Club World Cup: Update 12/15/2013

What an exciting round of games there has been in Morocco as Raja Casablanca of Morocco edged New Zealand's Auckland City in a 2-1 affair that saw Mouhssine Iajour open the scoring for the hosts in the 39th minute while Roy Krishna of Auckland City made it 1-all in the 63rd minute. In the 2nd minute of stoppage time of the 2nd half, Abdelilah Hafidi gave the Casablancan side the lead that carried them through into their Quarter-Final bout with Monterrey out of Mexico. In that face-off, Raja Casablanca once more took the lead early-on through Chemseddine Chtibi in the 24th minute. The Mexicans were able to equalize in the 53rd minute through Jose Maria Basanta. Going into extra-time, the North Africans were able to grab the lead through Kouko Guehi in the 95th minute much to the chagrin of the Monterrey outfit. In the other Quarter-Finals match-up, Guangzhou Evergrande of China took on Egypt's Al Ahly and gave the North Africans a right thumping. At the same time, the Chinese left it til late to take the lead with Elkeson striking in the 49th minute of the 2nd half while Dario Conca made it 2-0 for Guangzhou Evergrande in the 67th minute. With that round of matches out of the way, the 5th Place match has Al Ahly taking on Monterrey. As for the sides that remain in contention, the Semi-Finals see Guangzhou Evergrande face Germany and Europe's Champion Bayern Munich. Raja Casablanca meanwhile battle Brazil's Atletico Mineiro in what should be an absolutely enthralling match-up. Between these two matches, the parties that are defeated will face one another in the 3rd Place game as the winners go on to the Final in Marrakech. I would not be surprised to see Bayern and Raja Casablanca in that showdown although I believe Atletico Mineiro are the favorites to face Bayern in the showpiece event. Make sure to check out the games picking up again on the 17th of December and continuing to the 18th. The Final and 3rd Place matches will take place on the 21st of the same month. Happy Holidays!

Predictions for the World Cup 2014 in Brazil. 12/7/2013.

Well I will promise you all right now: I will not cite the Confederations Cup as a source of information on how the teams participating will do next year. Additionally, I'll say that travel and climate will be an issue for some of the teams playing in the tournament - but this is professional football, not a pick-up game so I expect the sides to compensate for any of these concerns if they have any hope of progressing through the stages to the showpiece event. Injuries may well be an issue, and I'll post closer to the tournament with any updates on that front. As for now, let's get into the predictions! In Group A, Brazil are certainly favorites to win with Mexico and Croatia the two sides fighting for the second position slot. I'd tip Mexico to make it through as Cameroon finish rock bottom and Croatia will not quite have enough. The opening match will set the tone for the Eastern Europeans as they face Brazil in the kick-off for the whole tournament. Depending on how poorly that first match goes, Croatia may well have the stuffing knocked out of them when they face Cameroon 6 days later. On to Group B now where Spain and the Netherlands should be the two to make it through although Chile will not make life easy for either side. Australia will probably not have booked hotels beyond the group-stage dates as a swift exit is on the cards for them. Again, though, the opening match in this group may determine a great deal as Spain take on Netherlands in a match-up that should stir a great deal of emotion from the last time around. If Holland loses their cool, and some players for disciplinary reasons, expect an abrupt South American vacation. As for Group C, Colombia should find their way through however Japan, Greece, and even Ivory Coast will have reason to believe that they can progress to the knock-out round. I'll say Greece might clinch it because of their typical defensive prowess though Japan shouldn't count themselves out of the race. Much will decide on whether Colombia can break down the gate when they face Greece in the group's opening fixture Ivory Coast's match with Japan should prove much more entertaining. Group D meanwhile may be seen as having a three-way race on the other side of the table: Italy and Uruguay are my favorites to proceed - in first and second respectively - however England will not give much to them easily. Costa Rica on the other hand is almost guaranteed a three-and-out affair with little hope of even tying any of the other three. If Italy can defeat the English in their opening fixture, they should win the group; otherwise it'll be Uruguay in first and Italy in second. Onwards to Group E where France and Switzerland are the notable - if imperfect - favorites and Ecuador and Honduras are left fighting for honor. Having said that, if the Swiss don't perform in the opening fixture against Ecuador, they'll be out while France's first match against Honduras should be a nice introduction to the continent. Group F will likely see Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina go through despite Nigeria's best efforts. Iran should enjoy their time on the world stage and play to the best of their ability - this is the culmination of all the work that they have put into the side and it would be disappointing, though not unexpected to go out without a point. Group G. For many of those of you who follow this blog, you'll likely feel hard done by the draw for the United States. It is true, Germany and Portugal are the undeniable favorites to win the group and contenders for the tournament title. It is also true that Ghana are a well put together side and possibly the strongest African side (after Ivory Coast) in the tournament this year. Despite these facts, when the U.S. plays Ghana in their first match, they will give it their all and the two sides really are just about equal on paper. At the very least I would expect the U.S. to draw that game and give the European sides a run for their money before bowing out with their heads held high. Finally, Group H: where Belgium, Russia, South Korea, and Algeria face-off and the Europeans are once more the favorites to make it through. There is honestly little chance that either the Koreans or the Algerians will mount much of a challenge against the Belgians and the Russians though I could see the Russians making life difficult for themselves when they face South Korea in the opener. Algeria will likely bow out in 4th with South Korea above them and Belgium deserved leaders. Again, look for an updated post closer to the tournament about any injuries and such that may alter these predictions. May the best side win!

World Cup 2014 draw! 12/6/2013

And the results are out! After the drawing for the group-stage of the Brazil 2014 World Cup, we have hosts Brazil in Group A against Croatia, Mexico, and Cameroon. In Group B, Spain, the Netherlands, Chile, and Australia will face-off for the right to make it into the knock-out round. Group C is full of dark horses with Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, and Japan promising for an exciting opening set of matches. Group D is arguably the opposite with Uruguay, England, Italy, and Costa Rica competing for just two places in the next round. Group E should be relatively straightforward with Switzerland, Ecuador, France, and Honduras fighting for the right to lift the World Cup. Group F should be relatively open as Argentina must contend with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, and Nigeria. Group G on the other hand will likely be incredibly tight as Germany, Portugal, Ghana, and the United States must fight with only two sides progressing to the next round. Last but certainly not least, Belgium, Algeria, Russia, and South Korea make up Group H. Look for a predictions post in the very near future!

Women's U-17 European Championships and the Passing of Nelson Mandela. 12/5/2013

Excitement and somber memorial. That is what today may be described as in a few words. In the European Championships Semi-Final round, Italy faced Germany as hosts England took on Spain. In the first match, the Germans booked their place in the Final with a 0-1 victory over the Italians. The solitary goal was courtesy of Ricarda Walkling in the 15th minute after a stunning performance by the Germans which saw them largely dominate proceedings. Elsewhere, Spain gave their hosts no quarter in a 3 goal thriller that saw Andrea Sanchez perform admirably with goals in the 16th and 79th minutes. Pilar Garrote's 55th minute strike was also clean as the Southern Europeans absolutely dominated the game from start to finish. Expect a good match in the Final, I would tip Spain to win as they seem almost unbeatable at the moment.
Nelson Mandela, the one-time South African President and non-violent opponent of injustice and South African Apartheid as well as the voice of modern human rights passed away today at the age of 95. While a phenomenal example of the good that can manifest itself in the human spirit, Nelson Mandela was also an stunning figure in the world of sports. Utilizing rugby in particular, he united a nation; in 2010, he was arguably the man who inspired South Africa to successfully host the largest sporting tournament in the world - the FIFA World Cup. Words cannot describe the significance of Nelson Mandela in life, and his passing similarly prompts one to speechlessness. He will be missed, and may his memory be eternal.

Latest Domestic Standings 12/4/2013.

Before the upcoming fixtures across Europe, let's look at where things stand on a domestic basis! Spain seems like a decent place to start, where Barcelona have been in imposing form alongside Atletico Madrid - the two sides tied at the top with 40 points apiece. Real Madrid occupy 3rd position with 37 points as Athletic Club and Villarreal round out the top 5. The former have 29 as the latter sit on 28. Onwards to England now where Arsenal have gotten off to a decent first 13 games with 31 points earned. Chelsea hold 2nd with 2 points to spare over Manchester City as the Blues have 27 to their name. Liverpool are the side tied for 4th with Everton: both teams have 24. Across the channel, in France, Paris Saint-Germain have a slender lead of the table with 37 points and a game in hand over the competition. LOSC Lille are a point behind the Parisian outfit and one up on AS Monaco who have a significant hold on 3rd. 4th position Marseille have just 27 points as Nantes round out the best teams thus far with 26 points. Over in Germany, things are somewhat closer with Bayern up top with 38 points from 14 matches, Bayer Leverkusen 4 points off in 2nd, and Borussia Dortmund in 3rd with 31 - 3 points clear of 4th-placed Borussia Monchengladbach. Schalke have 5th just barely in their grasp on 24 points. South, in Italy, Juventus have grabbed 1st with 37 points just as Andrea Pirlo is forced out of contention for what may well be a month! Roma sit 2nd with 34 while Napoli are 3 behind them and Inter Milan and Fiorentina are tied for 4th with 27 each. Last but not least, the Portuguese league currently has the two main Lisbon sides, Sporting and Benfica, level at the top with 26 apiece while Porto are in 3rd with 24. As for those teams that aren't really in contention but would like to think they are, Gil Vicente and Estoril Praia are the closest to mounting a challenge with 18 and 17 respectively. Let me know if there are any things you'd like to see more of!

Where we stand after the latest round of games.

So the Champions League group stage has just one more match to go and what a roller coaster ride it has been! Beginning in Group A, following Manchester United's demolition of a hapless Bayer Leverkusen side, and Shakhtar Donetsk's victory over Real Sociedad the table stands with United assured of a spot in the knock-out round with 11 points. Meanwhile Shakhtar and Bayer are left to fight over the scraps of 2nd place with 8 and 7 points respectively. Bottom of the table and playing for pride at this point, Real Sociedad have earned 1 point over 5 matches and don't look like earning any more. With that in mind, so long as Bayer improve from their dismal performance against United, they should earn the three points when they visit Spain while Shakhtar will count themselves very lucky if they can get even one when they face Manchester United next.
Over to Group B now where things are also close besides the poll position: Real Madrid are assured of qualification with 13 points to their name as Juventus occupy 2nd with 6 and Galatasaray and Kobenhavn each have 4 with the same goal differentials. As the final fixtures in place and Juve travel to Turkey while Kobenhavn host Real Madrid, I think the Turks might well be favored since they were able to draw the Italians in Turin 2-2 the last time the two sides faced off. A great deal will rely on Pirlo and company though Madrid will probably find victory in Denmark with even a B-Team.
Group C is also tight between 2nd and 3rd: PSG are through with 13 while Olympiacos and Benfica have 7 apiece. Anderlecht are down and out with just a point to their name. Olympiacos will likely seal the deal given that they play at home, welcoming Anderlecht, while Benfica will likely face sterner opposition in PSG although they do play in Portugal which may give them the lift they need. I'd like to see it but I doubt it'll happen.
The most divided group, Group D has Bayern in front with 15 points although Manchester City are just 3 behind the Germans. CSKA Moskva have 3 while Viktoria Plzen have 0. The last round of games will still be interesting though as Bayern host Manchester City and Plzen face CSKA Moskva. I think Bayern will at least draw if not claim victory over the English outfit while CSKA should hold onto their Europa League spot - given that there is a 4 point differential between the two sides in terms of goals scored and conceded.
Any of the top 3 can still win Group E on the other hand as Chelsea have 9 in 1st, Basel have 8 in 2nd, and Schalke have 7 in 3rd. Steaua Bucuresti have picked up 3 points, from 3 draws, but they travel to England for the last game of the group meaning Chelsea will most likely make it through. Between Schalke and Basel though, I am not sure. While the Germans will be at home in Gelsenkirchen, their recent performances both at home and abroad have been less than impressive. On the other side of the coin, Basel have been imperfect but magnificent - specifically against Chelsea. It all depends then on which side shows up for the Swiss: the one that has on two occasions defeated the Blues, or the one who lost at home to Schlake earlier in the group. We'll have to wait and see but I assure you it will be extraordinary!
Onwards to Group F. Strangely, depending on how the results go, a team with 12 points may not be making it to the knock-out round. Presently, Arsenal sit at top with 12 while Dortmund and Napoli have 9. Marseille continue their run of awful form with 0 points. In the unlikely event that Napoli destroy Arsenal in Italy by, say, 5-0, then the Gunners will be out so long as Dortmund don't mess things up in France. However, if Napoli are only able to edge the game in their favor - a far more likely scenario - they will go out with 12 points! Be ready to be amazed.
Groups G and H round out the affair with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona the teams leading the respective groups with 13 and 10. In the former, Zenit and Porto are left to fight over 2nd with 6 and 5. Austria Wien have 2 and should not prove too much of a challenge for the Russians in their last game of Group G. For Porto, they may well feel hard done by the draw which sees them travel to Madrid hoping for 3 points and a miracle. I would pick Madrid and Zenit to go through. As for Group H, Barcelona are not quite free and clear yet. 2nd place AC Milan have 8 while Ajax are on 7 and Celtic have 3. Given that Milan host Ajax while Barca welcome Celtic, I would say the Spaniards and the Italians would be the ones to progress. In fact, even a draw for the Dutch would be a great result, though not enough to get them into the next round.
Hope you've enjoyed the games and keep your eyes open for Europa League action! Names to look for include: Valencia, Ludogorets Razgrad, Salzburg, Rubin Kazan, Fiorentina, Eintracht Frankfurt, Genk, Sevilla, Lyon, Trabzonspor, Tottenham Hotspur, and AZ Alkmaar each of whom either drew or won today putting them at the top of their respective groups.

Champions League 11/26/2013

What a brilliant round of fixtures we saw today! With goals in all but one of the match-ups, let's get right down to business! In the first game of the day, Zenit St. Petersburg were able to tie Atletico Madrid 1-1 in a tight affair in Russia that saw the hosts dominate their guests in terms of possession with 62% of the ball. Zenit also had more opportunities than Atletico though all in all it was a very good game. Atletico continue their unbeaten run as Zenit must wait until the final match of the group-stage to achieve their qualification hopes. Probably the most surprising result was Basel's 1-0 victory in Switzerland over Chelsea to deny the English side a place in the knock-out round at least for today. The hosts waited until the dying minutes of the match to strike through Mohamed Salah in the 87th minute setting up a nail-biting final minutes as the Blues tried to equalize unsuccessfully. The 0-0 draw between Steaua and Schalke in Romania, however, means that any of the top three teams in Group E can make it to the next round depending on the results of the final group games which will poise Schalke against Basel and Chelsea welcoming Steaua to England. Wrapping up Group G really quickly, Porto tied 1-1 with Austria Wien meaning the Austrians have no hope of progressing while Zenit and Porto will be eying one another for the 2nd position spot into the next round. Up in Scotland, Celtic essentially banged their head into a wall for 90 minutes as attempt after attempt went wanting and AC Milan struck three times to sink the B'hoys. In the other Group H fixture, Ajax were surprising victors over Barcelona in an affair in Amsterdam that ended 2-1 for the Dutch. In the process, Ajax knocked Celtic out of contention and set-up a mouth-watering final match with Milan-Barca and Ajax-Celtic deciding who will make it out of this contentious group. Last but certainly not least: Group F. With the likes of Arsenal, Dortmund, and Napoli, it was always going to be a close one and it has proved nothing less! As Marseille continued their dismal form, going 5 games without securing a single point in the table, Arsenal completed a 2-0 match-up against the French side. In the other match-up, Dortmund and Napoli put on a grand display with the Germans securing a 3-1 victory over their Italian competitors. The result means that Arsenal take poll position at 12 points as Dortmund and Napoli each have 9. Depending on how the last set of games go, any of the three teams may well make it through. Given their terrible form thus far, Dortmund should feel confident going to Marseille on December 11th while Napoli will hope that they perform better at home when they host Arsenal on the same day. Keep an eye out for the games coming tomorrow!

Champions League Leading Up to Thanksgiving! (11/25/2013)

After all of the exciting international action, we return to the club level with the latest round of the Champions League taking place tomorrow, Tuesday the 26th. The match-ups are thrilling as always and have the potential of deciding who we'll see in the knock-out rounds. Russia's Zenit St. Petersburg greet Atletico Madrid of Spain in a match-up between Group G's top two. Having said that, the 7 point gap between Madrid who are up top and Zenit who presently hold 2nd contributes to the must-win nature of the match: Portugal's Porto will be hosting Austria Wein in a game that should go the way of the Portuguese. If that is the case and the Spaniards claim victory in Russia, the table would have Madrid untouchable with 15 points and Porto in 2nd with 7. Austria Wein are playing for pride at this point with just a point to their name as a loss for Zenit would drop them to 3rd with just 5 points and a game to play.
Over in Group E, Switzerland's Basel host England's giants Chelsea. Despite the imperfect nature of Chelsea's qualification campaign up to this point, they sit top of the group with 3 points over 2nd place Schalke. Basel, in 3rd, have 5 while 4th position Steaua Bucuresti have 2. The home field advantage should help the Swiss side, though I cannot see them overpowering the Blues. Over in Romania, Steaua will hope for a better performance against Germany's Schalke at home though the latter side are arguably the favorites.
Group H's bottom of the table Celtic will hope to put on a show in Glasgow when they face Italy's AC Milan. Though typically better at home, I can't help but feel the Scots will fall to the power of the Italians. Nevertheless, the hope of qualification may spur Celtic to victory - 3 points and a Barcelona victory against Ajax would position Celtic in 2nd a point above Milan. I doubt it'll happen but I'll be cheering for them! Group leaders Barcelona sit tidy with 10 points and should play well in Holland when they face-off against 3rd position Ajax who have 4.
Rounding up the action tomorrow, Group F has co-leaders Arsenal taking on bottom-of-the-table Marseille at home in England. With 0 points up to this point, I think the French side would be incredibly lucky to get through the 90 minutes with a draw. The other side with 9 points, Napoli, travel to Germany as they face 3rd place Dortmund who have 6. Victory for the Germans would move them up to at least 2nd thanks to a superior goal difference than their Italian counterparts. With that in mind, the performance over the weekend by the Gelsenkirchen side was not confidence-inspiring: losing 3-0 at home to Bayern Munich! I would not say that Napoli are quite at Bayern's level, and their recent performances have been less than ideal. Based on the team-sheets, the continued losses of Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer, and Neven Subotic will hurt the Germans - particularly defensively. At the same time, Marek Hamsik's injury on the Napoli side decreases their goal-scoring options. In the end, the Italians arguably have a greater depth in terms of goal-scoring, but the match will be decided by the defenses. Enjoy the games and look for more tomorrow!

International Deciders Tomorrow: 11/18/2013

Tomorrow we'll get the latest qualification results for next year's World Cup in Brazil. Excited? You should be! With the likes of Egypt facing Ghana, France taking on Ukraine, Sweden and Portugal playing after Croatia and Iceland kick-off; Romania vs. Greece and Algeria against Burkina Faso round out the fixtures. In the first of the games, Egypt look incredibly unlikely to progress following a disastrous performance in Ghana saw them lose 6-1! Even if Ghana get cocky and Egypt excel in the home field atmosphere, both of which are unlikely, I just can't see the Pharaohs powering 5 goals in unanswered. If they somehow manage it, it'll be a miracle of epic proportions to say the least.
As for the France-Ukraine game, the Eastern Europeans put in a good shift at home. While that is true, if they lose any of their intensity, panache, and fighting spirit, it will mean the end for their World Cup hopes. A 2-0 lead is great to have, it's true. But the chances of France just rolling over are slim to none. So long as the defense coalesces and the likes of Ribery, Giroud, Benzema, and (hopefully) Mathieu Valbuena are in form, Les Bleus should be able to pull away with a result.
Returning to Africa, Algeria's match with Burkina Faso in Algeria should be a proper affair with the home side needing 2 goals unanswered to seal their way to the next round. Burkina Faso have performed admirably thus far but I would love to see a North African side make it to the World Cup next year.
Romania's hosting of their match with Greece may only bring more pain as improvements have been few and far between for the Eastern Europeans after their 3-1 defeat in Greece. The fighting intensity that we saw from the Greeks, led by Mitroglou and Samaras, will likely be even more evident given that Romania have a deficit to make up.
While many will be watching the Sweden-Portugal game, I would like to focus on the Croatia vs. Iceland game momentarily. Not because I think it will have the star-studded talents and so on but because I enjoy watching two sides with nothing to lose and few preconceived notions muddling their supporters' minds. The home field advantage will probably give the likes of Modric, Mandzukic, and Srna the inspiration to excel. Having said that, the Icelanders are undefeated going back to their friendly against the Faroe Islands which ended 1-0 in their favor (going back to August 14, 2013). Croatia's competition has arguably been sterner with the likes of Belgium and Scotland leaving a sour taste in their mouths. While my heart wants Iceland to win, I have to tip my hat to the Croatians: individual prowess should come together at home for the good of the nation.
Last but certainly not least, Sweden vs. Portugal. Is it bad that I am not excited for this match? That's not to say that I don't think it'll be worth watching. I do, however, find the chronic diving underwhelming. Sweden at home have not lost (except to Germany, but come on, a 5-3 scoreline?) extending back to June 11th at least. With Portugal's defensive frailty and the likes of Ibrahimovic, Elmander, and Kallstrom on-form; I don't mind suggesting the Northern Europeans sink the Portuguese. Except for that Cristiano Ronaldo problem. Raul Meireles will undoubtedly be influential, but Ronaldo and all of his tricks and talent will decide whether Portugal make it or not. Hopefully the officials don't let him get away with all of the farcical antics this time around - but I also hope the Swedes button down on him much as they did the first leg. Enjoy the games!

Rounding up in Africa Qualifying: 11/16/2013

Amidst all of the excitement of European and South American qualification, it is important not to forget the African nations that faced off for the right to be represented in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Sealing their fates today were Nigeria and Ethiopia as well as Senegal and the Ivory Coast. In the first match-up, Nigeria smoothly saw off their opponents by 2-0 in the second leg following a 2-1 victory by the Nigerians in Ethiopia. While there is certainly a great deal of necessary improvements that will have to be put into effect if Nigeria are to get anywhere in South America, they may celebrate tonight over a job well done. As for the match between Senegal and Ivory Coast, the 1-3 scoreline in the first leg positioned the Elephants perfectly to make it through to the World stage. All that was required of them was that they see off the challenges of Senegal in the match that took place in Morocco's city of Casablanca. While the 1st half went by relatively uneventful, there was pause for concern following substitute Moussa Sow's 77th minute penalty conversion gave the Senegalese the lead. Despite the motivation to press on and grab a second, it was actually Ivory Coast who scored, in the 4th minute of stoppage time in the 2nd half, to sink Senegal's chances of qualifying and ensure their own advance to next year's World Cup!

International Showdowns! November 15th 2013

Today we have a full slate of games with the likes of Iceland v.s. Croatia opening the afternoon. Arguably the most anticipated match, between Portugal and Sweden, begins shortly thereafter. Ukraine will then welcome France as Greece and Romania play as well. As far as my thoughts on the match-ups are concerned, I would love nothing more than to see Iceland make it through with a solid performance at home. Both sides have quality striking talent and the Northern Europeans will be hoping to notch their first victory against the Croatians in what is sure to be a hard-fought match. The pedigree of the Croatians, and the experience of their defensive line, may be too much for the Icelanders.
On to the game between Portugal and Sweden where the latter side have historically managed well against their hosts this time around. The Swedish defense will have to put in a double shift if they are to have any hope of seeing of their Southern European competition. At the same time, the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Johan Elmander, and Anders Svensson will test the Portuguese who are notoriously fickle in their performances. I think Portugal will take the lead at home but it'll be a whole different contest in Sweden.
Ukraine-France meanwhile will likely be more straightforward with the French favorites in progressing to the tournament in Brazil. The lack of consistent goal-scoring talent in the Ukrainian side may be their downfall - having said that many of the players are very familiar with one another domestically. Be that as it may, if Olivier Giroud and Franck Ribery are "on," France should have the contest in the bag. My only concern is over France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who took quite a knock recently. If he is in form, France's goal should be secure. Otherwise, Ukraine might get lucky!
Last but not least, Greece v.s. Romania showcases two of the dark-horses when it comes to the World Cup next year. Neither side are well-known for their goal-scoring, and with Greece holding the home field advantage in the first leg, I could see them getting their noses in front. Defensively, Greece arguably have the advantage and with options in front of goal including Giorgos Karagounis, Theofanis Gekas, and Dimitris Salpingidis; I'll tip them to claim the spot though it'll be tight. Enjoy the games!

Under-17 Final: November 9th 2013

Following a tense second half that followed the pattern of the previous post, Nigeria were able to secure their position in the game against Mexico through Kelechi Iheanacho in the 56th minute and Musa Muhammed in the 81st. 3-0 at the death. Was it the best game ever? Well, it was certainly a good one as the Africans became the 4-time winners of the U-17 tournament against, at the time, holders Mexico who were arguably somewhat depleted. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful game to watch and a great tournament in the United Arab Emirates. Hope you all enjoyed it!

Under-17 World Cup Update: November 8th 2013

What a day for football. With the likes of Sweden and Argentina showcasing their talent, we have a lot to look forward to as Valmir Berisha of Sweden single-handedly obliterated the South American opposition. Striking early and often, the game got off to a flying start with a goal in the 7th minute from the Scandinavian. Carlos Strandberg made it 2-0 13 minutes later with a wonderfully worked goal as Berisha popped one in the 24th minute to make it 3 to the good. Just before the half Argentina's Lucio Compagnucci struck to decrease the deficit by one although the second half performance was reminiscent of trench warfare - progress was slow and the deathblow was dealt in the 57th minute. Valmir Berisha, then, has announced himself to the world stage though it should be noted that the Swedes were physically aggressive with over 30 fouls committed and a dearth of possession. The fact that the Argentines had 62% of possession yet failed to score more than once illustrates their lack of depth as several players were unavailable through suspension. The 4-1 scoreline serves to whet the appetite for the Final performance between Nigeria and Mexico. The fact that there was an own goal in the 9th minute - committed by an unfortunate Erick Aguirre - should prompt further goals as neither side will want to fall short at this stage. While the South Americans remain behind into the 40th minute, they have looked the marginally better side despite the own goal. Nigeria are only in this because of their phenomenal goal-keeper Dele Alampasu. Having made save after save, if he doesn't start getting any help from his defenders - or strikers for that matter - Mexico should draw level. Check back later for the result!

Europa League Update: November 7th 2013

After the latest fixtures, the Europa League tables are starting to shape up quite nicely. In Group A the likes of Valencia and Swansea look relatively secure in their qualification hopes with 9 and 8 points respectively in comparison to St. Gallen's 3 and Kuban Krasnodar's 2. Group B is being absolutely dominated by a side few will have heard of: Bulgarian side Ludrogorets Razgrad with an astonishing 10 points from 4 games played! Second place is held somewhat firmly by PSV Eindhoven who would be very surprised not to qualify from this group. The Dutch side have 7 points. Chornomorets Odesa and Dinamo Zagreb round out the group with 4 and 1 points each. On to Group C where Salzburg have fought hard for their place at the top with a perfect 12 points to their name - three above closest competitors Esbjerg who have 9 points. Elfsborg and Standard de Liege have had abysmal campaigns this year with a total of 2 points between the two of them. As for Group D, Rubin Kazan have gone quite clear at the top with 10 points - 5 over 2nd place Wigan Athletic. The English side have been severely tested by the likes of Zulte Waregem and Maribor who have 4 and 3 respectively so I would expect some hard fought games coming up in the not too distant future as the fate of the group is decided. Group E has had the opposite story: Fiorentina have been perfect with 12 points, 2nd place Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk on 9, and Pandurii Targu Jiu and Pacos de Ferreira with 1 each. The only group with a German side at the top, Group F has Eintracht Frankfurt fighting to stay above water with 9 points while the hounds are right on their heels: Maccabi Tel-Aviv have 7, APOEL have earned 4 points, and - rather surprisingly - Bordeaux are at the bottom of the table with just 3 points! The +6 goal difference that the Germans have accrued means that it will take something special for them to not at the very least qualify from this group. Over in Group G Genk of Belgium and Dynamo Kyiv of Russia look like the best bets to get through with 8 and 7. Having said that, if Thun and Rapid Wien take their games up a notch, we might see a spectacular ending to this group. The only other group where a German side have any chance of making it through is Group H where Sevilla currently lead with 8 and Slovan Liberec (of the Czech Republic) have 6. Freiburg sit 3rd with 3 points - within striking distance as they face the Czechs in the Czech Republic and Sevilla in Germany. No one said it was an ideal situation! We'll have to wait and see. Portugal's Estoril Praia sit bottom with 2 points. Onwards to Group I! While not much of a surprise, Real Betis and Olympique Lyon have been unconvincing in getting to their 1st and 2nd positions. While admittedly undefeated each, they have consistently performed in some of the most boring games in the tournament. Portuguese side Vitoria scored 4 in a thorough demolition of bottom of the table Croatian side Rijeka, Lyon and Betis have scored a goal a game - drawing and just barely defeating the bottom of the table side. While I would love to see nothing more than Vitoria make it through - they do have a decent goal difference - at the expense of Lyon, chances are that won't happen. But wouldn't it be great? Groups J, K, and L are each relatively straightforward affairs with the usual suspects performing at or above expectations. In Group J, Trabzonspor of Turkey have remained undefeated alongside 2nd place Lazio as 3rd place Apollon Limassol will be hoping for a miracle with a 4 point gap between themselves and the teams on either side of them: Legia Warszawa have 0 in 4th position. Group K has lived up to predictions with Tottenham Hotspur claiming an 8 goal difference and a perfect 12. Anji Makhachkala have been making a name for themselves as they pick up the scraps - although they still have to face Spurs in England (after losing 0-2 at home in Russia). Be that as it may, they should get at least a point from hosting Moldovan side FC Sheriff. Bottom of the table Tromso with 1 point are left to fight for pride and wonder about what might have been. Last but certainly not least, Group L! Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and PAOK of Greece have moved well in establishing themselves in the group with 8 points each and a +2 goal difference. On the other hand, Maccabi Haifa and Shakhtar Karagandy will most likely be in a hurry to forget this international season since neither of them have shown any sign of improving on their lackluster performances thus far. Make sure to try to catch some of the games!

Champions League November 6th 2013

More thrilling action today as Porto will be hoping for more success than their Portuguese counterparts Benfica had yesterday. They face off against Zenit St. Petersburg who have proven staunch opponents in the past several meetings between the two sides. I would tip the Russians to seize victory based on their record thus far in the competition as they stand a point above the Portuguese side. Atletico Madrid's match against Austria Wein should be a far more straightforward affair with at least 1 goal separating the two sides. The injuries on both sides might make for a tentative match-up though the hopeful return of Leo Baptistao should prove positive for the Spaniards as he has found goal once in 5 games for the Madrid side. The likes of Diego Costa, Arda Turan, and Gabi should be enough to swing the game in Atletico's favor. Barcelona-Milan will likely be a critical affair with 3 points for the Spaniards arguably sufficient to get them through to the next round. 3 for Milan would put them at the top of the group. I would suggest a draw or a Milan victory given the injury problems Barca have gone through with Isaac Cuenca, Ibrahim Afellay, and Jordi Alba side-lined and Adriano and Gerard Pique operating at less than 100% efficiency. Nevertheless, the likes of Messi and Neymar alone should give Milan a run for their money. A strong defense will be critical for the Italians. Dortmund v.s. Arsenal is a crucial showdown in Group F with the two and Napoli tied at 6 points each. If Marseille have any hope of putting in a good showing this year internationally, they will have to really impress in Italy as they travel to fight Napoli. Their odds are not good, shall we say. Returning to the bout in Germany, Arsenal will be hard pressed after losing in England to the Germans. Injuries on both sides will force both coaches to reconsider their tactics with the likes of Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Jack Wilshere missing for Arsenal alone. Sebastian Kehl, Lukasz Piszczek, Ilkay Gundogan, Mats Hummels, and Marcel Schmelzer are all at various fitness levels for Dortmund. My prediction is that Dortmund will either claim victory or settle for a draw. The arguable minnows of Group E, Basel's match against Steaua Bucuresti should see at least a goal as the return of Valentin Stocker bodes well for the Swiss side. The fact that 3 points would put Basel into contention for a qualification spot should motivate them to success at home. As for the other Group E match-up, Chelsea will be expecting victory at home despite the loss of Fernando Torres and Ryan Bertrand. Their German opponents Schalke will be missing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jefferson Farfan; although whispers of Adam Szalai, Roman Neustadter, and Kyriakos Papadopolous putting in a shift will excite Gelsenkirchen fans. At the end of the day, Chelsea should win the match by a goal. Celtic's road game against Ajax is relatively difficult to call with both sides missing players such as creative talent Bojan Krkic and defensive stalwarts Adam Matthews and Steven Mouyokolo. I think the home field advantage might tip the affair in the Dutch side's favor as the Scots are notoriously poor performers abroad. Enjoy the games!

Champions League 11/5/2013

Some delightful matches taking place today as Plzen host Bayern Munich; Juventus v.s. Real Madrid; Kobenhavn take on Galatasaray; Paris St. Germain against Anderlecht; Shakhtar Donetsk face-off against Bayer Leverkusen; Olympiacos greet Benfica; Real Sociedad invite Manchester United to Spain; and Manchester City welcome CSKA Moskva to Northern England. I predict that Bayern will seize victory in the Czech Republic while Juve may meet their match in Real Madrid - it'll be a close game but the Spaniards might just have too much fire-power. Kobenhavn - Galatasaray will likely be a tight affair though the Turkish side should claim victory despite the home field advantage of the Danish hosts. PSG v.s. Anderlecht should be a straightforward match with the French side outgunning and outmaneuvering their guests. Shakhtar Donetsk's game with Bayer Leverkusen will be close, I could see the two sides ending level though there should be at least one goal. As Olympiacos face Portuguese side Benfica, they will likely miss the presence of Michael Olaitan up top though their defensive stalwarts remain in place to squeak out a tense draw with the visiting Portuguese club. The fact that Olympiacos is the make-or-break point on Benfica's title hopes was not lost on their players - the two sides are level on 4 points with PSG well clear in the group. The game-changer will arguably be Kostas Mitroglou: if he can add to his goal tally, the Greeks may very well pull clear. On the other hand, if the Portuguese can shut him down and get their strikers in order, it may be a feeding frenzy. Manchester United should secure an additional three points in their game at Real Sociedad despite the long list of injuries for the Red Devils. Last but certainly not least, Manchester City's game against CSKA Moskva should be another instance in which a Manchester side delivers the three points. The number of injuries on both sides suggest that the team with the greater depth will move forward. At the same time, I would love to see Rasmus Elm turn-on for the Russian side. Enjoy the games!

Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates!

Fascinating stuff in Al Ain, U.A.E. as a promising Honduras side faced off against Sweden securing an early lead in the 37th minute through Brayan Velasquez. Despite the lead going into the half, the Hondurans had a perplexing game - they managed no corners while conceding 10 to the Swedes as well as being on the losing side possession-wise. Nevertheless, it took until the 68th minute for the Scandinavians to equalize, through Erdal Rakip. 6 minutes later, the northern Europeans made it 1-2 following Valmir Berisha's goal in the 74th minute. What is up next? Well, titans of the U-17 world Brazil and Mexico faced-off in Dubai requiring a penalty shoot-out to divide the two. A flurry of goals late into the second half made for a thrilling finish following a tense opening 45 minutes. Ivan Ochoa - who plays for Pachuca CF in Mexico - gave the Central Americans the lead in the 80th minute. The Mexicans' hold on the lead quickly escaped their grasp as Brazil's Nathan, on the team sheet for Atletico Paranaense in his homeland, struck home following last-ditch defending from Mexico's keeper Raul Gudino who plays with Chivas Guadalajara of Mexico. As regulation time ended, the game was to be decided by penalties. Two saves by Mexico's Gudino and the general ineffectiveness of Brazil's goalie Marcos during the shoot-out culminated in Alejandro Diaz's converted penalty which clenched victory for the Central Americans. Tomorrow, Argentina and Ivory Coast take the field before Uruguay and Nigeria's showdown - both in the city of Sharjah. Make sure to catch what are sure to be fantastic displays of football!

Champions League Update 10/24/2013

After the last round of games, the group standings are beginning to develop. We have Group A where Manchester United  have taken poll position with 7 points from 3 games. Bayer Leverkusen are in second with 6 while Shakhtar Donetsk are 2 points behind them with Real Sociedad having a terrible time of things with 0 from 3 games played. Group B is being dominated by Real Madrid who are perfect with 3 wins from 3 games. With 9 points, they are 5 points above closest competition Galatasaray with Juventus sitting third with 2 points to their name - just above Kobenhavn with 1 point. Group C is relatively tight despite PSG's perfect start - another 9 point leader - with Olympiacos and Benfica tied with 4 points though Anderlecht have scored no goals, and earned no points. Group D is being dominated by Bayern Munich with 9 points while Manchester City have 6 and CSKA Moskva have 3. Viktoria Plzen have scored, but have been unsuccessful in their efforts at accruing points. Group E is quite tight with Chelsea and Schalke level on 6 points a piece while Basel have 4 and Steaua Bucuresti have 1 to their name. Group F is arguably the closest group of all with three teams, that is right, THREE taking 6 points from their first three games. Whether this serves as a measure of inconsistency or just the difficulty of the group is up for debate but Dortmund, Arsenal, and Napoli each have 6. Marseille meanwhile, well they have 0. Though they have scored twice in the course of the past three matches, the 7 goals lined up against them do not bode well for the side moving forward in the group. As for Group G, not necessarily surprising is the fact that Atletico Madrid have made their presence felt with a perfect start to their campaign: 9 points in 3 matches. Equally unsurprising is the fact that Zenit and Porto have been left to fight over second place with Austria Wien seemingly down for the count with a point at this stage. The Russians have 4 while the Portuguese side have 3. Last but certainly not least, Group H. Barcelona have struggled to the top with 7 points, but they are in no way comfortable there with AC Milan 2 points behind them and Celtic within striking distance if things line up right. Even Ajax, in last place with a single point could potentially still qualify if all goes to perfection for the Dutch side. We'll have to see! All I know is that I hope the action keeps coming because it has been truly thrilling.

Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti - 2013

Well some of you may not have heard about the championships taking place up until the 28th of September but the Beach Soccer World Cup was positively riveting. All the big names were there - Spain, Brazil, and Argentina for instance - but also hosts Tahiti and smaller soccer powers such as Japan, Iran, and El Salvador. To sum up: it made for a great contest with Russia making it through the Quarter- and Semi-Finals with a total of 11 goals, allowing 8, before they met Spain in the Final. Somewhat surprisingly, the Russians went on to dominate the Spaniards with a 2nd period performance that ended 1-3 after an opening period that saw several opportunities but no goals. The Russians proceeded to only cement their lead with 2 more goals in the 3rd period making it a 5-1 scoreline as the final whistle blew - horrible for a Spanish side that had edged the likes of El Salvador and Brazil on their way to the Final. Brazil's 4-3 encounter with Japan was also entertaining though I have to admit that I was cheering for the Japanese by the end of it! Tahiti's 6-1 destruction of Argentina in the Quarter-Finals was the largest blow-out in the finals competition with the South Americans completely falling apart in the 3rd period of the game - allowing 5 goals. The fact that they were only beaten by the eventual winners and lost to Brazil on penalties points to a great potential future for the tiny island nation. The 7-7 3rd-place match was, in my opinion, far more enthralling than the Final match itself but I still think the tournament as a whole was absolutely fantastic. Hope you all enjoyed it as well!

Champions League highlights.

Well we are up and running again with international club football as there were some huge surprises in the opening round of fixtures! Playing at home to Chelsea in England, one would be forgiven for assuming that the Blues would crush the Swiss competition put on by FC Basel. You'd be wrong of course as the minnows - though Europa League semi-finalists last year - stunned the home side with a 2-1 margin. The almost unknown talents of Mohamed Salah and Marco Streller put the Swiss side on the right road despite the fact that the London side had scored the only goal of the 1st half through Emboaba Oscar with a clean right-footed strike. Elsewhere, Swedish-born Johan Wiland arguably had the best game of his career as Danish side Kobenhavn managed to salvage a point from their match-up against Italian giants Juventus. Thanks to Nicolai Jorgensen's 14th minute goal the Danes got off to a fantastic start though they eventually succumbed to Fabio Quagliarella's deadly foot in the 54th minute. Over in Greece Olympiacos were thrashed badly by their French opponents PSG though they did not go quietly. While the phenomenal Edison Cavani got the scoring started in the 19th minute, Vladimir Weiss' equalizer for the Greeks in the 25th minute was a thing of pure beauty. Bypassing two defending players on his way to goal, his eventual strike was just about as sweet as the build-up to it. Nevertheless, PSG had shaken off their shock by the 2nd half as Thiago Motta struck twice - in the 68th and 73rd minutes - before Marquinhos tacked on a 4th in the 86th minute of play. While not a 4-1 victory, Manchester United's 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen was also entertaining besides the fact that it was the game where Wayne Rooney struck his 200th goal. It took 22 minutes for the goal tab to be broken but finally it was with Rooney volleying through off of a nice cross from Patrice Evra. Capitalizing on United's failure only moments before, Leverkusen managed to equalize in the 54th minute through Simon Rolfes after a sweet layoff from Son Heung-Min. 5 minutes later the red devils were again on a high though as Robin Van Persie sliced home from a golden opportunity courtesy of Antonio Valencia. By the 70th minute things were looking even rosier for United as Rooney struck once more following a long goal kick from De Gea and an interesting header from Emir Spahic. Only to rub salt in the wounds, Valencia proceeded to make it 4 for the good in the 79th minute after an amazing breakthrough with pace. For Leverkusen's pride, defender Omer Toprak did get them a 2nd in the 88th minute following lousy defending on United's part.

The end of the Transfer Window

Well, I am sure we have all heard the rumors; truth be told it was only a matter of time... At long last Florian Thauvin made his move from Lille to Marseille after a phenomenal U-20 World Cup performance as well as 10 goals for Bastia in the 2012-2013 campaign. My bet is that the attacking midfielder will continue to show his acumen as he moves up the ladder of world football. Alongside Thauvin, Mario Lemina also made a move to Marseille following some good football in Lorient and on the international stage. Then there was the Gareth Bale matter with the Welshman finally making his way over to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for who knows how much money. Also of interest to those keeping an eye on the Premier League? Perhaps you have heard of the likes of Mesut Ozil or Marouane Fellaini? The former has finally bid auf wiedersehen to Real Madrid as Ozil makes his way to Arsenal! As for the latter, Fellaini has decided to seek greener pastures in a move from Everton to Manchester United. Manchester City fans also have things to be happy about though as veteran defender Martin Demichelis has left Malaga for the English side. Over in Italy, Kaka will be hoping to reinvigorate his career at AC Milan under the command of Massimiliano Allegri after departing Real Madrid. Last but not least, Liverpool's horde of acquisitions include Frenchman Mamadou Sakho from PSG, a biblical touch from Victor Moses formerly of Chelsea, and Sporting Lisbon's Tiago Ilori. If you happen to be an Everton fan who is still hurting from Fellaini's departure you can take heart in the fact that Belgian teammate Romelu Lukaku has made his way to the club on loan from Chelsea as well as Gareth Barry who was loaned from Manchester City and James McCarthy who was nabbed from Wigan. Leaving Everton with Fellaini is Victor Anichebe who was sold to West Brom. Hope these last minute signings are getting you pumped for the upcoming season!

Champions League latest

Well the draw for the group stage of this year's iteration of the Champions League tournament has been announced and it appears as though we will have exciting action very early on! While Group A is relatively mundane, we have Manchester United grouped with the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk, Real Sociedad, and Bayer Leverkusen. I'm going to step out on a limb here and say that United are probably favorites to win the group with either Leverkusen or Donetsk grabbing second place. Personally, I'd love to see the Ukrainians get through but I'll say Leverkusen most likely wins that race though it will be close. Last but not least, Real Sociedad will probably show well for themselves but finishing fourth in the Spanish league isn't quite up to standard as far as international competitions are concerned. Their squad depth may be an issue as they will be relying heavily on the likes of Claudio Bravo in goal and Carlos Vela up top.
Moving on to Group B now, we have Real Madrid and Juventus alongside Galatasaray and Kobenhavn of Denmark. As far as this group is concerned, if Real and Juve are not the two teams qualifying, it will be considered an upset. Having said that, I pick the Turkish side Galatasaray as the team to do it as they have quality players and the belief to punch above their weight. Honestly though, I think Juventus will take top honors as Real Madrid settle for second. While it would be nice to see the Danes take a point or three from this round of matches, such results would be surprising given the pedigree of their competitors.
Group C may be one of the closer ones with Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain my picks at advancing at the expense of Olympiacos and Anderlecht. As much as I would enjoy a close race, I think PSG might get their act together this season which leaves Benfica as the side that might under-perform. If that is the case, I could see the Greeks of Olympiacos under the leadership of Avraam Papadopoulos and coach Jose Miguel Gonzalez Martin del Campo - otherwise known as Michel. Though Olympiacos don't have the big names, their squad should be put together well enough to earn some points. As for Anderlecht, the Belgian side may have it tough this year on the international stage. Though it would be great if the likes of Sacha Kljestan and Guillaume Gillet could step up and pull the team through, the lack of big talent may leave them dreaming of better years.
Onwards to Group D where defending champions Bayern Munich face Manchester City, CSKA Moskva, and Viktoria Plzen. While Bayern and City are the obvious picks of this group, I would be very surprised if CSKA did not bloody a few noses. Czech side Viktoria Plzen may have a hard time of it though.
As for Group E, the likes of Chelsea, Schalke, and Basel make this group one to watch while Steaua Bucuresti may find life difficult away from Romania. Chelsea and Schalke are my picks to go through however if either side under-estimates Basel, it will be to their peril.
Group F is another one of the closer groups this year as Arsenal, Dortmund, Marseille, and Napoli have been drawn together. Though Marseille may be a formidable side in France, I am not sure if this will be their year internationally. Though it would be a miracle to recreate their 1993 run, I think they would have the right to be ecstatic if they even got out of the group. As for Arsenal, they might also have a hard time of it though if Szczesny, Vermaelen, and Mertesacker can keep the goal clean; it will just be down to the likes of Rosicky, Podolski, Walcott and company to score at the other end for them to do just fine. Nevertheless, my choices for teams to make it out of the group are Napoli and Dortmund though the Germans may well fall if they don't get their heads on right.
Almost done here as Group G should be straightforward with Atletico Madrid and Porto my choices of getting through while Zenit and Austria Wien are kicked out. Though the Russians should put up a decent fight at home, I think the Iberians may be too much for them. Austria Wien on the other hand should consider themselves lucky if they register a single victory.
Last but not least, Group H is where all the champions of yester-year have congregated: Barcelona and Milan are probably first choice picks as Ajax and Celtic will look forward to their home games and dread leaving their borders. Hope you are excited for the first matches!

Thrilling stuff in Scotland!

Sorry for the long hiatus away from the blog-posting! What a brilliant second-leg performance we were treated to today as Celtic took on Shakhter Karagandy in Champions League qualifying. Though the Kazakh side performed admirably at home in the first leg, winning 2-0, the Scottish Champions were noticeably not at their best. On the other hand, returning to Glasgow they really kicked things into a higher gear though the scoring did not start getting toasty until the 2nd half. While Kris Commons did put away his opportunity, starting just into stoppage time of the 1st half, it was really in the 2nd where Celtic began to truly dominate. Striking home off his left foot, Commons put the first goal away beautifully to give the hosts a confidence booster going into the locker rooms. Coming out of the gates, Georgios Samaras was the man to bring Celtic level in the 47th minute. While the defensive efforts on the part of Karagandy were admirable, they eventually withered under the opposition of the Scottish side. In the first minute of stoppage time of the 2nd half, James Forrest was the man on form with a sweet strike off of his right foot. This third goal then was the nail in the coffin of the dreams of the Kazakhs as far as European competition is concerned. More later! Hope you enjoyed the games today.

U-17 European Championship

Well it has been a long and winding road but it looks as though we are approaching the end. Hosts Slovakia were lucky enough to make it to the Semi-Finals before being bested by the Italians in a 0-2 encounter. Mario Pugliese's 3rd minute opener probably left a bad taste in the host's mouth, however despite several opportunities the Slovakians could never get a hold of the game. Elio Capradossi's 64th minute goal put the last nail in the coffin as Italy progressed to their first ever Euro U-17 Final and the hosts were left wondering about what might have been. As for the other Semi-Final match-up, as I post this Russia and Sweden are presently tied goalless as they approach the end of the 1st half with equal efforts though the closest chance thus far came from Sweden's Erdal Rakip. Check back later for my post on the Final which will take place on May 17th. Enjoy the games!

Last step to the Final(s)

The Final matches of the Champions and Europa Leagues have been decided and we can expect some absolutely golden performances! While it is going to be an all-German affair in the Champions League, Bayern and Dortmund should give us a positively exhilarating match - so long as they stick to the attacking football that has led them this far. While I wouldn't put it past the north-westerners to go for broke, I think the Bavarians will be too much for Dortmund. Having said that, it should be a close match but expect Lewandowski to be pinned down by the Bayern defense: they realize after both domestic and international appearances that he is the attacking linchpin of the Dortmund side.

Then there is the Europa League Final which pits Benfica of Portugal against Chelsea of England. Saying that Chelsea are the favorites in this tie is an understatement as the big-money club have the bigger players, the better pedigree, and the hunger to win at least one piece of silverware this year since they have lost their domestic opportunities. Nevertheless, the Portuguese shouldn't just roll over for the London side. The atmosphere will be a lively one in Amsterdam and the two sides should put on a decent display. While Benfica technically have the better record of the two sides thus far, Chelsea's goal-scoring prowess is slightly better than Benfica's. Despite the fact that Chelsea have had a few more chances than Benfica have doesn't really  play into it as the Portuguese have actually done more with less. Having said that, Benfica will have to close down the opportunities count for the Blues while making a few of their own! Oscar Cardozo will have to be on terrific form - both as goal-scorer and shot-creator - if Benfica hope to have any chance of taking the title. Defensively, the Portuguese side will also have to shutdown the likes of Fernando Torres, Victor Moses, and David Luiz if they are to have any chance of winning the tie. Lima and Rodrigo for Benfica will also have to pitch in as far as chance-creation goes while Juan Mata and Eden Hazard (both of Chelsea) will hope for exceptional games. If Frank Lampard is on form on the night, Chelsea will at least get a goal. One way or the other though, the Blues will be my reluctant pick to win. Hope you enjoy the games!

Looking forward to this weekend

Well, doubtlessly one of the biggest games this weekend takes place in Spain as Atletico Madrid greet cross-town rivals Real Madrid in what is sure to be an intense game, particularly if Cristiano Ronaldo is ruled out for the match! Prior to this match-up, Athletic will be taking on Barcelona in what will hopefully be an interesting game but I cannot really predict how it will turn out. Either Barca will turn on to get the Champions League beating out of their minds or they will continue in their downward spiral. Over in France, Lyon will be meeting St. Etienne as Evian welcome PSG. In theory both of these games should be pretty straight-forward but you never know, Evian's home advantage may inspire them to a draw! As for Portugal, the majority of the action involves the two sides chasing league leaders Benfica - Porto and Sporting Lisbon. While the northern team greet Setubal, in what should be 3 points for the hosts; Sporting may be challenged by Nacional despite being at home. As for the Italian league, just about all of the big names are in action as Roma welcome Siena to the capital for what I would think would be a win for the home side. While the grudge match between Torino and Juventus should be action-packed, I tip the visitors to win as their class is simply too much. Milan v.s. Catania should end in the host's favor Fiorentina, Lazio, and Inter Milan should beat their respective competition: Sampdoria, Parma, and Palermo. Last but not least, Napoli should manage their match against Pescara. On to Germany now! While Dusseldorf face on fire Dortmund, Schalke will have to contend with Hamburg in Gelsenkirchen. Finally, England will see Manchester City play for pride against West Ham as Tottenham face Wigan and Newcastle and Liverpool fight it out in Newcastle. The other prize fight will be between league victors Manchester United and their hosts Arsenal. Then, of course, there is Chelsea v.s. Swansea which should not be too hard for the Blues.

Latest from the Europa League!

Well we have two very close games on our hands as Fenerbahce were able to make it 1-0 against Benfica in Turkey while Basel were edged 1-2 by visiting Chelsea. Though it is true that the margins of these scorelines can be easily overturned, Chelsea's 1st leg against Basel was remarkably close. The opportunities were about level though the Blues had a slight advantage. Despite Victor Moses' 12th minute goal, the English side were absolutely wasteful of their chances. While Yann Sommer, Basel's keeper, played a good game, the real reason the margin was not greater was Chelsea's complacency. Having said that, Fabian Schar slotted home in the 87th minute from the penalty spot to equalize in a bit of luck for the Swiss side. At least, that is what it seemed like until the 4th minute of stoppage time of the 2nd half when David Luiz pulled a rabbit out of his hat: he struck a wonderful free-kick that found its way to goal. As for the game in Turkey, Benfica really should have gone for goal as much as they fouled: committing 17 of the latter, they only had 2 real chances. That, however, is a side story to the match. More significant was the fact that Fenerbahce struck the posts not once or twice but thrice - including a penalty opportunity that the Turks really should have put away. Nevertheless, the home side maintained their motivation and found goal in the 72nd minute through Egemen Korkmaz who actually converted off the woodwork! The header from Korkmaz really did illustrate which side deserved the win on the night as Benfica's defense finally fatally faltered after a poor clearance. As far as the second leg goes, Benfica at home will be a different animal than the one we saw away - that is, as long as they keep their heads and play the game that has brought them success thus far. While Cristian and Dirk Kuyt will make sure that Benfica will need to be impenetrable defensively, the Portuguese side should have the talent to at least give Fenerbahce a run for their money. As for the Basel - Chelsea game, Chelsea's strength at home will probably just be too much for the Swiss visitors in the 2nd leg. Enjoy the weekend!

Champions League Semi-Final Part II

Well color me impressed! While I knew that the home crowd support and attacking prowess of hosts Dortmund would be a challenge for Real Madrid, I certainly did not expect them to blow the Spaniards out in a similar fashion as Barcelona were destroyed in their 1st leg encounter with Bayern Munich. Robert Lewandowski's 8th minute strike for the Germans was obviously the best way the game could have started for Dortmund but as Cristiano Ronaldo equalized in the 43rd minute, one could be forgiven for thinking Real Madrid would start making back ground in the 2nd half. They would clearly be wrong though as Dortmund's 1st half possession dominance continued into the 2nd half, culminating in three more goals for Lewandowski before the game had run its course. How was this possible? Defensively, Madrid just had some lapses as they could not hold onto the rampant German opposition. The 2nd leg encounter will have to be something special on the part of the Spaniards as they will have to stop the scoring as well as make a handful of their own! Though Dortmund technically remain undefeated in their away encounters - another draw on their record would do just fine in this situation - Madrid's home performances allow for some hope on the part of Ronaldo, Ozil and company. Madrid will have to put in a double shift, but I would not put it past them. At the same time, how exhilarating would a Bayern - Dortmund Champions League Final be? Hope you enjoy the games! Do not forget to catch the Fenerbahce v.s. Benfica Europa League match today as well as Basel against Chelsea! I will report on those tomorrow.

Champions League Semi-Final Part I

Many things in life are fleeting. Happiness, success, life itself. Up until today, I would have thought success over Barcelona was one of those fleeting situations in life. I was wrong. While it is true that the referee of the show-down between Bayern Munich and Barcelona was garbage, Barca's defensive deficiencies were painstakingly obvious, and Bayern's home field advantage was tremendously helpful, a 4-0 result was beyond my expectations. Yes, I might have predicted Bayern to win at home, but the manner in which they put Barcelona out of the game was almost laughable. Despite the fact that the Catalan side had over 60% of possession, they only had 4 real chances. While it is true that the Spaniards suffered almost 20 fouls through-out the match (compared to 10 for the Germans) the Bavarians only collected 3 yellows to Barcelona's 4. The blame lies with the visitors though as it was obvious where Barcelona failed most defending corners of which they gave Bayern 11! Despite a rather spiteful dying minutes, Thomas Muller's 25th minute shot opening the scoring got the game off to an exciting pace. When Mario Gomez scored 4 minutes into the 2nd half, Barca's keeper Victor Valdes earned a healthy plate of criticism. It is true, he wasn't helped by his defenders (particularly Jordi Alba who looked out-classed for most of the game in comparison to Muller) but some of the goals he allowed were approaching comical. In the 73rd minute, Arjen Robben's strike was utterly farcical. Utilizing a hybrid basketball-American football move, Robben's marker Jordi Alba was left in the dust by a fellow Bavarian attacked granting the Dutch player a golden opportunity which he took with great relish. Last but certainly not least, Thomas Muller's goal in the 82nd minute was the last cry of a dying side as Barcelona's defense fell completely apart allowing the striker to punch in his second on the night. While Bayern deserve a lot of credit for the way that they conducted the match - specifically the 1st half - there were a number of calls that favored them shall we say. If Barca let this result get to their head, expect a replay of this match in the 2nd leg. While I don't think they will overturn the result, they will at least present more of a threat at home giving the aggregate score a somewhat decent image. That will only be possible, though, if their defensive players actually show up and Valdes actually makes some saves.

As for tomorrow's match between Dortmund and Real Madrid, I cannot see the German side dominate as their compatriots did today. While being at home will certainly help them and the addition to the side of Robert Lewandowski, Sebastian Kehl, and Sven Bender only bodes well for the Germans, not even their recent home record gives them enough of an edge against the giants of Madrid. Having said that, if Michael Essien, Fabio Coentrao, Alvaro Arbeloa, Luka Modric, Angel Di Maria, and Marcelo are all gone, Madrid may just be stretched too far. I think Madrid may have enough to edge the Germans but I could also see the match ending in a draw. If Dortmund are particularly on form on the night though, Madrid may not be able to keep up. Away goals, however, will spell doom for the German side in the end. Hope you are enjoying the matches!

Exhilarating domestic action!

Well, if you thought the European championships are the only interesting thing still happening in soccer, you'd be completely wrong! Yesterday we had the likes of Barcelona edging Levante 1-0, Real Madrid managing Real Betis 3-1, and Valencia obliterating Malaga by a 5-1 scoreline. Elsewhere, Fulham had a fierce match against visiting Arsenal which ended with the Gunners eking through by a 0-1 score. Over in Germany, Leverkusen absolutely destroyed Hoffenheim with 5 goals to the good as Bayern humiliated their hosts Hannover by a 1-6 scoring deficit. As Dortmund beat Mainz 2-0, Schalke were upset by their hosts Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0. Last but not least, Porto defeated Moreirense 0-3 away from home to stay within a point of 1st place Benfica. As for the action of today, Espanyol were able to score 2 against Getafe in Spain while the real thrillers came in England. After all, with the line-ups of Tottenham v.s. Manchester City and Liverpool v.s. Chelsea - today was always going to be exciting. While the greater result has turned out to be Spur's 3-1 victory over visiting City; Liverpool have an exciting game on their hands as they stand at a 1-2 deficit to the Blues. Over in Germany, Stuttgart were able to get a goal over visiting Freiburg in a 2-1 victory as Fiorentina scored 4 to Torino's 3 to earn three points in Italy. Over in Naples, Napoli got the three points from Cagliari in a 3-2 thriller as Sochaux and Bordeaux finished 2-2. As fun as these games have been though, make sure to keep an eye on these games too: Benfica v.s. Sporting - the Lisbon grudge-match - PSG v.s. Nice, Juventus against Milan which poses two of the arguably most quality Italian sides against one another today, and Sevilla take on Atletico. Hope you keep enjoying the games!

Champions and Europa League draws for the Semi-Finals!

Well we have received the results of the Champions League and Europa League draws and they look about as enticing as you would imagine. Starting with the Champions League, Bayern will take on Barcelona as Dortmund meet Real Madrid. For the first game, injury and defensive concerns will be on the front of the docket as Barca will rely heavily on Messi - whether as a creative force or a goal-scorer. If he still isn't 100%, Bayern probably won't be as easy to break down as PSG were in the last round. As for the defensive side of things, Barcelona will have to do more than hold the ball to keep pressure off of their defense. Bayern will be the closest thing to a juggernaut that the Spaniards have met thus far. If Manuel Neuer and the defensive stalwarts of Dante, Philipp Lahm, and company do their job; Barcelona will have a tough time of it. As for goal-scorers, the number of teams that have the diversity of options that Bayern have is extremely limited. So what does all that mean? Well, rather than saying that it is anyone's game (which it really is) I think I will give my vote to Bayern. Barca will be enthralling and dominant, as always, but Bayern will be able to match them. It may go to penalties but if Bayern win at home (which they should) and deny Barca's goal-scorers, I doubt the Catalan side will be able to pull another victory out of the hat.

As for Dortmund's meeting with Real Madrid, while Madrid are obviously the kings of goal-scoring with Cristiano Ronaldo simply on fire; Dortmund remain the only team left at this level of the competition that are undefeated in 10 matches. As for the goal flows themselves, Real Madrid have tended to be more successful from out of the goal-box whereas Dortmund have had more luck cutting inside the area. At the same time, Madrid make the most opportunities though with a slightly better conversion rate. Clearly, both defenses will have to work over-time but I just cannot see Dortmund running away with a victory. If they manage it at home, at best I can see them drawing. For this reason, I'll pick Madrid to make it through.

As for the Europa League ties, Fenerbahce face Benfica as Basel greet Chelsea in their first leg. Despite playing half the number of games, Benfica have scored a relatively similar number of goals to their Turkish hosts in the first leg which promises to be a fantastic fixture. In Portugal, I cannot imagine that Benfica will lose so Fenerbahce will have to go to work from the beginning. With the Portuguese side converting approximately a third of their chances, I will tip Benfica to win in the first match-up.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are the clear favorites against Basel though the fate of fellow-London side Tottenham should serve as a word of caution against the Blues. Defensively, Basel will have to be perfect if they want any chance to claim a draw let alone victory. To turn to counter-factual arguments, even if Basel play the best defense possible, I can't imagine them doing any better than making it to penalties in the 2nd leg. Of course, at that point luck and contextual factors may well favor them but otherwise I see Chelsea going through so long as they don't take the foot off the gas. Enjoy the games!

What has happened in the Champions League and what will be taking place in the Europa League

I'd like to start with the Champions League where Dortmund were able to edge Malaga in a white-knuckle thriller that had us all guessing until the final whistle. Despite the fact that the Spanish side were able to get themselves into a strong position for much of the 1st half following Joaquin's 25th minute goal and a strong showing through-out the pitch; the half ended 1-1 following Robert Lewandowski's equalizer in the 45th minute. While many may have thought that Dortmund would then go to work as the 2nd half began, the reality was that Malaga continued to dominate the game for all intents and purposes though failing to convert. Finally, Eliseu slotted home for Malaga in the 82nd minute - providing them with a lead that would have been golden against just about any other team. Not Dortmund though. Not only did Marco Reus level the score at 2-2 in the 1st minute of extra time but Felipe Santana struck a beauty in the 3rd minute that wrapped things up for the Germans as the full-time whistle blew only moments later.

Over in Turkey Real Madrid were able to make things work by the skin of their teeth against a Galatasaray side that for a few minutes looked like they might be able to overturn a crushing deficit. Though Cristiano Ronaldo got things off to a great start in the 7th minute, the game settled into a lull with the Spaniards defending with sporadic forays up the field. It was in the 2nd half when things really turned on for the Turkish side as Emmanuel Eboue brought Galatasary level on the night in the 57th minute. Then, in the 70th and 72nd minutes respectively Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba gave the Spaniards both barrels with a goal apiece. Unfortunately, Madrid managed the game until Ronaldo scored his second in the 2nd minute of extra time in the 2nd half. Though it was 3-2 on the night the aggregate score was a 5-3 affair!

Yesterday, Barcelona and PSG faced off in what was really an enthralling fixture as the visiting French side grabbed the lead early in the 2nd half through Javier Pastore. While this prompted Lionel Messi's introduction to the game, it should be noted that the Catalans peppered the PSG goal for much of the game without success. Then, in the 71st minute, magic happened. While the finishing shot came from the foot of Pedro Rodriquez, the play began as Messi surgically incised himself into the PSG defense. Laying off to David Villa, the striker passed to Pedro who punished the PSG players with a left-footed effort into the back of the net. Thanks to the 2-2 result in the previous leg, Barca went on to advance by the away goals rule.

As for the last of the Champions League games of the Quarter-Final round, Juventus greeted Bayern Munich in Turin to a match that was remarkably similar to the 1st leg. While both goals came in the 2nd half, Bayern held a significant amount of possession in addition to a modest advantage in chances. Of crucial importance was the fact that they converted their opportunities as Juve actually had a comparable chance tally. Of course, when Mario Mandzukic dove for his header in the 64th minute, the tie may well have been decided. Though Juventus goalie Gianluigi Buffon made a great first save, the ensuing goal sums up the story of his game: he played to the best of his ability but defensive deficiencies in front of him left him vulnerable to Bayern's lethal strikers.

Turning now to the Europa League, Rubin Kazan will host Chelsea in a 2nd leg that comes off of a 3-1 victory for the English side. While the Russians should do better at home, I cannot see them undoing the London side's lead. Their only chance will be if goal-tender Sergei Ryzhikov plays an unbelievable game and the likes of Jose Rondon, Vladimir Dyadyun, and Gokdeniz Karadeniz score at least one each. Otherwise, I anticipate a victory for Chelsea.

Up in England, Newcastle v.s. Benfica will be the game I will be watching as the English side hope to make right a 3-1 deficit. While the home field advantage will certainly assist the Magpies, the important thing will be whether they can score a lot of goals. Papiss Cisse and Shola Ameobi will be the go-to figures for those requirements. My prediction would be that defensive failings on the side of the home team will make it too easy for Benfica to score - putting the game out of the grasp of Newcastle.

As for the Swiss encounter between Basel and Tottenham, if the home side can get even a goal against the English opposition then the odds will increase exponentially in their favor. A great deal of stress will be placed on the Basel defense as a break-out performance by Tann Sommer will translate to attacking efforts from talent such as Marco Streller, Valentin Stocker, and Fabian Schar. Of course, there is also the view that the team from Switzerland gave their best in England and will go down to Spurs having played all of their tricks. This will obviously rely on Hugo Lloris (or Brad Friedel) standing tall in goal - a completely viable option. Then, it will be the responsibility of characters such as Gareth Bale, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Jermain Defoe to score and keep doing so until the game ends.

Last but not least, Lazio v.s. Fenerbahce will demonstrate whether or not Lazio are just terrible travelers or legitimately poor. In Turkey, down to 10 men, it was understandable that the Italians get hit at some point or another. Having said that, Lazio know where the goal is and in front of a home crowd they should have the nerve to at least challenge the Turkish side. The pedigree of the Lazio side up to this point should not be discounted as they had not lost in Europe until the 10 man debacle. Additionally, they do remain undefeated at home. Fenerbahce's form also shouldn't be discounted, though, as the Turks have proved themselves formidable adversaries away from home. I'd give my vote to Fenerbahce but that is with the understanding that the Turkish side will give it their all and not take their feet off of the gas. Otherwise, giving Lazio the room to develop will spell disaster for the visitors. Hope you enjoy the games!

And as for the Europa League

We've had the first leg of Europa League Quarterfinal action then and some thrilling games to boot! While Chelsea triumphed over visiting Rubin Kazan, it was a reasonably close affair up until the half. While Fernando Torres did strike twice, the first was a relatively lucky opportunity in the 16th though the 2nd was absolutely golden: a brilliant header low and hard out of the reach of the keeper. Between these two goals though, Victor Moses converted a beautiful volley from a rebound in the 32nd before Bebras Natcho made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 41st minute. Then, there was classic Torres in the 70th, ending the game 3-1. My predictions for the 2nd leg would be that Rubin's notorious counter-attacking abilities will not be put to use as they at best draw in front of a home crowd. Realistically, Chelsea will just be too good for them this time around.

Meanwhile, another London side - Tottenham - welcomed Basel in a brilliant match filled with goals and comebacks as the English side actually went 0-2 down after a quickfire assault from the likes of Valentin Stocker and Fabian Frei. The former goal was a bit lucky as an initial shot from Marco Streller bounced off the woodwork and into the waiting grasp of Stocker who put it away with ease. The second meanwhile, from Fabian Frei, was another bit of luck as the ball somehow found its way to the big man who headed home at the back door. Tottenham were good to not let this hurt them though! Striking before the half was important and the goal came from Emmanuel Adebayor who reacted quickly to strike home Scott Parker's first effort. Last but certainly not least, Gylfi Sigurdsson made it 2-2 as he zipped in from the right side of the field and struck a sweet shot that was even sweeter as it deflected off of defending Fabian Schar who helped it past Basel's keeper Yann Sommer. As far as the 2nd leg is concerned, if Spurs play like they did early in the game they will have no chance in Basel. Having said that, if their performance on the continent is more like their second half then things may just go their way!

Next up is Fenerbahce v.s. Lazio which saw the home side strike late against a depleted Italian side which had an extremely sparse amount of chances. Pierre Webo broke the ice from the penalty spot in the 78th minute. Then, Dirk Kuyt slotted home against Federico Marchetti who was unlucky to get rid of a deadly free kick. It should be noted that before these 78th and 91st minute goals, Ogenyi Onazi was sent off in the 48th minute after receiving a 2nd yellow. Down to 10 men then, Lazio really were going to break at any moment as Fenerbahce dominated the chances tally. If Fenerbahce field the same high-performance team, Lazio will be put to bed quite easily no matter the fact that the Italians have the home field advantage. Lazio will need something special to beat the Turkish side.

Finally, there is Benfica v.s. Newcastle which was honestly a fantastic match. Papiss Cisse had a brilliant strike off a Moussa Sissoko ball in the 12th minute to start the affair in a positive light. The hosting Portuguese took a bit to get together but finally converted in the 25th minute. This was through Rodrigo who latched onto a sublime opening after Oscar Cardozo's attempt was defended by Tim Krul. Next, in the 65th minute, Lima sped into an opening after a defensive mistake which finished by rounding the keeper and putting the ball away. Last but not least, Oscar Cardozo struck clean from the penalty spot after Newcastle's Steven Taylor committed a handball in the area to make it 3-1 as the final whistle blew. If Benfica dominate the opportunities in England as much as they did at home, they will have a chance despite the fact that Newcastle are pretty fierce at home. Enjoy the games!

The Latest from the Champions League

Well, we've already had half of the first legs with the second half coming later today. With PSG tying Barcelona in literally the dying seconds of their fixture in Paris, I was correct in suggesting Barca would tie abroad though I honestly did not expect such a close encounter. For the early portions of the game, PSG actually looked dominant. While many were not surprised by both Messi and Ibrahimovic converting, the goals from Xavi Hernandez and Blaise Matuidi were both special. Before coming off at the half due to what should be a minor injury, Messi ran onto a beautiful chip from Daniel Alves and struck it home low in the 39th. 40 minutes later, Zlatan Ibrahimovic put away an easy shot after Thiago Silva's header bounced back into play. While some might question whether or not he was off-sides, it appeared as though Ibrahimovic was on as the play developed and simply positioned himself correctly as the ball deflected off the crossbar. Following PSG's keeper taking Alexis Sanchez's legs out from under him, Xavi Hernandez converted his penalty opportunity in the 89th minute - seemingly winning the game for Barca. However, Blaise Matuidi took a strike that some would have considered to have no chance. Though Barecelona's keeper Valdes followed the initial trajectory well, the shot took a deflection off of Marc Bartra leaving the Catalans wrong-footed and level as they await the return leg in Spain. Though PSG are rightly on a high after this result, I would predict that Barcelona come out in Spain strong once more with Messi leading the charge.

As for the fixture between Bayern and Juventus, the 1st minute goal from David Alaba really set the tone for the remainder of the match as Bayern finally showed their home form in a 2-0 victory. While possession may have been considered even, the Bavarians simply dominated the opportunities count. Thomas Muller's 63rd minute goal was really icing on the cake as the team mentality was on full display with Mario Mandzukic giving Muller one of the easiest shots in the tournament this year. While Juve will undoubtedly fare better at home in Turin, the chances of them overturning this deficit if Bayern bring the same form is remarkably low. If Toni Kroos is absent for the 2nd leg, Bayern will miss him but do have replacements as Arjen Robben convincingly reminded us with no goals but great plays.

As for today's action, Malaga's encounter with Borussia Dortmund returns the spotlight to the celebrated Spanish giant-slayers. Though both sides are missing valuable players, everyone involved is building up what should be a promising game. The deciding factor will arguably be whether or not Malaga's defense can hold Dortmund vicious assault. Away goals are a critical aspect of the tournament at this stage and Malaga cannot afford to run their match-up with Dortmund as closely as they did against Porto. Starting at home may be a plus for the Spaniards but the Germans have proven themselves worthy opponents both at home and away. Final verdict? Dortmund may just be the straw that breaks the camel's back here. Even if Jakub Blaszczykowski is out, the German side have the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus, and Mario Gotze who have performed well this year. Malaga's reliance on midfield goalscoring may be undone as Isco, Eliseu, Joaquin, and Duda may be worn thin.

Last but not least, Real Madrid will greet Turkish side Galatasaray at home in Spain for what many are predicting will be a one-sided affair. While it is true that Madrid have tended to have double the opportunities than their opponents, the scoring between the two sides has been quite close - 18 for the Spaniards and 11 for the Turks. If Raphael Varane, Fabio Coentrao, and Iker Casillas all miss out on the squad, Madrid's defense looks significantly weaker. At the same time, two midfield blows in missing Aydin Yilmaz and Engin Baytar shouldn't be that big of a deal for Galatasaray as the talents of Hamit Altintop, Wesley Sneijder, Johan Elmander, Didier Drogba, Burak Yilmaz, and Umut Bulut are all accounted for. While the Bernabeu will give Madrid the edge here, I would not say that Galatasaray are going to just roll over. They definitely have everything to play for in the 2nd leg if they can hold on here.
 Enjoy the games!

A bit of domestic action - not for the weak of heart!

Well, the weekend is a time for sport and this weekend is no exception! In Spain, Real Sociedad clobbered Valladolid 4-1 while Getafe edged Athletic 1-0. Further up the table, Real Madrid defeated Mallorca 5-2 as Valencia had a one-sided victory over Real Betis with a 3-0 scoreline. Probably one of the least exciting, more one-sided matches of these four was Getafe's victory over Athletic. While Borja Fernandez began the game on a fine note, striking in the 7th minute, the rest of the match was a blur of yellow as 6 cards were handed out in total. Getafe dominated the opportunities as far as the attempts tally is concerned. Alternatively, Argentine Gonzalo Higuain seems to have been blessed by the newly announced pope as he struck twice in Real's encounter with Mallorca; the first came in the 14th minute while the second arrived in the 57th. Moving on now, Italy saw only a bit of action today though it was high-quality! While Catania defeated Udinese 3-1, Bologna lost 0-2 to Juventus. It was a good day for Catania's Alejandro Dario Gomez who scored in the 49th and 67th minutes while Juve further cemented their position with the three points. Up in England, Everton surprised Manchester City with a 2-0 score while Southampton defeated Liverpool 3-1. Stoke and West Brom tied 0-0 as Aston Villa edged QPR 3-2. Arsenal defeated Swansea 2-0 as Manchester United edged Reading 1-0 in Manchester. Back across the Channel in Germany, Hamburg lost at home at the hands of Augsburg while Bremen tied Furth 2-2. Nurnberg defeated a dejected Schalke side 3-0 as Hoffenheim and Mainz concluded goalless. Then, there was the goal festival of Dortmund v.s. Freiburg which concluded 5-1 as Bayern edged Leverkusen 2-1 despite a relatively late equalizer from the host's captain, Simon Rolfes. Bayern were lucky enough to get through thanks to an own goal though! As far as neighboring France is concerned, Bastia destroyed Lyon 4-1 in a huge surprise as Sochaux equalized with Valenciennes 1-1. Lorient swarmed Brest in a feast of scoring that saw 4 go to the hosts. Additionally, Montpellier tied Troyes 1-1; Reims edged Rennes 1-0; and last but not least, LOSC were edged by Evian 1-2. Back down to Portugal now, Olhanense were just barely beaten by Pacos Ferreira 1-2 as Sporting edged Setubal by the same scoreline. Making our way back up now, the Netherlands saw Heerenveen go to NEC and win 1-3, PSV defeat RKC 2-0, VVV get beaten by Heracles by the same score, and Den Haag get hammered 0-4 by Vitesse. Last but certainly not least, Scotland remains in the grasp of Celtic as they edged Aberdeen 4-3 while Inverness got one over Ross County in a 2-1 thriller. Hope you are ready for tomorrow and I'll blog later!

Champions and Europa League match-ups for the next round!

Well, last round was as exciting and ever but if looks are anything we can expect much of the same in the just-announced next stages. I'll start with the Europa League where Chelsea face Rubin Kazan, Tottenham host FC Basel, Fenerbahce greet Lazio, and Benfica welcome Newcastle. As far as Chelsea v.s. Kazan is concerned, the Russian side actually have a better goal tally in addition to remaining unbeaten thus far in the competition! Alongside this, Rubin have created more opportunities though as far as goals per game is concerned the sides are pretty level. As for Spurs v.s. Basel, the English side have a slight advantage as far as goals scored are concerned but honestly by statistics the two sides are hard to separate. Turning to the game between Fenerbahce and Lazio now, the Italians have proven themselves deadly in front of goal though the Turkish side have managed a better record leading into the game. Last but not least, Benfica have a perfect record compared to Newcastle's mixed one while goal-scoring between the two sides hasn't been a problem though it isn't explosive.
With all of this in mind, Rubin will be hoping that the talented Jose Rondon can keep them in the game against Chelsea because otherwise they will probably be overwhelmed by the English giants. As for the other London clubs' chances, Tottenham will hope for continued performance by Jermain Defoe, Gareth Bale and their other big names. Otherwise, they risk elimination at the hands of Swiss side Basel who have the likes of Marco Streller and Fabian Schar at their disposal and Mohamed Salah providing set-ups. Having said that, the odds are probably with Spurs. As for Fenerbahce, the only chance they will have is if they close down the prolific Libor Kozak and the only slightly less-sharp Sergio Flocarri who have been simply on fire for Lazio. At the same time, the Turks will hope Cristian can start converting more of his chances because thus far Dirk Kuyt, Alex, and Caner Erkin haven't really been pulling their weight. Due to all of these factors, the nod probably goes to Lazio to win unless Fenerbahce pull themselves together both defensively and offensively. And then there is Benfica v.s. Newcastle. Honestly I am looking forward to this pairing the most despite the fact that Benfica only has one real striker that has been performing: Oscar Cardozo. While there is always the chance that Nicolas Gaitan, Luisao, and Ola John will start firing, there haven't been too many encouraging signs. On the other hand, Newcastle have Papiss Cisse and Shola Ameobi to turn to. In addition to these two, Moussa Sissoko is a good bet to convert as are Gabirel Obertan and Hatem Ben Arfa. In the end, then, I suppose I will give Newcastle a slender advantage though it depends on how Benfica perform at home in Portugal. If they do not concede and manage to get a goal or two they will be on the right path however this isn't an easy ask.
Over to the Champions League now as Malaga have Dortmund to contend with while Real Madrid face Galatasaray. PSG will test their strength against Barcelona at the same time as Bayern have a showdown with Juventus. In the match-up between giant-slayers Malaga and the surprise package Dortmund, a prediction of German victory might be called for except for the fact that the Spaniards have surprised again and again. At the same time, the magic might be considered to have run its course - particularly if Dortmund pull off what Porto and others couldn't: victory in the 1st leg in Spain. While Dortmund have a slightly better record and goal tally, such statistics aren't much when talking about real life. The home support has really carried Malaga in the past and I wouldn't be too surprised if it did so again. Having said that, the number of attempts Dortmund have racked up in the past points to the likelihood of heartbreak for the Spanish side. With Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus, and Mario Gotze topping the list of scorers for the Germans, I'll predict Dortmund making it through. Onwards now to Real Madrid v.s. Galatasaray which will see the team with the least goals scored (of the sides remaining) and the joint top goal scorer Burak Yilmaz face-off against the team with the joint top most goals scored and goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. While both sides have produced a number of opportunities, the fact that Galatasaray only have Burak Yilmaz performing with any kind of consistency seems problematic for the Turkish side. Nevertheless, Aydin Yilmaz, Umut Bulut, and Hamit Altimtop have stepped it up of late so there may be a change in the winds. Even if their strike force performs though, Galatasaray will have to be strong defensively - against a side which includes the formidable opposition of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Jose Callejon, Marcello, Kaka, Luka Modric, and Mesut Ozil amongst others. I think this may be too much of an ask for Galatasaray but who doesn't like to see an upset? PSG v.s. Barca meanwhile serves as an illustration of some of the bigger money sides in the game these days. With the big names of Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi showcasing for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, we are sure to have a wonderful occasion on our hands so long as everyone is on form. One issue that I could see manifesting itself is the fact that as far as secondary strikers with the ability (more importantly previously displayed) to carry the respective teams are concerned, Barca seem to lack options while PSG have Jeremy Menez, Javier Pastore, Alex, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Thiago Silva. This is illustrated by the fact that PSG have actually scored more goals at this point than Barcelona as well as keeping a cleaner record. Seeing as how this is coming out of a relatively equal number of chances, which Barcelona actually have an advantage in, I would posit that PSG will make it through unless Barcelona do two things. First of all, they have to shore up their defenses. Secondly, they must make sure that their strikers and mid-fielders are on form. A great deal of possession is great, but it has to result in the ball in the back of the net. Finally, Bayern v.s. Juventus will be a similarly exciting game as they have each made possibilities though Bayern have a very slight edge both on average and absolutely. Each side has a player with 4 goals to their name - Fabio Quagliarella for Juve and Thomas Muller for Bayern - and both have a number of secondary strikers capable of leading the teams (Toni Kroos, Claudio Pizarro, Arturo Vidal, Sebastian Giovinco, the list goes on and on). In the end though, I must give Juve the edge in this battle as they have Andrea Pirlo, Alessandro Matri, Claudio Marchisio, and Mauricio Isla who are all capable play-setters. That isn't to say it will be easy, rather, I think Juventus just have the fortitude to beat out the result. Make sure to catch the games!