The Road To Moscow Resumes II

By: chris | November 28th, 2007

Champions League Matchday 5b Preview

Same as before, but totally different.

Group A

Besiktas v Marseille: The Turks must be mighty glad to have the next fixture back at home after the embarrassment that was their last trip away from home (8-0 at Anfield for those in a coma). Still, they’re playing against the European specialists, Marseille, who couldn’t beat a Sunday league girls team in Ligue 1 but are looking to make advancement a very real possibility on the backs of The Chosen One & Friends.

Liverpool v Porto: Easily the (negative) shock of qualifying thus far. 4 points in 4 games for ‘Pool means Rafa’s title as Champions League Specialist is on the line against Porto, who are looking down from their throne atop Group A. Liverpool are coming into the game hot, but they’ll still have Ricky Quaresma, Lucho Gonzalez and friends to deal with. I’ll go ahead and say this one has Torres climbing up the list of The 100 Players Who Shook The Kop.

Group B

Rosenborg v Chelsea: Rosenborg, aka the straw that broke Mourinho’s back, somehow magically took away a point at Stamford Bridge in what turned out to be Jose’s final game in blue. Then, in what’s kinda hard to be a stroke of luck anymore, took a pair of victories off Valencia. Best part, unless they win the final is Moscow, they won’t be participating next year as they finished only 5th in Norway. That’s right, 5th in Norway. Forza Rosenborg.

Valencia v Schalke: The winner still has a chance to go through, the loser stays home or goes over to Europe’s NIT, the UEFA Cup, while a draw sends Valencia to the Champions League showers. Considering their run so far, they might just want to get this over with and start fresh. Losing twice to Rosenborg tends to have that type of effect on people.

Group C

Werder Bremen v Real Madrid: Carl Gauss couldn’t figure out how Bremen still has a chance to go through despite having lost 3 of 4 games, but they do. However, they’ll have to beat Real without Diego and Torsten Frings to make that dream not so dreamish. That makes “tall order” the understatement of the century. Real, on the other hand, can go through with a win or draw. Forgive me for not doing cartwheels, I think I’ve seen this before.

Lazio v Olympiakos: One of these teams will probably go through. The one that does will get knocked out in the next round just the same, but make a little bit more money in doing so. Bout sums it up.

Group D

Benfica v Milan: Benfica gaffer Jose Antonio Camacho has taken to confusing mental tactics to try and gain an edge before the game. “There’s a great difference between the sides. But we will try to play our best. We’re not going out there with a negative mentality, thinking it’s going to be difficult.” So, one team is much better than the other (not his), but it won’t be difficult. Alright. Got it. Benfica either needs a win or to get very very lucky. Milan needs some Ensure and 25 adult diapers.

Celtic v Shakhtar Donetsk: The Ukrainians started off with 2 wins and zero goals conceded, then proceded to collectively shit the bed over two legs against Milan, losing 7-1. Celtic hopes the same team shows up, because a Shaktar win means the Bhoys will have to beat Milan at the San Siro, usually a tough task (this season, not so much, it’s like an amusement park in there). But this spot is all for the taking.