League. In order to accomplish this, Mourinho will have to put everything into knocking out his old friends.

But all is fair in love, war, and football. When Mourinho's men take the field at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will do their best to dispatch of them without sentimentality, and you can expect the same from him; Mourinho's infamous mind games are sure to start soon.

Chelsea's quality and muscle are likely to leave Inter Milan blacker and bluer than before.The capture of Samuel Eto'o has certainly made Inter a more mobile and speed based side, but it is likely the power and pace of the Premier League leaders will be too much for Inter, and for the second time the players and fans of Chelsea will be waving goodbye to Jose Mourinho.

BAYERN MUNICH Vs. FIORENTINA

Not unline the Olympiakos - Bordeaux matchup, this lower profile battle might not be front page stuff, but it should nonetheless produce fireworks.

Fiorentina, powered by the highly touted youngster Stevan Jovetic, and the newly acquired goal scoring prowess of Alberto Gilardino, produced a surprising and impressive group stage campaign, twice beating Liverpool, and qualifying top of their group.

They fully deserve their status as top of the group qualifiers, and for their troubles they've drawn the German juggernauts Bayern Munich.

A 4-1 thrashing of Juventus should leave Fiorentina very worried. If Bayern did that to Italy's current number 2, then they are surely capable of victory over Italy's number 9.

Both these teams should be worried by each other. Fiorentina lathered up the slope Liverpool find themselves slipping down, and Munich beat the Old Lady without raising a sweat. This one comes down to form, not status or past results, but Fiorentina will eventually have to surrender to the speed and guile of Ribery, Robben, and co. as Munich walk on.
CSKA MOSCOW Vs. SEVILLA

Probably the most forgettable of all the games, which probably means it will produce an interesting result.

Moscow can put up a fight, as we've seen when they nearly beat Manchester United after putting three past them in the group stage. But Sevilla are third in what is arguably the strongest league in Europe. Barcelona and Madrid are the only teams ahead of them, and you'd expect a team of that status to progress against the Russians. But the boys from sunny Spain will have to travel deep into wintry Russia for Moscow's home leg, and anything can happen in that Bermuda triangle-esque setting.

If Sevilla can make it through the arctic conditions with a lead or tie intact, their job will be done. They qualified first out of a group of relative minnows, and should be accustomed to knocking out small teams with big aspirations.

OLYMPIQUE LYONAIS Vs. REAL MADRID

Madrid's cash splash this summer has paid dividends to some extent. They've been nearly unbeatable so far this campaign. But they were felled first by Barcelona, and with this match up against one of France's top dogs, they have their second chance to prove their bite matches their bark.

The draw also sets up Karim Benzema for an early visit to his former club. Benzema's yet to hit his highest heights at Madrid, but he has performed well, and with the 2007's and 2008's Balloon d'Or winners on either side of him (Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo if you've been living under a rock) Madrid should see off Lyon's challenge.

The road is paved with gold euros for Madrid, all the way to the final, held in their very own Santiago Bernabeau, and with their desire and quality, they would be remiss to miss out this early. Or at all.

ARSENAL Vs. PORTO

A perfect first-round test for the young Gunners. Arsene Wenger should feel confident that if Arsenal can put on a strong display they should progress. They have been inconsistent this season, but at their best are capable of making defenders look like rocks in a river.

If Fabregas can conduct one of his better symphonies without Van Persie, then Arsenal will push on past Porto. But Porto should not be taken lightly. Last year they shocked Manchester United with a tie at Old Trafford, and only a Ronaldo 40 yard special in Portugal separated the sides after 180 minutes.

But Porto were at their best for that contest, and high on confidence. They've already been beaten twice in the Portuguese League, as much as all of last season when they finished first. Now is the perfect time for Arsenal to strike. A strong showing in the Champions League is crucial to Wenger proving his young charges are growing into stars. Andrei Arshavin has come to the fore as a big game player, and is a joy to watch. His performance, along with Fabregas' will be the most important, and most scrutinized.

This is Arsenal's stage to take, and thankfully for them, the headlines will be elsewhere. If Arsenal shows up confident and creative, this match-up is theirs for the taking.MANCHESTER UNITED Vs. AC MILAN

The last, but certainly not least fixture is a repeat of 2007's thrilling semi-final clash when Kaka was at the peak of his powers and United were not.

Three years on, however, AC Milan have been unable to build on their Champions League triumph. Kaka has since been sold, bringing only a little more financial stability, and even worse results.

United, without Ronaldo, have yet to strike the same fear in opponents as recent years, but still cling to that magic their renown for. Also, they still find themselves firmly in the English title race, second this year after winning it three times on the trot. It seems that both clubs fortunes have diverged since that fateful night in the San Siro.

The fortune of one man seems to keep growing, and his name is David Beckham. A lucrative contract in America, a chance to play for England in one last World Cup, and now the only thing he can't buy himself: he gets to return to Old Trafford and play.

Manchester United are the odds-on favorite to emerge victorious from this clash, but Milan are a tournament team. Maybe their core is too old for a grueling season, the legs too sore, too slow. But their heads are still sharp, and their veterans still know exactly how to operate on the biggest stage. Combine that with the emergence of the young match-turner Pato and Ronaldinho up top, and Milan still pose a threat to any club on the planet.

Tentativeness, which seems to be Sir Alex Ferguson's new gameplan since the humbling in Rome, is the only thing Milan will have to capitalize on. But it is January and February where United tend to find their higher gears, and my, how they crank through them. If United come out guns blazing, they should run over Milan.

So David Beckham will grace the pitch at Old Trafford one last time, Jose Mourinho will stalk the sideline of Stamford Bridge, and Karim Benzema will try to prove his worth against his old club. Madrid may take one step closer to the playing in the final they will host, and it's possible both sides of Milan will be missing Champions League football after this round. Davids, Goliaths, headlines, scorelines, and controversy to come.

Quarterly Reports

It's been another roaring start to the Barclay's Premier League, and with all of the Big Four having battled eachother, it's time for a quarterly report card of this season's title contenders. Oh, and Liverpool.

ARSENAL
Until Sunday, it was a realistic prospect that the title may have been returning to London. To Arsenal. It seemed all their promise and potential was finally coming to fruition. Goalfests against Everton, Blackburn, Wigan, and a convincing drubbing of rivals Tottenham put Arsenal into the category of "serious contenders," at one point just three points off Chelsea's pace.

Arsenal were flying. But Chelsea were steamrolling.


Sunday's battering at the hands of Didier Drogba and company, combined with the halting of Robin Van Persie's stream of goals by a serious injury have put Arsenal's chances at a Prem title in the locker for another year.


GRADE:

B-
COMMENTS:
Arsenal may have the speed and precision to befuddle most of the Premiership, but they've failed the quarter's two tests against the blue and red halves of Manchester, and bombed their Midterm against Chelsea. They're still boys, and too often their pretty patterns and exsquisite play are muscled off the field by the men of the league.


LIVERPOOL

After the Fernando Torres show helped Liverpool to wipe the pitch with early lesser opponents, their season has fallen apart following his and Gerrard's injuries. To everyone's bemusement but their own, Liverpool have been playing the EPL class clown, and find themselves hopelessly behind in the title race and out of the Champions League.

Without Xabi Alonso pulling their already loose strings, and an injury list that has prevented Liverpool from fielding their best XI all year, Liverpool are at sea. Wins in the big games against Manchester United and Everton are all that keep Rafa Benitez tied to his job, and just a few more dropped points will serve as the severance.
From the management to the field, this club has reached a crossroads, and it is time for a shakedown.Three successive wins against United remind us all of their potential, but seven wins in fourteen games this season is unacceptable for a team with a legacy like Liverpool, and soon even the most loyal Liverpool supporters will be calling for Rafa's head.

GRADE:

C-

COMMENTS:

Liverpool have had very good results here and there this quarter, but their performance has been abysmal overall. Injuries do play a part in any slump, but a team such as Liverpool should have sufficient depth to cope without their biggest stars, and it's been revealed they don't. There is extra credit still to be had in an FA Cup victory, but this season is already one to forget for Liverpool.

CHELSEA

Chelsea has been the EPL's star pupil by a long ways thus far. Two years of near misses and last second heartbreak have been firmly put in the past by Carlo Ancelotti's arrival. Chelsea's vast resources are again paying dividends after a three year deferral to Manchester United, with a squad deeper than the Dead Sea to attribute to their success. Didier Drogba's mini-revival and his new found compatability with strike partner Nicolas Anelka have also played an important role in the teams ability to find the net so routinely.

They have met every opponent with equal workmanlike efficiency and strength. They allowed Arsenal to run in circles with the ball for much of their recent encounter, and then strode forward with a purpose and soundly and smoothly squashed the young Gunners. The victory against their North London rivals showcased Chelsea's newest, and most champion-like, asset: the ability to win in every way. They have the muscle and personality to duke it out in physical matches, the defensive capability to keep out the best attacks, and the forwards and creativity to flow right through you.

GRADE:

A-

COMMENTS:
Chelsea's record is near impeccable so far this campaign. Only two losses blot their otherwise extraordinary campaign. They have beaten all three of their biggest challengers, but only one of these wins has been away from Stamford Bridge, and they face the reality of losing Didier Drogba and Michael Essien to the African Cup Of Nations for four weeks in January. If they withstand their big away games in the second term, and escape the Drogba-less January with their lead intact, it is unlikely they can be touched. However, there is a certain triple champion who will not go quietly...

MANCHESTER UNITED

United still show the resilience and profesionalism required to be a champion, but they may be missing some of that big game ability they were once renowned for. In fairness, they've beaten Arsenal and City at home and proved their famous resilience through several injury time winners and equalizers. But on the road against Chelsea and Liverpool they were outplayed and outmatched. Torres highlighted United's defensive frailty -- they've allowed twelve goals in fourteen games. This is not the same United backline who went sixteen games straight las campaign without conceding.

On the other side of the coin, they've still been able to produce offensively sans Ronaldo and Tevez. They've even put together some masterful performances, but it is the get-out-of-jail-free card Ronaldo provided so many times before that they've missed in the darker moments. While they've certainly proved they can cope weekend to weekend without his services, his prowess for finding the net on the big occasions, at times from nothing, have seen them drop points where last seasons United wouldn't have.

But this is Manchester United. Clive Tyldesly famously said "They ALWAYS score," in 1999. Only Scholes, Giggs, and Neville remain from that treble-winning team a decade ago, but the magic Sir Alex Ferguson can conjure seems never to die. This is the team never to count out, and Chelsea will do well not to feel comfortable at any point, not when United chases you.

GRADE:

B
COMMENTS:
United have remedied the Ronaldo hangover better than many would have guessed. Their football is still beautiful, and they still win. Chelsea have set the bar incredibly high thus far this season, but the second half of the season is where United always kick it into higher gear. The evergreen Ryan Giggs can still dictate games, Rooney has indeed done the best job possible in filling Ronaldo's boots, and Berbatov has finally come good. Sir Alex refuses to fail -- nothing but excellence will do for United, and they still have plenty of time.