February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Scoring first is essential for Arsene Wenger’s men. A 2-0 score would be the ideal result, but it does seem beyond the once-invincible Arsenal. Bayern Munich’s game plan will be a lot simpler than Arsenal’s. Keeping numbers behind the ball in a low-pressure defensive game will suit the Germans. And, of course, a counterattack against the Gunners is always on the cards. For Arsenal to score, they have to beat Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, possibly the best in the world. And at the other end, they must stop the lethal raiding of Michael Ballack, who has an uncanny knack for popping up out of nowhere at the right time to score goals.
Bayern coach Felix Magath has already indicated that a clean sheet is indeed the order of the day for his side. While he expects the Gunners to be firing on all cylinders, he is sure his team can continue their run of no goals against.
“With Kahn, Robert Kovac, Lucio and Martin Demichelis, it’s hard to score against us,” he said of his defense and their fine form in the German league.
The Bayern coach is not naive to think that a clean sheet is the game plan for 90 minutes. He knows that Arsenal is capable of going all out and indeed scoring. He believes the game could be become open because Arsenal needs to score two goals.
“I’m sure we’ll have a lot of chances on the counterattack, so we’ll have to stay strong in defense and make sure we take our chances in attack,” Magath said.
It’s a cat-and-mouse game we see a lot more of on the Continent and very little of in the EPL. The EPL is mostly a fast and furious pace, whereas on mainland Europe it’s far more cagier and, one might say, far more tactical. At the same time, while the likes of Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp are world-class players, they are not accustomed to playing on a weekly basis the kind of game the Champions League requires.
But today is their chance to prove Barca wizard Ronaldinho wrong after the Brazilian claimed: “My predictions would be Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or AC Milan, and maybe Inter to challenge. I don’t think any of the English sides will do it.” Seems Mr. Ronaldinho has forgotten about Liverpool.
Henry hit a hat trick against Portsmouth on Saturday, but he will not find such goal-scoring room against Munich. Still, so much responsibility lies on the shoulders of Henry to score today. And he has to do so without experienced midfielders Robert Pires, Gilberto Silva and probably Edu. In fairness, Arsenal have been plagued with injuries and the biggest loss is central defender Sol Campbell.
Prediction: Bayern Munich to move on.
All right, fair enough, it’s not that difficult to predict, but be reminded should Arsenal score first, it’s anybody’s game. However, we’re still going with Munich to overcome going a goal down. So there’s a more courageous prediction.
It’s the reverse for Liverpool, who is on the road today at the BayArena defending a 3-1 lead over Bayer Leverkusen.
“Nothing is impossible in football — we must fight to the very last week because we can achieve anything,” said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. It’s sounds like a call of desperation from Benitez as he tries to convince his Reds that fourth place in the Premier League is a possibility.
Those optimistic words came after Liverpool’s loss in the Carling Cup against Chelsea. A 3-2 setback in extra time with Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard scoring an own goal to let Chelsea back in the game. And if you didn’t see the free kick that Laurent Robert scored against Liverpool in the league over the weekend, then check it out. It had winner written all over it as it curled into the far upright giving Newcastle the 1-0 result over the Pool. It seems Benitez basically knows that the lack of good performances on a weekly basis is Liverpool’s main concern. However, the Reds have been given yet another chance to redeem themselves after Blackburn Rovers beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park.
All the woes and hard-luck stories are turning Liverpool into a real threat in today’s game against Leverkusen. Joining Gerrard in the drama of it all is Milan Baros, who is not too happy after being left out in that cup final against Chelsea. Benitez has also suggested that players should let their football do the talking.
While fourth place in the league is still alive, eight points adrift of Everton with a match in hand, today’s CL is really where it is at for Liverpool. In some games this year they have shown they can be as good as anybody. Even though they are a Jekyll and Hyde side, the writing is on the wall that they will turn up today.
Prediction: Liverpool to move on in style.
PSV Eindhoven are in the Stade Louis II attempting to defend a 1-0 result over Monaco. Two dark horses in today’s games, but we have seen such sides go all the way. PSV continue to produce some fantastic prospects only to see them shipped off to bigger clubs. Somehow, they have managed to make their way into the last 16 even though they are clear-cut outsiders. Monaco may have more experience on the day, but the French technicians have it all to do to pull that goal back, and to stop PSV scoring.
Prediction: A match to the end, possible extra time, with PSV coming through.
Last but by no means least, the gigantic fixture of the day, Real Madrid vs. Juventus at the Delle Alpi. Real bring with them a goal advantage founded on a new defensive emphasis by new coach Mariano Garcia Remon. Juve not having an away goal in one thing, but if the influential Pavel Nedved cannot make the game after a concussion, Real look even stronger.
Prediction: Real to move on and bury their horrendous early-season form.