Today and tomorrow will be ace, particularly because some of the most talented players in the World today will be on show. The most prestigious club competition in Football returns with gusto. Teams like Malaga, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Galatasaray, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris St Germain, and Barcelona slug it out in a bid to reach the last four of the UEFA Champions League. The last eight teams standing all have what it takes to go all the way in this tournament. Managers, Jurgen Klopp (Dortmund), Jose Mourinho (RM), Tito Vilanova (Barca), Fatih Terim (Galatasaray), Antonio Conte (Juventus), Jupp Heynckes (BM), Carlo Ancelotti (PSG), and Manuel Pellegrini (Malaga) know their jobs and have been there before. Success has been part of parcel of their exemplary careers to date. Between the 'CLASSY 8', European Titles, Domestic Titles and personal accolades aplenty have been garnered. Tito Vilanova has returned home after two months of intensive care and treatment. The Barca manager was diagnosed of Cancer some months ago and has since been in and out of the job. Barcelona whitewashed A.C Milan in the comeback of the UCL without their manager at the helm and will be even more dangerous with him in the dug out.
Let's take a look at what the teams have in store.............
PSG-BARCELONA
After that breathtaking performance against A.C Milan, teams will know better than to underestimate Barcelona. As if they were ever disparaged. Well, they were. Losing to the Milanese and twice to Real Madrid meant questions had to be raised as regards their form and tactics. The inability to provide alternatives when the initial plan has been mastered and toppled allowed doubts to creep in concerning their championship credentials. All that was put to bed when Milan were dismantled by 4 exquisite strikes. Other teams sat up on seeing that almost impeccable performance. Whether they have mapped out strategies to handle the Barca style remains to be seen. First up are the Paris warriors of the Parc de Princes.
Managed by Carlo Ancelotti, the mega rich le Parisiens have surprised everyone in no small measure. Granted, they brought in some of the best legs in the business, but they weren't expected to click almost immediately. There have been some loop holes....but generally, it has been a fantastic season thus far. 33 goal Zlatan Ibrahimovic is lightening the French Capital with some mesmerizing and elegant displays. True to type, the ex-Milan, Barca, Juventus, Malmo, Inter, and Ajax forward has been phenomenal this season. Even Carlos 'el goleador' Bianchi has stated that Ibra will have more success and break all his records at the French Capital. PSG are comfortably seated on top of Le Championnat and are through to the Coupe de France quarter finals. A Historic treble is within reach. Italian manager, Carlo Ancelotti, needs no introduction, or does he? The 2-time Champions League winning manager was brought in after his appointment was terminated at Chelsea where he won the League and F.A Cup. Since replacing Antoine Kombouare, the 2004 Serie A winning manager has revamped the QIA owned club and lured the likes of Ibra, Thiago Silva, Lucas Moura, GVDW, Ezequiel Lavezzi, etc. The league was lost last season, but this is their season for real. Facing Barcelona is the biggest test yet.
Almighty Barcelona arrive in Paris on the back of a 2-2 draw v Celta Vigo at the weekend. Lionel Messi, one of the World's greatest ever players, scored in the 19th consecutive La Liga game and thus created yet another record. What a football god. His 56 goals this season is 12 more than nearest challenger, CR7's total of 44. Betting against him this night will be worse than suicidal. His co-workers, Iniesta and Xavi also travelled with the squad despite fears that the latter will not be fit in time to face the parisiens. Jordi Alba has also been passed fit. Sergio Busquets, the ever present and reliable holding midfielder, will be key today.
PROBABLE LINEup---
PSG- Sirigu, Jallet, T.Silva, Alex, Maxwell, Matuidi, Beckham, Pastore, L.Moura, Lavezzi, IBRAHIMOVIC
Les Parisiens might cause some surprises when the teams walk out onto the pitch tonight. The big news is that David Beckham might feature from the start, with Marco Verratti the man to make way. Rumours they still are. It is up front that there will definitely not be any shocks, Former Barca striker, Ibrahimovic has the hopes of his club lying firmly on his shoulders and will lead the line alongside Pocho Lavezzi and Lucas Moura.
BARCELONA- Valdes, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Villa, Pedro.
The Blaugrana team picks itself sincerely. Only injuries can make us guess who comes in for who. Some things are just natural.
BAYERN MUNICH-JUVENTUS
Die Roten don't play around these days. The 9-2 demolition of Hamburg at the weekend sent messages of great fear around Europe. El Conquistador started the match in place of the MARIOS (Mandzukic and Gomez) and repaid the manager's faith with 4 goals. Arjen Robben added a brace. This result was achieved without as much as 7 regulars starting the match. If the Old Lady think they will have it easy at the Schlauchboot "Inflatable Boat', then they have another thing coming.
Conte's Juventus warmed for this crunch game in style, gaining revenge on old foes, Inter Milan at the Guiseppe Meazza. The Derby D;Italia, as matches contested between the two are called, ended 2-1 in favour of the League Leaders. Tonight's game will be much more difficult. Any game against Osram's Bayern is extremely dicey
Bayern Munich have some of the best players in the World. Franck Ribery can stand toe to toe with the creme de la creme of Global soccer. Arjen Robben is my favourite leftie of this generation, and on his day, he is as dangerous as anyone on any football pitch. Bastian Schweinsteiger rubs shoulders with some of the best deep lying playmakers (DLP) of our time. He's too good a player anytime, any day. There are also World beaters like Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos, etc. Juventus also boasts of giants like Andrea Pirlo-the DLP supreme of this age. Arturo Vidal is pure class. Claudio Marchisio is no small fry, Gianluigi Buffon, the Goalkeeping Legend and others. It is their defence which is puzzling. Bonucci and Barzagli are not your everyday Nesta-Maldini pair, but they are very reliable and snuff out threats superbly. It is in that department that The Old Lady are very strong and rock solid. In attack, everyone complements each other, without one necessarily being a serial goal scorer. Matri, Vucinic, Giovinco, and Quagliarella share the goal scoring responsibilities and quite well too.
The Champions-elect of Germany and Italy face off tonight in the match of the Round unarguably. Gripping may be the best word to describe what is about to take place. Sit back and grab a beer...............
MALAGA-DORTMUND........REAL MADRID-GALATASARAY.......PREVIEW(s) will follow tomorrow...................Cheers!
Ohireime P Eboreime
ff me on Twitter @ohiskaka1990
