Champions League Last 16 Preview: Part 2

Last 16 Preview: Part 2

Celtic Vs Barcelona

This is a big test for the 2006 winners from Spain. Why? Because Celtic will get at them and give them a physical battle, something Barca’s silky skilled players may well not like. Liverpool dispatched Barca last season and you can bet Gordon Strachan will have had the videos of that tie out! For Celtic, victory would make them heroes, while defeat is expected. So the men from Scotland have nothing to lose.

Celtic progressed from a difficult Champions League group containing AC Milan, Benfica and ‘Ukrainian Chelsea’ Shakhtar Donetsk. What took the Green and White Hoops through was their home form, beating all visitors to Celtic Park, even the holders Milan. On home soil Celtic will look to press Barca, out work them and take whatever chances they get. If it’s a cold unwelcoming night in Glasgow, so much the better, Celtic will be in Barca’s faces.

For the Scottish Champions, probably a two goal lead would be needed going into the second-leg at Camp Nou. It is also vital they don’t concede.

Barcelona have gone off the boil a little in La Liga, with goals seeming hard to come by and pressure has been mounting on the Catalans given Real Madrid’s commanding lead at the top of the table. Most seem to think Real have La Liga in the bag, barring some sort of collapse, so that would be two years without the title for Barcelona, unacceptable! The Champions League could offer a get out for coach Frank Rijkaard, and, if rumours are to be believed, save his job.

With a front line of Ronaldinho, Messi, Henry and E’too, who could back against Barca securing their 3^rd Champions League?

Key Men

Celtic: The Celts will look to Vennegoor of Hesselink to take whatever chances they get and the Dutchman has the class to do it. Massimo Donati must keep hold of the ball and win the midfield battle, whilst Japanese Nakamura will relish any free kicks in shooting range.

Barcelona: Who else but the attacking trio of Messi, Ronaldinho and Henry. Any one of the 3 could hit away goals in the first leg that would make Celtic’s job impossible.

Lyon Vs Manchester United

The French Champions against the English Champions should prove to be quite a game, so why were Manchester United so pleased with the draw?

Lyon are without doubt never pushed too hard in the French league, and true to form, as we enter the 2^nd half of the season they sit top of the pile with a 4 point lead. This is despite some dodgy form under new coach, ex-Portsmouth man Alain Perrin. In fact, Lyon have lost 6 times this season so far, that’s one more than in the whole of last season, and they still have 13 games to play.

The matches against Rangers probably show what Lyon are like at the moment. Losing 3-0 at home to the Scottish runners-up, and then beating them 3-0 in the away fixture.

Manchester United have shown some simply amazing attacking play so far this season and winning in the Champions League away to Sporting Lisbon and Dynamo Kyiv seemed to be a stroll, and United were never seriously pushed. That they can raise their game is beyond doubt, and coming into these fixtures having seen off Premier League leaders Arsenal 4-0 in the English Cup is a sign of how they can turn it on when it matters.

United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the joint leading scorer in the competition so far and few would back Lyon’s backline being able to keep him out.

Key Men

Lyon: Lyon will look to Brazilian Juninho to weave his magic in the midfield and show his deadly skills in free kick situations. Jeremy Toulalan will need to break up United attacks and distribute the ball well, he sits just in front of the Lyon back four, so is crucial. Finally, striker Karim Benzema must be on target and add to his 3 Champions League goals so far.

Manchester United: Cristiano Ronaldo can create and finish all in one, and as a leading scorer in the Champions League, can hurt Lyon. Importantly, Rio Ferdinand must keep his concentration at the back and help United to a clean sheet in France.

Fenerbahce Vs Sevilla

Both UEFA Cup holders Sevilla and Turkish side Fenerbahce will fancy their chances of progressing from this match-up. Fenerbahce have already dispatched the mighty Inter Milan at home in the group stages and did so with keeping a clean sheet. Sevilla impressively topped a group with Arsenal in, with a total of 15 points. In fact, losing away at Arsenal on the opening matchday, was their only defeat.

It’s worth remembering that this is Sevilla’s first time in the Champions League, but all the UEFA Cup experience gained under Juande Ramos will stand them in good stead.  Fredi Kanoute and Luis Fabiano up front are both well capable of putting away any chances that come their way, and have done exactly that this season. Sevilla will probably line up with a 4-4-2 formation and expect wide men Jesus Navas and Adriano to be used often as outlets for Sevilla attacks. Dani Alves will provide great service down the right, overlapping when needed and Sevilla can hurt Fenerbahce in Istanbul on the counter attack.

Fenerbahce desperately want to make progress in the competition and the signs are that this is a tie they could come through. A lead of one or two goals from Istanbul is crucial and Fener did win all of their home group games. They have experience with Roberto Carlos and the Brazilan flair in the team can match Sevilla’s.

Key Men

Fenerbahce: Brazilian midfielder Alex will be crucial for the Turks, look for him to pull the strings of their attacking moves. Keep an eye on young Turkish forward Semih Senturk, Fener fans rave about his potential and he can score great goals.

Sevilla: Dani Alves is well known and his link up with Jesus Navas on the right side could be the key to the tie. The duo can hit Fenerbahce hard and quick to provide Kanoute with an opportunity to add to his 4 Champions League goals so far.

Arsenal Vs AC Milan

The current Champions League holders against the 2006 finalists is sure to be some tie. Arsene Wenger is still searching for his first Champions League title, although the suspicion remains he would prefer to wrest the Premier League back from Manchester United first.

Arsenal have key men back from the African Nations Cup, and with Toure marshalling the defence and Adebayor proving a handful up front, Milan’s aging defence could have its work cut out. The key here must be tempo, if Arsenal can play at a high tempo and maintain it, they could run out comfortable enough first leg winners to make progression all but assured. The Gunners won all their home group games, and we can’t easily forget their 7-0 demolition of Slavia Praha.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan aren’t having the season they’d planned on. Lacking in energy in Serie A many would argue they’ve never even really got started this season. Sitting in 6^th place in Serie A, the men from Milan could have trouble even qualifying if form doesn’t drastically improve.

In the Champions League Milan easily topped their group, just a defeat in Celtic to spoil a good record. Of course, Milan have the game and the players to stop Arsenal. The Italians will look to keep it tight in London, but 5 goals against in the 6 group games could give cause for concern. The total was only one less than Celtic and Benfica.

Key Men

Arsenal: Arsenal can play with pace and power, to do this they need Fabregas to be on top form in the middle of the park. All eyes will be on Emanuel Adebayor, but Brazilian-Croat Eduardo has impressed with some great goals in the Premier League. He can be the unknown quantity that shoots down Milan.

Milan: Kaka surely has the skills and game to peel open the Arsenal defence like an orange. Seedorf can help Milan contain Arsenal in midfield and the Dutchman’s experience will be essential.