Champions League Knockout Second Leg Wednesday Predictions

By: Daryl | March 10th, 2009
   

All eyes will be on Old Trafford tomorrow, for the second round of The Special One vs Mr Alex. But rather than another dramatic photo of those two eying each other up and down, I thought I’d give you this instead.

The little fella to the left is Etienne, son of Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o. Etienne won’t be featuring for Barca (unless Guardiola has some heavy duty squad rotation planned) but I thought it was kind of nice that they let him have a kickaround during training.

Anyway, back to the serious stuff. Here are my predictions for Wednesday’s Champions League second legs. Leave yours in the comments and then we’ll see who’s right (hint: it’s usually not me).




Barcelona (1) vs (1) Lyon

Thierry Henry’s poaching was enough to match Juninho’s beauty of a freekick in the first leg. Which isn’t all that fair, when you think about it.

Barca already have their away goal, and therefore a theoretical advantage at Camp Nou. But the Barcelona of recent weeks isn’t the all conquering Barca we’d all gotten used to worshipping.

Prediction: Things aren’t going Barca’s way lately, and this is exactly the sort of game you can lose when that happens. I’m going to be brave and predict a 2-1 win for Lyon, with Karim Benzema the hero of the day.

Odds:
This game: Barcelona 2-5, Draw 10-3, Lyon 15-2
To advance: Barcelona 1-7, Lyon 4-1
More odds at PaddyPower

Bonus Prediction: Karim Benzema will then sign for Barcelona this summer.


Roma (0) vs (1) Arsenal

The idea of Arsenal defending a one goal lead fills me with confusion. How will they go about it? Attack? Play keep ball? Who knows. But the return of Eduardo and possibly Theo Walcott has to worry an injury ravaged Roma team.

Prediction: Roma to give it a valiant go, but only get a 1-1 draw for their troubles.

Odds:
For this game: Roma 11-8, Draw 21-10, Arsenal 21-10
To advance: Roma 5-2, Arsenal 2-7
More odds at PaddyPower


Man Utd (0) vs (0) Inter Milan

The big game. No two ways about it. And since the first leg ended Julio Cesar 0-0 Man Utd, will Fergie’s men regret failing to turn their first leg domination into goals?

The Special One will be hoping he’s still got some of that Old Trafford magic left from 2004, but…

Prediction: …Alex Ferguson seems to be able to bend reality to his will this season. Seriously, he’s like an elderly, Scottish, non-blue Dr Manhattan. And so he will decree this a 2-0 win for Utd.

Odds:
For this game: Man Utd 3-4, Draw 12-5, Inter 4-1
To advance: Man Utd 8-15, Inter 11-8
More odds at PaddyPower

Bonus Prediction: At some point, Liverpool are going to face Man Utd in the Champions League. And the press conferences alone will be worth watching.


FC Porto (2) vs (2) Atletico Madrid

Maybe not the most glamorous game compared to the big names above. But Porto have the competition’s joint top scorer in Lisandro, and Atleti have Sergio Aguero. In fact, if I had to pick which game would be most entertaining tomorrow, I’d go with this one.

Prediction: Honestly? No idea. But for arguments sake let’s say Atletico will go through on away goals after a 3-3 draw.

Odds:
For this game: Porto 13-10, Draw 9-4, Atletico 11-5
To advance: Porto 2-5, Atletico 7-4
More odds at PaddyPower

Bonus Prediction: Porto will not be accepting any Champions League advice from Sporting Lisbon.


For a more in-depth preview check out Champions League Offside.


OK, you’ve seen my predictions. Now let’s see yours:

Barcelona vs Lyon
Roma vs Arsenal
Man Utd vs Inter
Porto vs Atletico


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  • Ian
    Barcelona 1-0 Lyon
    Roma 1-1 Arsenal
    Manchester United 0-1 Inter Milan
    FC Porto 1-3 Atletico Madrid

    I have to side with Musab on the overall goals picture ... low, aside from the Atletico match. Though, who knows, Barca could always find their feet again, or Arsenal could decide they have nothing but the CL to play for and romp. Who knows.
  • Barcelona Lyon 2-0
    Roma Arsenal 0-0
    Man Utd Inter 2-0
    Porto Atletico 1-0

    No goals tonight lads
  • John
    3-1 Barca
    2-0 Arsenal
    2-0 ManU (1-0 til closing seconds, then ManU nips another on the counterattack)
    1-1 Porto
  • Ste
    Barca 3-1 Lyon
    Roma 0-2 Arsenal
    Man Utd 3-0 Inter
    Porto 2-3 Athletico
  • Steve G
    I just hope those left wing Roma Ultras behave in Rome today.
  • Ak
    Did anyone else think, "Man, looks like Rafael da Silva got a hold of whatever is keeping Giggs still playing." about the photo?

    Anyway, I reckons:
    Barca 2-2 Lyon
    Roma 2-1 Arsenal
    Utd 0-0 Inter (and in a highly unorthodox move, UEFA concur to decide the result via a sassing competition between Ferguson and Mourinho. There are no winners.)
    Porto 1-2 Atletico
  • lefutur
    wow, quite a few people predicting Lyon to go through. Fills this OL fan's heart with pride. But I think Lyon backline injuries will be too much to overcome.

    Barcelona vs Lyon 2-1
    Roma vs Arsenal 1-1
    Man Utd vs Inter 3-1
    Porto vs Atletico 2-1
  • Hawk
    Barcelona 3-1 Lyon
    Roma 3-1 Arsenal
    Man Unt 0-0 Inter (Inter to win on Penalties)
    Porto 0-2 Atletico
  • Paddy
    Barcelona 2-1 Lyon
    Roma 3-1 Arsenal
    Man Utd 0-0 Inter (Inter to prevail on penalties)
    Porto 2-1 Athletico
  • Barcelona 3 - 1 Lyon
    Roma 1 - 1 Arsenal
    Man Utd 3 - 0 Inter
    Porto 3 - 2 Atletico (AET)
  • Drabik
    Barca 2 - 2 Lyon
    Roma 0 - 1 Arsenal
    Man U 1 - 0 Inter
    Porto 2 - 3 Atletico
  • Arsenal is a pale shadow of their past, however, teams are also finding it hard to beat them.

    I'm backing the Gunners not to lose in the Full 90 mins.
  • Mustafa
    oh, and my picks
    Barca 3-1 Lyon
    Roma 0-2 Arse
    Man U 0-0 Inter (Man U in PKs)
    Porto 1-4 Atletico
  • Mustafa
    am i the only person that noticed the Nike cleats on little Etienne when his daddy is a Puma guy? hmm, i guess that nike's going after him early too :p
  • Barcelona 1-1 Lyon
    Roma 2-1 Arsenal
    Manchester United 0-1 Inter Milan
    FC Porto 2-3 Atletico Madrid
  • Wow Daryl. No mention of the "Special One" in the whole post. How did you manage to resist the temptation?

    Double wow. Lyon to win. Brave indeed.

    Triple wow. Benzema going to Barca after Messi signs with ManCity?
  • elle
    Daryl, you predicted a United win? whaaaaat?

    Barca 2-0 Lyon
    Roma 1-1 Arsenal
    United 3-0 Inter
    Porto 0-1 Atletico
  • Aaron
    Lyon 3 Barca 0
    Arsenal 1 Roma 1
    Man U 1 Inter 1
    Atletico 3 porto 0
  • Aaron
    Lyon 3 barca 0
  • Al
    Barca 2 Lyon 2
    Roma 2 Arsenal 1
    Man U 1 Inter 0 (I hope I'm very wrong though)
    Porto 3 Atletico 3 (good prediction, Daryl)
  • MoMONEY
    *** I meant 1-2 for Arsenal
  • MoMONEY
    Lyon to win? Bold but I think its realistic. I think Benzema will score for sure. But I will say 3-2 Barca. Messi awakens from his slumber with 2 and Eto'o another. Though I agree that Benzema will be at the Nou Camp next year. The shocker is going to be Inter. They will score early and have to withstand. I think United ill pull it off but who knows...

    Barcelona vs Lyon 3-2
    Roma vs Arsenal 2-1
    Man Utd vs Inter 2-1
    Porto vs Atletico 3-2
  • erik
    barcelona 2-1 lyon
    roma 1-1 arsenal
    man utd 1-1 inter (havent you seen special1tv? last minute second leg!)
    porto 2-2 atletico atletico advances in PKs 4-3
  • Might wanna fix that Atletico link Daryl ;).

    Barcelona vs Lyon 2-1
    Roma vs Arsenal 3-0 (No way, but why not!)
    Man Utd vs Inter 0-1 (Jose will do it. He is the Special One after all)
    Porto vs Atletico 2-2 (Penalty shoot out just screams this one)
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