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Matchday discussion thread...starting off with my thoughts on each game.
E Man. United 20:45 Villarreal
Easy win for the home side, Villarreal are missing their first choice striking pair and a trip to Old Trafford is a big ask. Man. Utd. are missing Carrick and Scholes, but if Hargreaves is fit their midfield will be ok, and the attack should be too much for Villarreal's defense.
E Celtic 20:45 AaB
Celtic are always very strong at home in the CL, so I think they'll win, albeit with difficulty, against AaB. As always, Celtic will have to get an away point or two to go through.
F FC Steaua Bucuresti 20:45 Bayern
Interesting matchup, Bayern are beginning to hit some form but I think Steaua will give them a tough time. It's going to be tough for Bayern to come back into the CL and win immediately.
F Lyon 20:45 Fiorentina
Most fascinating tie of the round IMO. Two real clashes of styles and cultures...let's see how Lyon handle Mutu+Gilardino, because I think elsewhere they look stronger than Fiorentina. Add in prior CL experience, and I'd tip them to win this one.
G Porto 20:45 Fenerbahçe
Porto are probably the better side on paper, but in Guiza Fenerbahce have a deadly goalscorer. Not to forget Semih Senturk or Alex either. Let's see how the game unfolds, both sides may start off conservatively to test each other out. Probably a draw.
G Dynamo Kyiv 20:45 Arsenal
Hmmm, Arsenal away in Eastern Europe is like Arsenal away in the North of England. They had a brilliant result on the weekend, but I don't think they'll find it easy against Dynamo Kiev. I'll go with an Arsenal win though.
H Juventus 20:45 Zenit
Another great clash of styles - one team likes to keep it solid, is defensively strong, and plays a midfield partnership of Sissoko-Poulsen
The other is one of the most exciting sides we've seen in recent times, with brilliant pace, movement, and imagination on their counter-attacks. A wealth of attacking options too, esp. with Danny joining Arshavin.
Tough to call this game, Juve themselves have been out of the CL for a year or two, so they won't have experience to count on.
H Real Madrid 20:45 BATE
Home win unfortunately
Unless Metzelder and Salgado play, then it may get interesting, esp. since it'll be static Raul rather than Higuain up front.
E Man. United 20:45 Villarreal
Easy win for the home side, Villarreal are missing their first choice striking pair and a trip to Old Trafford is a big ask. Man. Utd. are missing Carrick and Scholes, but if Hargreaves is fit their midfield will be ok, and the attack should be too much for Villarreal's defense.
E Celtic 20:45 AaB
Celtic are always very strong at home in the CL, so I think they'll win, albeit with difficulty, against AaB. As always, Celtic will have to get an away point or two to go through.
F FC Steaua Bucuresti 20:45 Bayern
Interesting matchup, Bayern are beginning to hit some form but I think Steaua will give them a tough time. It's going to be tough for Bayern to come back into the CL and win immediately.
F Lyon 20:45 Fiorentina
Most fascinating tie of the round IMO. Two real clashes of styles and cultures...let's see how Lyon handle Mutu+Gilardino, because I think elsewhere they look stronger than Fiorentina. Add in prior CL experience, and I'd tip them to win this one.
G Porto 20:45 Fenerbahçe
Porto are probably the better side on paper, but in Guiza Fenerbahce have a deadly goalscorer. Not to forget Semih Senturk or Alex either. Let's see how the game unfolds, both sides may start off conservatively to test each other out. Probably a draw.
G Dynamo Kyiv 20:45 Arsenal
Hmmm, Arsenal away in Eastern Europe is like Arsenal away in the North of England. They had a brilliant result on the weekend, but I don't think they'll find it easy against Dynamo Kiev. I'll go with an Arsenal win though.
H Juventus 20:45 Zenit
Another great clash of styles - one team likes to keep it solid, is defensively strong, and plays a midfield partnership of Sissoko-Poulsen
The other is one of the most exciting sides we've seen in recent times, with brilliant pace, movement, and imagination on their counter-attacks. A wealth of attacking options too, esp. with Danny joining Arshavin.
Tough to call this game, Juve themselves have been out of the CL for a year or two, so they won't have experience to count on.
H Real Madrid 20:45 BATE
Home win unfortunately
Unless Metzelder and Salgado play, then it may get interesting, esp. since it'll be static Raul rather than Higuain up front.
