Arsenal versus Ac Milan
This is arguably the tie of the day as the premiership leaders take on the defending champions. Arsenal would not be going into this match with the many of trust as they were trounced 4-0 over the weekend by their main rivals Manchester United albeit in the Fa Cup. It is safe to say that their form has not been fantastic of late and they have stuttered in some matches though they have come out thriving in majority of them.
Key players like Cesc Fabregas and Aliaksandr Hleb have gone off the boil a bit after a quite magnificent start to the season but Emmanuel Adebayor and Mathieu Flamini are in fantastic form.
Milan have been very disappointing in the league but like Liverpool they always come alive in the champions league. Their preparations have been hampered by the loss of both 1st and 2nd choice goalkeepers in Nelson Dida and Zeljko Kalac but that is not necessarily a bad thing bearing in mind both goalkeepers propensity to drop clangers at any given moment. It would be described as the battle between Arsenal's young guns against the old men of Milan but it is far more complicated than that of course.
Milan have Filipo Inzaghi that can score at any given time at any stadium on the champions league, Alexandre Pato, the young sensation, kaka, the world and European footballer of the year, Alessandro Nesta who is as good as any defender in the world, Clarence Seedorf, who on his day can be a match winner and Andrea Pirlo who in my opinion is the best passer of the ball in the world.
It would turn on a few minor details like how Milan's 3rd goalkeeper, Valeri Fiori performs, having not played since 2003 and how well Arsenal play for 90 minutes because a momentary lapse can cost them dear against an experienced and exquisite side like Milan.
Lyon versus Manchester United
I never know what to expect of Lyon as they have a lot of talented players but I am unsure about the credentials of Alain Perrin as a manager.
They have had some poor results in the champions league of late and they need to be very meticulous because United have players that can punish you especially Cristiano Ronaldo if any mistakes are made at the back. They would be relying heavily on the creative abilities of Juninho and the attacking prowess of Sylvian Govou, Hatem Ben Arfa and especially karim Benzema but all could be undone by 1 moment of madness from Jean-Alain Boumsong at the back.
United though would be feeling safe bet after beating rivals Arsenal 4-0 over the weekend but it is worth noting that they have played badly against Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester City before that. They still have adequate firepower and defensive qualities to thwart a Lyon side that is nowhere as good as they used to be and really do not have the same high-calibre manager of the modern past.
Celtic versus Barcelona
Celtic do not need me telling them that they have got to win today's game to stand any occasion of qualifying as they seem to lose to every team in the champions league away from home. They have a very good home report against any side in the champions league as they have accounted for the likes of Ac Milan and Manchester United recently at Celtic park.
Barcelona on the other hand have not been putting up the performances that have enthralled over the past 3 seasons as a lot of their players are not in peak condition.
Ronaldinho is roughly a shadow of his old self, Thierry Henry is not the same player that terrorised the premiership, Deco is in very poor form, Samuel Etoo is just feeling his way back to full match fitness and even Lionel Messi has not looked the same player that he was before his injury. Celtic need to defend properly and need to assault Barcelona as well otherwise they would come away with nothing.
Fenerbahce versus Sevilla
This game can go whether way as both teams have shown that this season they are capable of putting together a run of good results in the champions league. Sevilla has exquisite players in Daniel Alves, Luis Fabiano, Freddy kanoute, Saydoo Keita and upcoming prospects like Diego Capel. Fenerbache can boast the likes of wily veteran Roberto Carlos and also the talents of Alex and Deivid.
It should be a very good game between 2 outsiders.
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