Champions' League Part 1

This season's champions' league just doesn't get any more exciting.

The draw: Barcelona vs Chelsea
Real Madrid vs Juventus
Manchester United vs AC Milan
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
FC Porto vs Inter Milan
Liverpool vs Bayern Leverkusen
PSV Eindhoven vs Monaco
Werder Bremen vs FC Lyon

Plenty of heavyweight draws, especially the first 4 games. 4 top teams could go out of the competition as early as the second round. Holders FC Porto are also given a tough tie against the irresistible Adriano's Inter Milan. So many mouth-watering clashes.. well for me, probably it's mouth-blooding. Alright, let me give my predictions and analysis of these games. It's just so bloody exciting, isn't it?

Barcelona vs Chelsea
I seriously doubt Jose Mourinho when he said he wanted this draw. Barcelona is by far, the most classy attacking side in the world right now. John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho credentials will be on the line facing the magical Ronaldinho, clinical Samuel Eto'o and the ever-effective Deco. Frank Rijkaard who also led Holland to the semi-finals of Euro 2000 has built a squad widely tipped to win this year's champions' league. This is a game which they can't afford to lose, failure will not justify the highly talented squad and the attractive winning football they've been playing so far. Ronaldinho, already a living legend, will want to add the champions' league medal to his accolades. This year's Barcelona, many believe is the team that he could win it with. Standing in Barcelona's way is an equally difficult opponent. Chelsea's squad is glittered all over with experienced internationals and seasoned european players. Chelsea's defence has been their pivotal success. They will be able to cope well with Barcelona's attack. Chelsea's greatest attacking asset with be their set-pieces with Didier Drogba, Eidur Gudjonsen and John Terry who are really hugh-physique players that Barcelona may struggle with. Frank Lampard will square off against Deco at a replay of this year's Euro Championships quaterfinals. In Arjen Robben, they have the next best thing in football and he will go face to face with the most exciting player in football, Ronaldinho.
This match may be settled in a moment of magic by either Ronaldinho or Arjen Robben. Chelsea will no doubt try to exploit Barcelona in the aerial battles. It will be a close fight but I think Chelsea will go through with players like John Terry, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff playing like possessed men to prematurely end Barcelona's dreams.

Real Madrid vs Juventus

9-time european champions take on current Italian league leaders. This is a game with so many former European and World players of the world, namely Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo, Pavel Nedved, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Gianlugi Buffon, Alessendro Del Piero, Roberto Carlos and Raul Gonzalez. Except for Michael Owen, most of these players are already over the age of 28 and have already passed their prime form. Juventus are effectively scrapping out 1-0 wins at the Italian League as well as the Champions' league, Fabio Cappello has shored up the defense and transformed Juventus into a very hard team to beat. Gianlugi Buffon is still one of the most accomplished and all-round goalkeeper. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in the form of his life, European veterans Del Piero and David Trezeguet and super Pavel Nedved orchestrates the attack. Ibrahimovic with his size and agility will be a nightmare for Real Madrid defenders, Pavel Nedved's all out approach, running and set pieces will torment Real's stellar but aging midfield. However Real Madrid always does well once they qualified from the group stages, David Beckham will be anxious to win his first trophy with Real Madrid. David Beckham is still dangerous with his dead balls, so is Ronaldo's predatory instincts and unorthodox skills. Much will also depend on Luis Figo's darting runs down the flanks. Juventus will do fine if they could contain Figo. However, Real Madrid's defence is still very much in tatters. Juventus will nick this one by a small margin.

Manchester United vs AC Milan

I was sick to the stomach when i first heard from soontat that these two teams were drawn against one another. My 2 favourite clubs. It's definitely a must watch from me. AC Milan went out to Deportivo in one of the weirdest games in European football last season, leading the tie 4-1 only to lose 5-4 in aggregate in the second leg. Newly crowned European footballer of the Year Andriv Shevchenko is long due for this award. He is the complete striker. Predatory instincts, lightning pace, an aerial threat and can shoot with both legs. Years ago he single-handedly brought Dinamo Kiev to the semi-finals of the champions' league. He has also been topping the scoring charts year after year in the most difficult league to score goals. Lining up with Hernan Crespo, another prolific striker in the Italian League, will no doubt punish any defensive slip-ups from Rio Ferdinand and company. Kaka, along with Adriano has been a relevation in world football, adding versatility and power to an already over-powerful Brazil. AC Milan has been the platform for Kaka's success, and he looks like scoring every game he plays. Milan's defence consists of Paolo Maldini, Alessendro Nesta, Jaap Stam, Cafu. It just about all the experience in world football and the biggest stage in football you'll ever need with few hundred international caps and 3 World Cups between them. Goalkeeper Dida is about the best shopstopper the world could offer right now. AC Milan is formidable and Manchester United will need their fair share of luck of knocking them out.
Wayne Rooney hasn't impressed much ever since his sensational debut hat-trick against Fernabache, I got a feeling he will finally come good against AC Milan. The youngster thrives on these big matches and finally prove his worth and stamp his mark in European football. Ruud Van Nisterooy, if available, will be a striker that Milan will worry about. The leading scorer in this year's champions' league is apparently saving his best form for these european nights, with an eye on Raul's record of the most goals in Champions' league, he is, a man on a mission. Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane are all seasoned campaigners but they will all need to be in their best form to handle the Milan midfield of Gattuso, Kaka, Clarence Seedorf and Andrea Pirlo. Ryan Giggs is a much feared name in Italian football, reputation counts much in such heavyweight clashes. Paul Scholes is also getting a habit of nicking important goals for Man United at such stages. Christiano Ronaldo will also stir trouble in the Milan camp for the first leg but should be very much nullified in the second leg by the best readers of the game of AC Milan.
This is no doubt a showcase of all the promising talents that will take the world by storm. Kaka, Wayne Rooney and Christiano Ronaldo will want to write their names in European football history. Once again, it's as tight as any match can offer. I'm crossing my fingers for a Manchester United win, they need it more than AC does.

So, this concludes this ultra-long post. Will be back for more after i take my much needed rest.