PSG-CHELSEA PREVIEW

                                             


Good evening ladies and gentlemen. It's the UCL yet again and the other remaining English representative travel to France to play emerging European heavyweights, PARIS ST GERMAIN. Chelsea hope to follow in the footsteps of Manchester United who fought hard to secure a respectable 1-1 draw v the World's greatest team, Bayern Munich. Jose Mourinho has never lost a quarter-final tie in the Champions League. He doesn't intend to start now.

Les Parisien are flying high in the French League. With Le Championaat all but won, they have set their sights on going farther than last season's last eight appearance in the Champions League. Laurent Blanc is no slouch. Although his resume is nothing compared to Jose's. The Les Blues Legend has brought his own style and dimension into the team and it is reaping the right fruits. Swedish magician, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's 10 goals in the Champions League is 2nd only to CR7's 13 and that speaks volumes of what the giant attacking god has achieved individually this term. With 40 club goals to his name, this represents his best scoring season since he burst onto the scene. If anything is to happen tonight, Ibra has a big role to play.

For Chelsea, their season is winding down ever so fast and these games are coming in thick and quick. All the games from now till May are important and they cannot afford any slip-ups. Jose Mourinho is a man for the big occasion and he rarely fails to deliver. If it comes down to tactical nous, it is a foregone conclusion.


PROBABLE LINEUPS-

PSG:

Sirigu, VDW, Alex, T.Silva, Maxwell, Verratti, Matuidi, Motta, Lavezzi, Ibra, Cavani

CHELSEA

Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Hazard, Torres, Willian

Paris St Germain will field their strongest line up tonight with the hope that they will at least carry an advantage to Stamford Bridge. The Ibra-EL MATADOR partnership will hope to cause a lot of problems for the Blues rearguard. It is the midfield trio of Verratti-Matuidi-Motta that have the most work to do. Considered one of the best trios in World football, they can do their credentials a whole lot of good if they dominate the centre tonight. They also have the best defender in the World so no problems there.

Chelsea will be without both Matic and Salah who are cup tied. Samuel Eto'o is also injured and will be replaced  by Fernando Torres in the starting line up. The experience of Frank Lampard will be very vital and Terry-Cahill must be at their very best to keep Cavani-Ibra at bay throughout the game. It is left to be seen if the Chelsea players and management team are there to just take pictures with the Eiffel Tower or destroy their foes at the Parc de Princes.

Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990

BARCELONA-ATLETICO MADRID PREVIEW

During my Manchester United-Bayern Munich preview, I tired my very best not to mention David Moyes and I think I succeeded in that regard. It will be impossible to do a preview of this magnitude without mentioning two great Argentine slugging it out for the right to be called Champions of La Liga. The football scripts must be written by Heavenly bodies. If not, how best can you describe the almost perfect scripts that have played out in years gone by? It is more than a coincidence that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are meeting in the quarter-final of the Champions League.

If everything goes well, this season might be much better than the 'ANTIC 96' which the current manager, Diego Simeone was a big part of. 'EL CHOLO' has brought a new lease of life to the Madrid club since he came on board. The boss demands the very best from each player, irrespective of the position. He sold Falcao and built Diego Costa. Now the Brazilian cum Spaniard is one of the best strikers in the World and is posting incredible numbers in front of goal.


                                                       



Gerardo 'Tata' Martino has not yet defeated Diego Simeone in any competition since he was appointed to replace Tito Vilanova at the beginning of the season. Although the Catalans won the SuperCoppa Espanna at the expense of Simeone's men, it was only on away goals rule. No outright victory has been recorded by the 4-time European Champions. Tata will hope to register his first win over los Rojiblancos tonight at the intimidating Camp Nou. Victories over Real, Celta Vigo and Espanyol in the past weeks have lifted the mood. A resounding one tonight will remove the roof definitely.

Atletico Madrid have proved in no small measure that they are a hard nut to crack this term. The La Liga leaders rose to the occasion at the new San Mames on Saturday. That match showed their test of character and ability to thrive under difficult conditions as they came out victors and maintained their one point lead at the top of La liga. Diego Costa pulled out of yesterday's training and is a doubt for tonight's fixture. Simeone will be hoping he shrugs off whatever ails him and declares himself ready to shoot down down the Catalans.


PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA

Pinto, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Fabregas, Xavi, Iniesta Neymar, Messi

ATLETICO MADRID

Courtois, Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Luis, Gabi, Koke, Mario Suarez, Garcia, Costa, Turan


Victor Valdes has been operated upon and will be out for seven months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in a crucial League game v Celta Vigo. The serial Zamora winner will miss the World Cup in Brazil and of course tonight's encounter. Barca have an able replacement in Pinto who has delivered everytime he has been called upon to deputise for the almost irreplaceable VV. The defence is as you were and the midfield is predictable every game. It is in attack that Alexis and Pedro are finding it difficult to play week in, week out because of the presence of Neymar who hasn't let himself down recently.He won the penalty that set Barcelona on the path of victory at the Bernabeu, scored two goals in the next match v Celta and had a hand in the penalty converted by Messi at Espanyol. Tata has a lot of faith in Cesc Fabregas and cannot bench Iniesta who has been on form for the past few weeks now. Alexis has scored 17 League goals but is not guaranteed a starting slot in the team. That goes to show the stiff competition.

Atletico Madrid possess some of the best players in the World in every position on the field of play. Their goaltender is certainly one of the best in the World and the Miranda led rearguard is as shored up as any other in World Football. Koke is a full Spanish international now and Arda Turan can force his way into almost every team in the World. Raul Garcia is the dependable ally of Costa in European games and he is set to be picked ahead of David Villa again. Diego Costa will lead the line and his industry will be very much required to take a good result back to the Calderon in three weeks. Captain Gabi is the enforcer, the fighter, the leader, the conductor and the orchestrator of the Colchoneros. He has paid his dues. He has a big job tonight v the revered Barcelona midfield. He always delivers.

The absence of Victor Valdes is a big blow to Barcelona, Spain and the football World in general. He will be sorely missed and I hope he recovers well from this regrettable layoff. He will come back stronger because he is a fighter, a winner and a champion. ANIMSVALDES!


Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990

MANCHESTER UNITED-BAYERN MUNICH PREVIEW

                                            

They may be having a woeful season but Manchester United welcome Bayern Munich tonight in a clash of European heavyweights. Bayern still hold a grudge against the red army. That inexplicable, unexpected comeback in injury time fifteen years ago is still fresh in the memories of those in Bavaria. The Camp Nou miracle was a big blow to Bayern Munich and although they have paid the red devils back a couple of times, nothing will stop them from ensuring that UNITED don't go through them to win another Champions League title.

Bayern Munich were the best team in the World last season and this term, they have gotten even better. Pep Guardiola came in and raised the bar. They have the Buli wrapped up after practically walking it since it began in August. The Bavarians are chasing another treble and yet another peice of history. Victory in this tie will take them closer to their aim of becoming the first club to win the Champions League back to back. On paper, they should start preparing for the semi-final.

Manchester United bounced back from the disappointment of derby disaster to record a less than convincing win v Aston Villa in the early afternoon Saturday kick-off at Old Trafford. Some delusional and plastic fans flew a stupid banner half mast during the game to voice their displeasure at the recent bad results, especially the 3-0 losses to two of our biggest enemies-Liverpool and Manchester City. The 4-1 result on Saturday flattered the defending champions. A much better performance is needed tonight if the red army are to avoid a monumental embarrassment.


PROBABLE LINEUPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED:

DDG, Jones, Vidic, Evans, Buttner, Carrick, Fellaini, Giggs, Kagawa,Valencia, Rooney

BAYERN MUNICH:

Neuer, Rafinha, Boateng, Martinez, Alaba, Schweini, Lahm, Kroos, Robben, Ribery, Mandzukic


As if United don't have enough to worry about, Rafael is a doubt for tonight's match after skipping training due to a thigh strain suffered in the Aston Villa game. That coupled with the fact that RVP is out and Patrice Evra is suspended. Alex Buttner is set to play at left back which means the unenviable task of keeping Arjen Robben quiet is his to accomplish. Whoever plays at right back has to face the third best player in the World-Franck Ribery. The midfield has to include the bionic Giggs who put in one of those unbelievable shifts in the Olympiakos must win game. The Veteran welsh wizard has amassed ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY appearances in the Champions League.That alone deserves a Champions League winners medal. United know they have to double up on Toni Kroos tonight, henceI think Moyes will go with the Carrick-Fellaini partnership. The front line will consist of Kagawa-Rooney and Valencia if he passes a late fitness test.

Bayern Munich will have to do without Messrs Dnate (suspended) and Thiago (injured). Both have been pivotal this season and will be missed but the squad is so big and filled with World Class players that no one will notice their absence tonight. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos are more than capable of running the show. The 'ROBBERY' duo are a phenomenal pair. On both wings, it is almost impossible to stop them. United are set to deploy makeshift fullbacks tonight to compound the miserable season. FC Hollywood can afford to rest the likes of Shaqiri, Muller, Gotze and still put out a team capable of tearing any side apart.

Tonight, Wayne Rooney has a very important role to play. Rewind back to four years ago. He couldn't stamp his authority in the quarter-final 2nd leg at Old Trafford because he was injured. He can pour all the venom on them tonight after such a long wait. The Englishman is fresh from scoring a double at the weekend and entering the top four of the EPL's highest goal scorers of all time. Without RVP, the mantle of leading the team to victory falls on him. Juan Mata can play no part because he is cup-tied but Shinji Kagawa can light up the mood around Old Trafford and help his cause if he produces one of those great performances he is known for. Bayern Munich are well aware of his abilities as he has put them to the sword in the past. However, those days seem to be over now as he is getting back to that sparkling form that won him so many admirers. If he rekindles the love he has for the game, Bayern will have more problems than they envisaged.

Bayern need no elaboration. The German red devils come into this match as clear favourites to go through despite the best efforts of Ryan Giggs to dispel such assertion.  It is crystal clear that they are the best team in the World and anything other than a victory tonight at the Theatre of dreams will be seen as a huge shock. Despite being held by a determined Hoffenheim at the weekend, they will go all out for a comfortable victory. The ROBBERY gang will be determined to go back home with something gargantuan after the one hour thirty minutes long operation.


Ohireime P EBoreime
@ohiskaka1990

THE MANCHESTER DERBY PREVIEW

                                                          


Tuesday's AFFAIR is the highlight of the midweek matches in the EPL and an eventful and drama filled weekend that saw great individual performances and fantastic hat-tricks. Manchester United are 18 points behind Chelsea and know that it is all but impossible to retain the EPL crown but they will be keen to prevent noisy neighbours, City from succeeding them as Champions.

Dismissed effortlessly 4-1 by their local rivals in October, the red army have home advantage this time and will hope continue on a good run of form that has seen them win two games on the bounce, including the ouster of Olympiakos from the Champions League. Passage to the quarter final of Europe's biggest club competition and a morale boosting victory at Upton Park has seen United bury some of the demons that emanated from the 3-0 loss at home to Liverpool.

City have been rampant this season. The 76 goals registered in the League is second only to Liverpool's 82. The 5-0 obliteration of Fulham sent a note of warning to those who think they are dead and buried after being sent out of two competitions within the space of one week. Yaya Toure scored a brilliant hat-trick to take his tally to 16 League goals. The Ivorian is shoe in for player of the year in England this term and deservedly so.


PROBABLE LINEUPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED-

DDG, Rafa, Jones, Evans/Rio, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Adnan, TonyV, Mata, Rooney

MANCHESTER CITY-

Hart, Zabs, Komapany, Demichelis, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Yaya, Silva, Nasri, Milner, Negredo

Manuel Pellegrini has to do without Kun Aguero yet again. The Argentine is hamstrung and will miss out on Tuesday night. Alvaro Negredo has failed to hit the heights he set on his arrival from Seville. The 'beast' has failed to score for a long time now. However, his manager will almost certainly keep faith with him once again. The midfield partnership of Yaya and Fernandinho is the best in the World and they were both on the scoresheet as the blue moon destroyed Magath's hapless and helpless Fulham on Saturday. They are undoubtedly the best midfield duo in the League. A usual mano-a-mano as the season has gone and they will win the battle of the centre fair and square. Vincent Kompany is back from suspension after sitting out the Fulham game. Aleks Kolarov may keep his place at left back.

David Moyes will hope to continue with the same winning  formula on Tuesday night. His United team are yet to turn up in the big games this season. The Scot has many important decisions to make concerning the eleven that will line up at the Theatre. Adnan Januzaj has not played the last two games and TonyV is set to return after suffering an eye injury last Wednesday. The Rooney-Mata-Kagawa  triangle might be altered and Central defence is a worry. Rio Ferdinand should shrug off a niggling back injury to feature. The Carrick gamble worked well on Saturday but should not be repeated against a devastatingly ruthless City side Pat should replace Buttner at left back.

If Wayne ROOney scores another of his wonder goals on Tuesday night, it may help to put a dent on City's hopes of winning the League and improve United's chances of qualifying for the UCL. 4th place is looking extremely unachievable but who knows?


Ohireime P Eboreime
@ohiskaka1990