UEFA Cup: Athletico Madrid vs. Aberdeen

Athletico’s Calderon stadium has in recent weeks become synonymous with goals. It has seen more goals this season that at any other ground in the world, with Athletico scoring thirty goals in the ten matches played there. Of course, they have also conceded eleven in the same period, but the local fans are becoming a little spoilt. Forty one goals in ten games is pretty good value for money by anyone’s standards, and this success has seen them shoot up the league table to fifth spot, just a point from a Champions League place. So far in this current edition of the UEFA cup, which is Athletico’s first participation for eight years, the Spanish team has played one match in their group stage, drawing three goals apiece away to Lokomotiv Moscow. They are now third in group B after just one game, five points behind Greek side Panathinaikos, who have played two games and won them both.

Aberdeen have also played two, but their first UEFA cup outing ended in defeat at the hands of Panathinaikos by three goals to nil. The point the Scottish club picked up in their second game was a one-one draw against the Russian club.

Athletico’s strikers are in red hot form at the moment, and you can expect to see a couple of goals at least in this match. The seventeen year old Argentinean ‘El Kun’ Agüero is getting better and better with each game, and he is more than likely to put one away against the Scots. The real engine though behind Atheltico’s great current form has been the reappearance of Aguero’s compatriot, midfielder Maxi Rodriguez. He injured his knee while playing a friendly international against Spain some eight months ago, and has only been back in his club squad for little over a month. During that tme, though, we have seen him take the reins of the team and has put in some outstanding performances.

Aberdeen are really going to have to watch the Maxi Rodriguez, as well as a couple of other great players, including Raul Garcia.  As for the Scottish club, they go into this game after losing their last two Scottish Premier league matches, including a pretty awful four one away defeat to Hearts. They are now seventh in a league of twelve and could do with some European football to take their minds off their domestic league problems.

I am going to have to go for Athletico in this one. I don’t think Aberdeen have either the squad or the experience and get anything out of this game, but if Athletico coach Javier Aguirre decides to rest some of his key players, they might be lucky and get a draw.

Prediction: home win (3-2)

Champions league: Werder Bremen vs. Real Madrid

Real Madrid arrived in Germany and for once the players weren’t the center of attention. All the media were following coach Bernd Schuster, who is one of the most famous, or infamous, figures in German football.

Madrid need a point to qualify to the next round, and I am pretty certain a point is all they are going to get from this match. Their away form in this year’s competition hasn’t been that impressive, with a two-two draw at Lazio which they should have won easily, and another draw, this time goalless, in Greece against Olympiacos.

Werder Bremen will also find hope in Madrid’s historically dismal away record in Germany. The Spanish side have played in the country twenty one times but have only won once, losing fourteen others. Added to this, The Spanish giants can only boast one away win in the Champions League from the last eight tries.

Bremen meanwhile, are bottom of Group C with three points and need something of a miracle to pass the group stage. Beating Madrid at their stadium would be a good start, but they will have to hope the other game between Lazio and Olympiacos ends in a draw. This is in sharp contrast to their domestic form, where they are second in the Bundesliga and just one point behind leaders Bayern, who aren’t even qualified for the Champions League this year.

The first game between Real and Bremen earlier this year at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium ended in a narrow win for the home side, where Bremen put in an impressive display and were unlucky to go home empty handed.

Real Madrid will be without Argentinean defender Heinze, who is out with a knee injury, as well as Sneijder, Drenthe, and Soldado. As for Bremen, their attack force will be dealt a huge blow by the suspension of their Brazilian star Diego, who received a red card in the last Champions League game against Lazio.

I don’t think Real Madrid will be able to pull off a win here as Bremen at home are extremely strong, but I can’t see the host side picking up the three points they so desperately need, either. A draw then, I think will be the most probable result. Good for Madrid, who face Lazio at home in the last match, but bad for Lazio, who will have to say goodbye to the Champions League again this year.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)

 

Champions league: Valencia vs. Schalke

This game is the first of two match points for Valencia. They have to win here against the German outfit, then travel to London and beat Chelsea if they want to qualify for the next round. Something tells me they won’t do it.

Their home record this season has been absolutely atrocious. They have won just one game in both their domestic and European games since September, and still don’t know what a draw is. Seventeen games, nine wins and eight defeats is not the form to inspire hope among the Valencia faithful, and come the end of the season they are going to find it difficult to qualify for even next year’s UEFA cup.

Schalke 04 find themselves in a similar predicament, although not as bad as the Spanish team. They won in the Bundesliga at the weekend with a good away performance to Hannover 96, which puts them into sixth position in their domestic league a whopping nine points behind leaders Bayern. Valencia couldn’t even manage a win, however. They fell one goal to nil on their visit to Racing de Santander and dropped out of the Champions League spot to also land in sixth position. With the level of competitiveness that exists in the Spanish league at the moment, maybe being kicked out of the Champions League would be a blessing in disguise and they could then begin to focus on their league form. New coach Ronald Koeman was supposed to have been the revolution the club needed and ordered after the sacking of Quique Sanchez Flores, but I don’t think even the Dutchman realized how big the problem in Valencia really was. He opted to put Cañizares back in goal for the Racing game, but this proved to be a mistake as the aging goalkeeper’s gaff cost them the match. Valencia’s attack, unusually dull this season, had another bad night and failed to score for the fifth match this season. They have only managed to find the net twice in this current edition of the Champions League, and I really can’t see them scoring in front of their home crowd in this clash either. Valencia fans are quite famous for punishing their own side, and if Schalke manage an early strike get ready for some fireworks.

I’m going for a close away win here. The Valencia players know full well they won’t win against Chelsea, and for that reason won’t have their hearts set o this match.

Prediction: Away win (0-1)

Champions league: Rosenberg vs. Chelsea

After Rosenberg’s shock victories over Valencia, they go into this Group B clash full of fire and determination to seal their pass to the next round. There’s only one problem. They aren’t facing a Valencia squad full of doubt but Chelsea. Still, in the first game between these two teams Rosenberg did earn a draw at Stamford bridge which in turn resulted in the dismissal of Jose Mourinho. Rosenberg’s Norwegian league has finished and they haven’t played a game since beating Valencia in Spain two weeks ago. Not the kind of thing you’d want before taking on mighty Chelsea but still, they will have the weather on their side. No one in their right mind would want to go to Norway in November and play a game of football, and it will be interesting to see how the Chelsea players react to this, especially those who come from more temperate climes.

Chelsea are without a number of key figures, most notably keeper Cech and Ivory coast international Didier Drogba. His place is probably going to be taken by Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, which might be a good idea owing to the weather.

Chelsea should be very careful going into this match. Valencia went there thinking it would be an easy game against the minnows of this group and ended up being comprehensibly beaten. All their players will be fully rested after finishing their domestic league almost a month ago, and I don’t see why the Norwegian side can’t earn a good draw. While Chelsea are getting the right results in the Premier league, their football hasn’t been as impressive as those above them, especially Arsenal and Manchester United. Some of the players look tired, and this will have an adverse effect on this match. Also, they haven’t really been playing nearly as good in this edition of the Champions League –two wins and two draws- when they really should have been runaway leaders.

I’m going to stick my neck out on this one and go for a one-one draw. Not the most exciting result and I doubt if it will be an exciting game, but one point for each side might well be enough to put them both through to the knock out stages.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Champions league: Liverpool vs. Porto

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez’s job is hanging by a thread and Porto could well be the ones who cut the strings. Amazing as it would seem, the Liverpool coach –who brought Liverpool their first Champions League title in decades- pretty much looks set to be fired by the American owners. The question is will it be sooner rather than later? If Liverpool don’t win this game it will almost definitely be sooner. The American owners have been angered by Benitez near constant complaining about not having the players he needs to win the Premier league title. Of course, his bosses don’t see it that way and feel he should be concentrated on coaching the players he has. While it is obvious to see both points of view, I don’t see Liverpool capable of taking on either Arsenal or Manchester United for the domestic trophy, which leaves the Champions League as the only other competition worth going after. Judging by Liverpool’s European form of late though, this isn’t going to happen this season. They have made a dreadful start to this year’s campaign, losing two and drawing another. They went some way towards their goal (and giving fans an enjoyable night) by beating Besiktas in an historic eight nil thrashing in their last European outing, but they still have work to do, and might not even qualify if they win both their remaining two games. There is talk of a crisis at Liverpool, but I don’t see it. They are still unbeaten in the league, had a great win at the weekend against Newcastle, and when they have a full strength squad could do some important things. But they just have to get past Porto.

The Portuguese side are having something of a holiday at the moment. Runaway leaders of the Portuguese league, they too haven’t lost a game this season and are also top of group A in the Champions League. What makes them really dangerous for Liverpool is that they haven’t qualified yet.

I don’t think Porto will be good enough to beat Liverpool at Anfield, but a draw is quite within their capabilities. This of course, would result in Liverpool’s exit from the competition and you have to then wonder what will be the fate of Benitez.

Prediction: Draw (2-2)

Champions league: Sevilla vs. Arsenal

Sevilla play hosts to Group H leaders Arsenal hoping their unfortunate league form won’t follow them to the Champions League. The Spanish side are out for revenge after losing in London on the opening day of the competition by three goals to nil, and being made to look like complete novices in the process. Since that game Sevilla have improved, but are still having some unlucky games. They aren’t playing that badly but seem to have problems concentrating at key points. The home defeat at the hands of Mallorca at the weekend is a perfect example. They should have won, as they are the better team in front of their home crowd, and for the better part of the game did play better. But they ended up losing by two goals to one and slipped even further away form the top of La Liga.

Arsenal aren’t having any of those problems, however. Their form is becoming increasingly solid, and this was proved by another victory on Saturday. This time the victims were Wigan and Arsenal didn’t really have to change out of first gear to beat them by two goals to nil. That victory made it twenty eight games without losing and I can’t see Sevilla altering this fact come Tuesday night.

Sevilla can field a full strength side in this match and will probably need it. Arsenal o the other hand, will have some important absentees, most notably Van Persie, Gilberto and Walcott. The real soul of the team - Cesc Fábregas- will be there on the night though, and will want to impress on his return to his country.

Sevilla will probably be hoping Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger leaves his most talented players at home and gives the younger players some experience, as the London club have already qualified for the next round. I doubt this will happen though, as Wenger is too cautious a man to do that.

I’m going for an Arsenal win here. Sevilla have the players and the talent, but just don’t have the puff or the confidence to win. Watch out for Fábregas having a huge game and will probably be the deciding factor.

Prediction: Away win (1-2)  

Champions league: Manchester United vs. Sporting Lisbon

Sporting Lisbon will be traveling to Old Trafford trying to fight the feeling of being sacrificial lambs to the slaughter here. Manchester United in this edition of the Champions League have been, quite frankly, scary. They have not had any real problems at all in this group stage, playing four and winning four in quite an arrogant way.

For this game though, there is doubt whether Portuguese sensation Christian Ronaldo will be fit enough to play a part. He missed Saturday’s surprise defeat at the hands of Bolton and will be doubtful until just before kickoff. Man U’s injury worries are growing, and they are well aware that the important games of the season are just around the corner. This Champions League match might not be that important to a team that has practically qualified, or the next, but then the real season begins and coach Sir Alex will want to be able to choose from a full squad.

Sporting Lisbon meanwhile, are in third place in their domestic league, and ten points behind runaway leaders Porto. They drew at the weekend to modest Leixoes and are three games without a win. I doubt very much if they can pull off the win at Old Trafford, but might surprise some with a draw. They are aware that they need all three points if they are to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round. Currently, Sporting Lisbon are in third spot and three points behind Roma, who they have to play in the last game of this group stage.

I just can’t see Sporting Lisbon being up for this match. If it had been at their home stadium I might have gone for a win, but it being at Manchester’s theater of dreams they don’t really stand a chance, even if the hosts are without their best payers. If Roma are able to win as well, that will mean Sporting get thrown out of the competition, which is more than likely.

Prediction: Home win (3-1)

Champions league: Lyon vs. Barcelona

Current Group E leaders Barcelona travel to Lyon this week to play Lyon in what could be a surprise match for the Spanish club. They only need a point to be sure of qualifying for the next round and (and probably win the group) but their away form has been dreadful this season and they won’t be playing the same lackluster Lyon of a couple of months ago. Barcelona do have some reasons to be cheerful, though. Goalkeeper Victor Valdes is still unbeaten in this edition of the Champions League, and the team will in all probability welcome back out Samuel Eto’o, who has been out injured these past three months. It’s unlikely he will play from the start, but he will probably get a chance in the second half. Out of sorts Brazilian star Ronaldhino, who missed their weekend home win over lowly Recreativo de Huelva due to ‘fatigue’ should also make an appearance. There has been all kinds of media attention recently, most of it surrounding the Brazilian. First Barca companion and also Brazilian Edmilson was interviewed and went on about a ‘black sheep’ in the club. This didn’t sit well with the other players but the directors and coaches played it down. Many feel this was a direct swipe at Ronaldhino himself, who doesn’t seem to be pulling his weight and looks as if he is more interested in his advertising deals than his football. Coach Frank Rijkaard has also been under the spotlight, and it is anyone’s guess about will happen to him and his job in the long term (or even short term come to think of it).

Lyon for their part have turned their season around quite nicely. They are now leading the French ‘Le Chamionnat’ by three points, and have also successfully turned their fortunes around in this Champions League group by beating Stuttgart twice in the space of two weeks. They now take on Barcelona at home looking for revenge for the three nil mauling they received in the opening game.

I’m going for a Lyon win here. Barcelona just can’t be trusted away from the Nou Camp, where most teams play like frightened rabbits. It won’t be a high scoring game, mostly because of Victor Valdes’ great form, but I expect them to lose by a goal or two.

Prediction: Home win (1-0)

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