With most of the ties still undecided, there’s plenty to look forward to in next week’s Champions League as we go from 16 teams down to eight.
The first-leg games in the first knockout round lived up to all expectations. Fortunately, with many questions left unanswered, it’s only half time. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the cream of Europe will clash again in the second leg of the last 16.
Earlier in the competition, one would not have predicted that, at this stage, the two teams most likely to book a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League would be Lyon and Liverpool. But, with comprehensive victories in their first-leg games, these two teams have their names pencilled in for the last eight.
Playing away against Werder Bremen, Lyon secured the best result of the week, beating the Germans 3-0. Not only is the goal difference vast, but the fact that they are away goals makes Bremen’s task next week in France almost impossible.
As a team, Lyon are finding some form at a crucially important stage of the season. Indeed, they are emerging as the dark horses in the race for the Champions League trophy.
In a reasonably tough group with Manchester United, Lyon finished top. This not only helped their confidence, but also ensured a somewhat easier fixture — against Bremen instead of AC Milan — in the first of the knockout rounds.
They have been performing consistently well in their domestic league too and are now nine points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal reject Sylvain Wiltord is enjoying a second wind in European club football and is in good goal-scoring form.
In a team that is less flashy than some of the other Champions League competitors, the Brazilian, Juninho, is one player who does stand out. His free kick against Bremen in the first-leg game was out of this world, and his performances in general have been inspirational.
It will take a miracle for Bremen to turn around the first-leg deficit, and Lyon may well have one eye on the other fixtures in anticipation of who their quarterfinal opponents might be.
With 92 minutes of the game played at Anfield, Liverpool must have thought that they, too, had booked their quarterfinal place. Then, with almost the last kick of the game, Bayer Leverkusen snatched an away goal.
It should still be safe for the Reds, with a 3-1 advantage, but at home Leverkusen might be a different proposition. Liverpool will not want a repeat of 2002, when the Germans reversed the first-leg result to knock the Merseysiders out of the cup.
Liverpool will be thankful to have their inspirational captain, Steven Gerrard, back in Champions League action. Even with a healthy advantage, they are going to need all the help they can get to keep a competitive Leverkusen team at bay.
The remaining ties are balanced on a knife-edge and, in true Champions League style, are too close to call.
The pick of the first-leg games, Barcelona against Chelsea, lived up to all the hype. While it may not have been a very good advert for European refereeing, it was an entertaining spectacle nonetheless.
After having Didier Drogba sent off — and subsequently suspended for this week’s game — Chelsea were unable to hold on to a 1-0 half-time lead, and lost 2-1 at the Nou Camp. In the context it was disappointing for Chelsea supporters, but it is by no means a bad result.
On Tuesday night, Barcelona have to make the trip to Stamford Bridge, which has become something of a fortress this season for the Blues. A 1-0 victory will take Chelsea through to the quarterfinals on the away goals rule. And if there is one team who know how to win 1-0, it’s Chelsea.
At times in the first game, Barcelona’s superstars showed glimpses of attacking brilliance and the Catalans are more than capable of scoring themselves.
Chelsea’s defence will have to be extra-solid next week to keep out the likes of Samule Eto’o, Ronaldinho and the newly acquired Maxi Lopez, who was outstanding in the first leg after coming on as a substitute.
On paper, it seems as though Bayern Munich’s place in the last eight is also secure. Not only did the Germans beat Arsenal 3-1 at home, they did so convincingly. Arsenal’s defensive frailties were again highlighted, and it is only thanks to a late Kolo Touré goal that they have even a sniff at a quarterfinal place.
And this is where it could go either way. Although Arsenal find themselves in the same position as Bayer Leverkusen, the Gunners do have the ability and class to reverse this result, and secure the 2-0 victory that is required at Highbury. With Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp firing, things could go Arsenal’s way.
On the other hand, in pressing for the victory, the Gunners could concede goals and make their task that much harder. Although Lauren and Ashley Cole are back, Sol Campbell is still not available, so there are still question marks about their defensive capabilities.
Bayern Munich looked like a classy outfit in the first-leg game, and Arsenal are going to have to play out of their skins to avoid defeat, and the inevitable tag of perennial European underachievers.
Everyone knew it was going to be tough for Manchester United against AC Milan. At Old Trafford, Man United had a number of chances in front of goal — none more agonisingly close than Quinton Fortune’s —but it was the opportunistic Hernan Crespo who won it for Milan. The Argentinian capitalised on a Roy Carroll blunder to give Milan a 1-0 victory, and a critical away goal.
The Red Devils now have to travel to the San Siro on Tuesday night and try to score the two away goals needed to take them through to the quarterfinals. A rock-solid defence, led by Alessandro Nesta and Kakha Kaladze, will make it very tough though, and Manchester United are going to need something special from their strike force.
Other teams travelling to Italy are Real Madrid, who take a 1-0 lead to Juventus, and Porto, who held Inter to a 1-1 draw in Portugal.
Madrid would have liked to score one or two more against Juve, but will be grateful to have kept a clean sheet at home. Whether they will now play a defensive game and hold on to their lead, or try to score an away goal or two, remains to be seen. As is always the case with Madrid, expect the unexpected.
Porto’s task is a lot tougher, but if they can play the way they did in the second half of the first-leg game, then last year’s champions may yet have a chance. Inter, however, should be professional enough to do what’s expected of them at home.
Finally, PSV Eindhoven take a 1-0 lead to Monaco. As with most of the encounters next week, this one is far from over. Although Monaco are not the same team that made the final last year, at home they will play with passion and make life very difficult for the Dutch side.
When it comes to quality, passion, and just sheer entertainment, you can always count on the Champions League to deliver.
After next week’s crunch games we’re down to the quarterfinals. But with most of the ties too close to call, it’s anyone’s guess as to who those eight will be.