Yank up your shorts it’s Champions League time

Frank Lampard is not the only one to appear, um, excited for the Champions League. The big boys take the stage again this week in Europe as 16 teams are whittled down to an elite eight. Four of the matches feature teams that are level after the first leg. The tournament holders are in trouble. Away teams are in desperate need of goals. Here’s a breakdown of this week’s matches as well as some infallible predictions.

Tuesday

Lyon v. Roma – The first leg was a brutal 0-0 draw. Eleven yellow cards were dished out and neither team could get into an offensive flow. Lyon host the second leg and with a win will advance to the quaterfinals for the fourth consecutive year. They have not lost in their past 18 matches at home in the Champions League.

Pick: Lyon will win another tight match.

Liverpool v. Barcelona – With a 2-1 win on the road, Liverpool have the clear advantage heading into their match at Anfield Road, but for what it is worth Barca defeated Liverpool 3-1 the last time they paid a visit to that fair city back in 2001. Barcelona have won just five of 23 visits against English opponents, while Liverpool have won just one of ten matches they have hosted against Spanish clubs.

Pick: Liverpool will lose the match but go through on away goals.

Chelsea v. Porto – An away goal by Chelsea in the first leg 1-1 draw could play a huge factor in how this one is played out. Porto will need to attack against their former manager’s team. Chelsea have lost only once at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League under Jose Mourinho. Porto have never won away against an English club

Pick: Chelsea will win outright and advance

Valencia v. Inter Milan – Twice trailing on the road in the first leg, Valencia showed a lot of heart to level the match 2-2 and to pick up a pair of crucial away goals. Inter have been as hot as any team in the world in domestic play but have not shown as good of form in the Champions League.

Pick: Valencia will go through on away goals.

Wednesday

AC Milan v. Celtic – They played to a 0-0 draw in the first in Scotland. AC Milan have reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League ever year since 2001/02. Celtic have never made it this far and have lost 11 of their 12 previous Champions League matches on the road.

Pick: AC Milan should win but call it a hunch, Celtic will get a draw and go through on away goals.

Arsenal v. PSV Eindhoven – It was the Dutch team that had the advantage in the Netherlands in leg one with PSV coming out on top 1-0. Arsenal have been snakebitten of late in cup competitions losing the Carling Cup final and in the FA Cup in the same week. This is the third time in five years the two teams have squared off in the Champions League.

Pick: Arsenal will win and advance

Manchester United v. Lille – The French side is still moaning about their 1-0 loss at home in the first leg. They face an uphill challenge against a red hot Manchester United team that have lost just once in their last 27 Champions League matches at home.

Pick: Manchester United will win and advance

Bayern Munich v. Real Madrid – The two old giants played a dandy in the first leg in Spain with Real Madrid coming out on top 3-2. Madrid enter the match beat up from their weekend tilt against Getafe. Bayern have played better football of late, winning their past two Bundesliga matches.

Pick: Bayern Munich will make up the goal difference and go through on away goals.

In addition to all of the team blogs, we’re working on getting a Champions League blog up and running so stay tuned for that. If you are looking to watch the matches online you can always check out Live Footy and hope it works for free (make sure you use Internet Explorer as your browser) or you can pay to watch via the UEFA site.

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Category: Champions League, World Football