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!