UEFA Champions League

It’s that time of the year when the best clubs in Europe, fight it out towards their next step of being crowned champions of Europe, The glorious UEFA Champions League, Round of 16 is here. With all the mouthwatering clashes up, for all you football freaks out there, it’s going to be a treat. So sit back and enjoy.

The rounds of 16 fixtures are as follows:

Arsenal vs Barcelona

AC Milan vs Tottenham Hotspurs

FC Copenhagen vs Chelsea FC

Valencia CF vs Schalke FC

Olympique Marseille vs Manchester United

Olympique Lyonnais vs Real Madrid

AS Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk

Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich

Looking at the draw some teams like Manchester United and Chelsea look primed to go through but looking at the inconsistency of the Champions League, almost anyone has a chance to go through.

Let’s take a look at each game individually,

1. Arsenal vs Barcelona – A re-run of the last year’s quarter final. A completely one sided game. It’s the best game according to writer and arguably the most entertaining one too.  Touted as the game between ‘The best Club in the world’ against the ‘most promising one in the world’. All the football pundits prefer Barcelona for this one, but don’t be afraid to bet on the gunners, there is a chance they might make it.

2. AC Milan vs  Tottenham Hotspurs –  Another feast of football, two of the most entertaining and prolific teams face off against each other for a berth in the semis. Milan were taught a footballing lesson last time at this stage of the competition. Similarities? That too was a team from England it was Manchester United who made easy work of Milan by pounding a 7-1 thrashing.  Champions League debutant Spurs will have a tough task ahead facing the seven time champion. But after the blasting away the current champions (Read Inter Milan) this game is tough to predict. Almost anything would happen. Watch out for  Ibrahamovic  and company vs Bale and company.

3. FC Copenhagen vs Chelsea FC – The Blues haven’t been in the best of form, but are heavily tipped to go through for this Clash. With Arrivals of Torres and David Luiz with the latter ineligible to play in the Champions League, featuring in the group stages for Benefic. In spite of it the English champions are once again looking as a force to be reckoned with. Chelsea is the overwhelming favorite but a trip to the den of the Danish champions is always going to be unpredictable.

4. Valencia CF vs FC Schalke – A game in which any of the two could go through without creating any upsets.  Royal Blues have suffered a stump in form, since the last season but have been in great form in Europe’s premier competition, so you can consider Valencia as slight favorites for this one. Another clash amongst equals.

5. Olympique Marseille vs Manchester United – Manchester United are overwhelming favorites for this one, but don’t count the French champion’s just yet who beat Chelsea at home on the last match day of the group stages, It’s going to be a difficult task for Olympique Marseille to beat the Red Devils who have just lost twice in the whole season, least for any club in the world.

6. Olympique Lyonnais vs Real Madrid – Another re-run of last year’s round of 16 clash, and surprisingly the French side went through before their progress was halted by Bayern Munich, Real Madrid have not been past the pre-quarter’s stage in the last seven years but with the arrival of the current European champion Mourinhoon the bench, they are heavily tipped to go through. Can Lyon cause another upset once again? Only time will tell.

7. AS Roma vs Shakhtar Donetsk – Another game that could go anyway.Up till certain weeks, Roma would be the favorites, but if a team can win a group that contains Arsenal, then that team can beat any team on their day. A game with no favorites in it.

8. Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich – Probably the biggest fixture of all, in a re-run of last year’s final the side from Milan prevailed as the champions of Europe. The times have changed since then and both the sides have hit top form after facing a slump in form with the return of ‘the robbery’ and the emergence of Mario Gomez. And not to forget revenge in their minds of that painful night in Madrid. The Bavarians are slight favorites for this one.

Let us know who you feel will go through and who will be crowned the champions of Europe, good times are ahead guys! Cheers.

Tags: AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Chelsea FC, Europe, FC Copenhagen, Football, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspurs, UEFA Champions League