Champions League Leg Two Tuesday Predictions

That’s Claudio Ranieri, hiding in the shadows and avoiding all media until tomorrow’s fixture against Chelsea.

The Champions League is back for the second go around. The first legs of this lot were pretty decent but – Bayern aside, one would presume by the scoreline – did leave something to be desired. Will they provide the fireworks we crave?

Probably not.

Liverpool (1) v Real Madrid (0)

Here’s what happened in the first leg: Real let Rafa go some dozen years ago, now he’s a European specialist and it came back to bite them in the arse.

Dissect the game’s tactics any way you want but what it comes down to is that Rafa does well in Europe. It’s just that simple.

Prediction: I can’t vote against Rafa, nor can I vote in favor of a team which will be employing Juande Ramos on English soil. 1-0 Liverpool

Odds:

Game:
Liverpool 13 – 10
Draw 11 – 5
Real Madrid 11 – 5

To Qualify:
Liverpool 1-4
Real Madrid 11-4

More odds at PaddyPower

Bonus Prediction: Whilst warming up on the sidelines in the second half, Fernando Torres’ hamstring will say “fuck this, I quit”, detach itself from his leg and walk out of the stadium.

Bayern (5) v Sporting (0)

I’m still of the belief UEFA should’ve inserted a mercy rule which waved Bayern through to the next round and allowed Sporting to assume a new identity somewhere in Mozambique until the Champions League is over.

Prediction: This prediction might actually be the toughest because Bayern is not only one of the most manic-depressive teams in the world at the moment, but Jurgen might just roll out a co-ed reserves team. Also throwing a wrench into matters is that I can’t imagine Sporting to be a thrilling team in early March Bavaria. Ummm…1-1.

Odds:

Game:
Bayern Munich 8 – 11
Draw 13 – 5
Sporting Lisbon 4 – 1

To qualify:

Surprise surprise, no odds.

More odds at PaddyPower

Bonus Prediction: Mark van Bommel will be red carded – whether he plays or not.

Juventus (0) v Chelsea (1)

Having absolutely no faith in Juande getting a big result on English turf, this has switched to the most exciting fixture of the Tuesday games. Guus instilled some magic the last go around and Juve have to be commended for not being sent crashing out Sporting-style in the opening half hour after that Chelsea barrage. No doubt Juve will have the edge on home turf, but can they keep Didier ‘I may be a diver but I’m @#$%ing en fuego’ Drogba out of the net while collecting enough moving bodies to mount some successful charges at goal? I dunno…

Prediction: The Tinkerman might have to switch up some tactics and that may actually benefit Juve in the end, but it probably won’t be enough to advance. 2-1 Juve

Odds:

Game:
Juventus 13 – 8
Draw 21 – 10
Chelsea 9 – 5

To qualify:
Juventus 11 – 4
Chelsea 1 – 4

More odds at PaddyPower

Bonus Prediction: Someone will make fun of Frank’s “big head” and he’ll come back with an IQ-appropriate retort of “yeah well you’re stoopid”.

Panathinaikos (1) v Villarreal (1)

Panathinaikos are this year’s Fenerbahce. The pretty good team from that other part of Europe that no one really pays attention to when it comes to club football and who bounce a stuttering Spanish side out of the Champions League. That’s it. I’m convinced of it. They’re this year’s Mediterranean Cinderella.

Prediction: If Villarreal weren’t able to get a result in front of their Spanish brethren, it’ll be uphill in Athens in front of screaming PAO fans. They aren’t exactly the sit on their hands, corporate types you’re prone to finding at, say, Stamford Bridge. 2-1 Panathinakos

Odds:

Game:
Panathinaikos 13 – 8
Draw 11 – 5
Villarreal 17 – 10

To qualify:

Panathinaikos 4 – 5
Villarreal 10 – 11

More odds at PaddyPower

Bonus Prediction: Fans will get unruly. Either way. (Wild guess.)

And now it’s time for your predictions, which will surely be better than mine. (Except for that Lampard thing – that’s as good as gold, so feel free to bet the deed.)

Liverpool v Real Madrid
Bayern v Sporting
Juventus v Chelsea
Panathinaikos v Villarreal

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Category: Champions League, World Football