World Sport News

So defined, all eight participants chetvertfina Champions League, then you can take stock of matches 1 / 8 finals. It is worth noting that the most unexpected is the passage to the quarterfinals of Italian “Roma”. In the Serie A club, though Roman is an intermediate second position, but still lag behind the leading “Inter” has been 16 points, and the results of the “Roma” stability do not differ. But the French “Lion” looked like one of the favorites of the League. No clear favorite, of course, a team of Gerard Houllier, no one called, but many were counting on the fact that different from last season when the team invariably came out of the playoffs, but next quarter not made its way. This time the French could count on more. Yes, and “Roma” impassable rival, especially after the guests 0-0, did not appear.

But in the second leg of the Romans brought these gladiators in the defense, which to his rival's goal, even were not allowed, and caused by the same two dagger outburst ended goals Francesco Totti and Mancini. Like “Romeo” in the second match was able to fix the damage and the Munich “Bavaria”. With the return to coaching bridge Ottmar Hitzfeld “Bavaria”, of course, changed. But the defeat in Madrid 0:2 slightly complicate the task of Munich exit in the quarterfinals. But everything could be even worse if Mark van Bommel for three minutes before the end of the Munich meeting, did not score the second goal, “Bavaria.” But a goal by Roy Mackay has 11 seconds of the match allowed the return of “Bavaria” feel at ease and control the situation. The return match has shown that the “Real” is currently still not in great shape, and even if Madrid were in the quarterfinals, and the chances of them were good, there would be much harder they had to. “Bavaria” is under the guidance of Ottmar Hitzfeld is just my game and it could count on good performance in the Champions League.

Second largest sensationalistic should be considered flight last year's winner of the Champions League, “Barcelona” at the time of 1 / 8. A stopped “Leopard” English “Liverpool”, which is already fit to christen the European Cup club. The fact that the “Liverpool” in the Premier League every year after the first round of the championship race falls, and then solves its local problem in getting into the Champions League. And the year before all the memorable Champions League final with “Milan” was won by “Liverpool” in a penalty shootout. And in the current League Rafa Benitez's wards look very, very solid. The most amazing thing that the “Barcelona” was a bit on the game in both matches – and in Spain and in England. This was particularly noticeable in Barcelona, ​​where guests like a textbook, played a combination of assists and deservedly won 2-1. The defeat in the second match with a minimum score should not mislead anyone as to scoring chances, “Leaver” completely surpassed rival. “Bars” was read by the number of opportunities to score, but more than one goal proveti guests could not.

General, this year “Liverpool” along with “Manchester United” is a favorite of the Champions League. The fact that the first group stage matches of the tournament and 1 / 8 finals of the Champions League have shown that Rafael Benitez managed to make a very smart team. The “Liverpool” now you can watch a great balance of attack and defense. One of the main characters of the confrontation with “Barcelona” has become a Finnish defender of “red”, Jon Arne Riise, who in the first game scored the winning goal in the second leg and hit the crossbar. It would seem that in the second match, “Liverpool” by all means necessary to keep their goal intact, but due to the interchangeability of English club football can not afford dangerous raids defenders to foreign target. This tactic puts the opponent to a standstill – the players, “Barca” just do not know how they expect trouble. Also worth noting is the excellent functional readiness angliychan that can help them at a later stage of the League.

Confrontation “Chelsea” and “Port” gives a very stubborn, even though at first glance it seemed that the British did not meet much resistance. But after the first time the return match players of Portuguese club had every chance of reaching the quarter-finals. In the first match in Portugal “Porto” played, at least, not weaker, “Chelsea”, and if no individual skill of Andrei Shevchenko, scorer of the match the only goal of “Chelsea” is not yet known to what Londoners would have returned home. But after the effective draw away “Chelsea” was not able to safely return match – losing at halftime with the score 0-1, wards Jose Mourinho still been able to find the strength to attack two goal, which helped to “Chelsea” exit in the quarterfinals. But the game, “Chelsea” fans makes the team very nervous in anticipation of quarter finals, where rivals such gifts are no longer pripodnesut.

But certainly, in my view, a favorite of the Champions League is English “Manchester United”. Alex Ferguson's team already in the group stage showed a meaningful football and after the first three games under his belt had 9 points. Two minimal victory over the “Lilly” did not have to be misleading, as played in the playoffs against the French club as a favorite is very hard. Alex Ferguson has a great selection disposes offensive players. Who do not leave the field without a goal. In recent years, “Manchester” and misses, we can say only on holidays, chno at the moment makes this team unbeatable. And given the fact that after the triumphant Champions League of 1999, “Manchester” is no longer won European trophies, I think, is this year's “Red Devils” will be able to break this tradition.

Alexander Ivanov, Down-the-line.com

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