UEFA Champions League

[white lightning]

[quote name='benravens1' timestamp='1291900128' post='568013']
i would have thought eboue will play at right back and clichy will be back to left back.

having come 2nd in the group arsenal need to hope for a bit of luck with the draw, we could get Barcalona or Real Madrid who it might be better to avoid if possible
[/quote]

best possible outcome is Arsenal play Schalke 04, while they are still a good team, they are not as talented as a Barca or Real. Like most German teams, they are very organized.

[benravens1]

[quote name='white lightning' timestamp='1291986093' post='569026']
best possible outcome is Arsenal play Schalke 04, while they are still a good team, they are not as talented as a Barca or Real. Like most German teams, they are very organized.
[/quote]

yep, schalke is definately the best option. because all the other english teams won their group arsenal are limited on teams they can draw 4 group winners are gone already (3 english teams and then Donetsk from group H) so there is only Schalke, Bayern Munich and the 2 spanish clubs left.

i'd rather arsenal played munich over Barca and Real as well.

[white lightning]

[quote name='benravens1' timestamp='1291986333' post='569027']
yep, schalke is definately the best option. because all the other english teams won their group arsenal are limited on teams they can draw 4 group winners are gone already (3 english teams and then Donetsk from group H) so there is only Schalke, Bayern Munich and the 2 spanish clubs left.
[b]
i'd rather arsenal played munich[/b] over Barca and Real as well.
[/quote]

Many people seem to under estimate Munich, (they were able to eliminate Man U last Champions league) they are usually in the top 2 for the bundesliga and constantly threatening in the champions league.

I saying that, i would still much rather play one of the German teams, the Spaniards seem very difficult to match.

[benravens1]

well the draw has been made for the next round. arsenal got the game most fans wanted to avoid

Roma v Shakhtar Donetsk
AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur
Valencia v Schalke
Inter Milan v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Real Madrid
Arsenal v Barcelona
Marseille v Manchester United
FC Copenhagen v Chelsea

there are some really good games in there. Arsenal v Barcalona obviously stands out but i think Tottenham v AC Milan will be a tough one too call.

and then obviously we have a re-run of last years final with Inter Milan going up against Bayern Munich.

should be a good round of matches

[Ed_Reed20]

Well, looks like Arsenal is going to get bounced from Champions League knock-out round again. At least they'll be able to focus on the Premiership.

[ravens__]

Niiice. At least it will be a spectacular match.

[FerrariFan87]

Let's go Barca!!

[George70]

In regard to the draw featuring Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, I believe that if Milito is on his A-game, and Inter is up to the task, then Inter can advance to the next round.

As for Arsenal against Barcelona, I never count out Lionel Messi.

[benravens1]

[quote name='George70' timestamp='1292683274' post='578750']
In regard to the draw featuring Inter Milan and Bayern Munich, I believe that if Milito is on his A-game, and Inter is up to the task, then Inter can advance to the next round.

[/quote]

yeah i'm backing Inter, sneijder, milito, eto'o are too good a trio to not score a couple of goals and Inter's defense is still solid

[white lightning]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1292608985' post='578311']
Well, looks like Arsenal is going to get bounced from Champions League knock-out round again. At least they'll be able to focus on the Premiership.
[/quote]

I think if we can hold Barca away from home, we are more than in with a chance. And i think our team is better than the one we had last year

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='white lightning' timestamp='1292754229' post='579229']
I think if we can hold Barca away from home, we are more than in with a chance. And i think our team is better than the one we had last year
[/quote]

But Barcelona is better too. I want to have faith in Arsenal regarding the match-up but they've disappointed me too often in the Champions League.

[George70]

I've just been to the Champions League site, and the latest news is that Diego Milito, of Inter Milan, has suffered a strain in his left thigh. He will miss the Round of 16 leg against their foe from last year's final, Bayern Munchen.

Any takers on who will win the League, based on the current draws?

[ravens__]

[quote name='George70' timestamp='1297305405' post='637009']
I've just been to the Champions League site, and the latest news is that Diego Milito, of Inter Milan, has suffered a strain in his left thigh. He will miss the Round of 16 leg against their foe from last year's final, Bayern Munchen.

Any takers on who will win the League, based on the current draws?
[/quote]

My money is on Real Madrid. Sure, Barcelona is the best team out there at the moment but I do not belive they'll be able to repeat as champions. I'm not completely sold that Madrid will be able to come out victorious but as of right now, despite recent struggles, they are my favourites.

[Ed_Reed20]

[u][url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=310999&league=UEFA.CHAMPIONS&cc=5901"]Arsenal 2 -1 Barcelona[/url][/u]



We'll see what they do in three weeks but this was as good a result as Gunner faithful could hope for.

[ravens__]

Brilliant win; it's good to see the squad maturing year by year and show discipline throughout the 90 minutes of action. Victories like that make me have faith that we can win something big this year.

There were times when Barca had us pinned down our own penalty box but a couple of individual performances (particularly Wilshere and Koscielny) along with Wenger's gutsy substitutions got us a key win.

One of the best games of soccer I have watched in a long long time!

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1297895234' post='640875']
[u][url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=310999&league=UEFA.CHAMPIONS&cc=5901"]Arsenal 2 -1 Barcelona[/url][/u]



We'll see what they do in three weeks but this was as good a result as Gunner faithful could hope for.
[/quote]

I was pulling for Barca, but boy did Arsenal impress me today. Congrats on the win.

[George70]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1297895234' post='640875']
[u][url="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=310999&league=UEFA.CHAMPIONS&cc=5901"]Arsenal 2 -1 Barcelona[/url][/u]



We'll see what they do in three weeks but this was as good a result as Gunner faithful could hope for.
[/quote]

I am impressed by what the Gunners have wrought in this leg of the Round of 16 - getting going in the second half, keeping it close and controlling things in the second half.

Maybe we'll see the Gunners move on to - possibly - the Round of Four.

[NinjaTurtle]

Honestly, I don't see Arsenal holding Barcelona back at the Nou Camp.

Anyway, Robin Van Persie, I swear, if he played for a Man U or Chelsea he would be proclaimed as one of the best strikers in the world. His form since returning from injury has been scintillating, what is 12 from 9 games? You are very lucky to have a striker of that caliber.

Good Luck anyway, I just can't see you holding Barca away from home, that away goal could be very handy....

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='NinjaTurtle' timestamp='1297940929' post='641096']
Honestly, I don't see Arsenal holding Barcelona back at the Nou Camp.

Anyway, Robin Van Persie, I swear, if he played for a Man U or Chelsea he would be proclaimed as one of the best strikers in the world. His form since returning from injury has been scintillating, what is 12 from 9 games? You are very lucky to have a striker of that caliber.

Good Luck anyway, I just can't see you holding Barca away from home, that away goal could be very handy....
[/quote]

The only reason RVP isn't considered one of elite strikers in the world is because he simply can't stay healthy. Every time he looks like he's on a roll, he goes down for 3 to 4 months.

I think Arsenal can hold [i]on[/i] advance but this game but it'll be very interesting to see how the game unfolds. The mid-fielders, particularly Fabregas and Song will have to play fantastic games.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

I will be surprised if Arsenal go through myself. It will take nothing short of a heroic defensive effort to stop Barca scoring at the Nou Camp.

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1297968268' post='641239']
[b]The only reason RVP isn't considered one of elite strikers in the world is because he simply can't stay healthy. Every time he looks like he's on a roll, he goes down for 3 to 4 months[/b].

I think Arsenal can hold [i]on[/i] advance but this game but it'll be very interesting to see how the game unfolds. The mid-fielders, particularly Fabregas and Song will have to play fantastic games.
[/quote]

It's also because he just doesn't quite have the same talent. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player but he is just a tier below the truly elite strikers.

I also don't get the hype around Barca's Pedro. Every time I've seen him play he's slowed down their attacks and played some of the worst final balls I've seen. From what I've seen, he looks like their worst player by far. That is, of course, excluding Victor Valdes.

[George70]

The Champions League semi-finals for April 2011 are now set:

Schalke 04 vs. Manchester United

Real Madrid vs. Barcelona.

The latter of the two semi-final match-ups is the most interesting to me - El Clasico on a worldwide stage.

[Ed_Reed20]

As much as I dislike both teams, an [i]El Clásico[/i] Champions League semi-final should be very fun.

[FerrariFan87]

It wasn't champions league but the 1-1 draw between Barcelona and Real Madrid was pretty great.

[FerrariFan87]

Messi is the man... 11 goals in 11 champions league matches. Barcelona wins 2-0 (2 away goals)

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1303943333' post='671721']
Messi is the man... 11 goals in 11 champions league matches. Barcelona wins 2-0 (2 away goals)
[/quote]

That also means Messi is on 52 goals for the season... the man is a pure magician.

[George70]

Barcelona and Real Madrid have played to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their semifinal in this year's Champions League. coupled with Barcelona's 2-0 win in the first leg, this should put the men from Catalan in a decent position to make a match of it in the Champions League final.

[ravens__]

Another final I won't be watching.. I couldn't care less about who wins this one.

[Ed_Reed20]

I'll watch just because it's the Final but the way Arsenal went out with a whimper will be on my mind every minute of the game.

[FerrariFan87]

Barca is taking this one. Messi!!