February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
With only two games played in the Champions League the big guns are looking good already. In Group A, Juve and Bayern are on 6 points. Already it seems that Club Bruga and Rapid Vienna have a lot of work to do to make it to the next phase. It’s unlikely that those two teams will recover from zero points after the opening two games.
Anything can happen as it is early days but the experienced Juve and Bayern might hold hands in group A as they cross the line into the next stage.
In Group B, low and behold Arsenal are actually on top with 6 points. We have not seen the Gunners get off to such a good start in a while. Arsene Wenger’s troops usually leave it late and move on in dramatic style by beating the odds in final games. And they have gone on to the final stages too. This promising start will do them the world of good and will help them relax a bit. Should they slip up they know they have the experience to still produce the goods when it comes to the crunch. While FC Thun are second with 3 points, Ajax Amsterdam and Sparta Prague are also on the scoreboard with a point apiece. Thun are up against a very hungry Ajax who will want to prove themselves after some disappointing CL outings in the last few years. And Prague is
always capable of upsetting any team in the CL. It’s a tough pick for second but the Gunners get the vote to prevail one way or another.
In Group C the talented Barcelona have shown their class already. Six goals for and one against have all the signs that Ronaldinho and Co. mean business. While there are criticisms that they can be unpredictable and inconsistent, the Spanish giants are receiving no
such feedback at the minute in the Champions League. At the bottom of the table, Werder Bremen, will be capable of taking points from any team in the group, but it’s been a poor start by the Germans. Udinese will have much to prove, as CL is a standard they are not new to and they could come flying out of the traps with hunger and desire. It may get them through to the next round. But Barcelona’s vast experience and expectations may be too much too handle. Like Udinese, Panathinaikos are on 3 points and who would dare write off the Greeks. They know what it takes to move on, they have been there
before but they have not put a big enough gap between the likes of Udinese and Werder to make it predictable as to who will go through. Barca get the vote with Panathinaikos a lose call on second.
Manchester United have their necks out in front of what seems to be a chasing pack in Benfica, Villarreal and Lille. United on 4 points have a slight advantage at this early stage and it’s an advantage the group cannot afford to give away. At the bottom of Group D, Lille is
on one point and must get results in their next games or they will rapidly fall by the wayside. Benfica and Villarreal are not clear-cut favorites for second spot but both teams are on the threshold of making a CL statement. While United are beginning to take a brand new shape with their cast the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo may come of age and carry the team. Injured captain Roy Keane will be welcomed back to fill in holes here and there from the bench. United also have a big gap on Group D when it comes to getting out of this group stage.
It’s the same scenario for AC Milan in Group E. On 4 points already they are showing they mean business. A side very much capable of winning any game, AC never looks rattled when they take the field. In fact it was their over confidence and complacency that cost them the
CL title last season. They will be desperate to make amends for such a dramatic loss to Liverpool, after being 3 goals up at half time. AC will get past Fenerbahce, PSV Eindhoven and Schalke 04 whether with class or guts. That defeat by Liverpool has not gone away. That sinking feeling is still there and they know they have themselves to blame. Keep your eye out for Brazilian Ricardo Kaka one of the most exciting players in the game today. The ease in which he plays is very much the style of AC Milan.
Lyon are off to a flyer in Group F with a maximum 6 points. On 3 a piece are Rosenborg and Real Madrid. The jury is out on Real when on the road. Lyon thumped the Spanish legends 3-0 in the opening game of the group. Madrid has come under some serious ridicule, but of late
they have responded with some nice goal-scoring wins. Nowadays it’s not so easy or convincing to put Real in as favorites to move on. They are up against some very good up and coming sides in their. Lyon and Rosenborg are still somewhat of an unknown entity and very capable of holding their own as they keep on improving in the CL. Bottom of the group is Olympiakos on no points. They have let in too many goals, 5 in two games, but we all know they will tighten up. They will take points from any other team in the group. Group F may prove the group of death.
At first glance in Group G one would have picked Liverpool and Chelsea and that’s the way it’s panning out after two games. The two EPL giants, although one could question Liverpool on that, are on 4 points and looking good. Real Betis and Anderlecht may not be able to handle the pace and strength of the Blues and the Super Reds. Chelsea look hot favorites to move on while defending champions Liverpool always seem to come up with something special to win big games.
Finally in Group H, Inter Milan have won all 6 points and any slip-ups by Artmedia Petrzalka, Rangers and FC Porto will see the Italians run away with the group. It’s a flip of a coin between the bottom three, and Rangers have a chance.