Champions League Narrowing Down

I think that we have seen enough of all of the competitors now in the Champions League to assess the likely winners and the current betting odds reflect this article. Barcelona as always will take some stopping and despite their almost non contest against Stuttgart, they will be very difficult to stop. I think that firstly you have to look at the possible winners and I suppose that any team that makes the last eight has some chance of winning it.

Many people will no doubt look at teams like CSKA Moscow, Bordeaux and Lyon and think that they are merely making up the numbers……but are they? At the end of the day, we are looking at a cup competition after all so every team has a chance. Arsenal have a chance to overcome the heartache of 2006 and get revenge on Barcelona.

They will have their work cut-out because Barcelona are a better team than 2006 while Arsenal don’t seem as strong to me. But over two legs then anything can happen. The worrying thing for Arsenal is that they play a style that suits Barcelona. Also Arsenal have a strong tendency to buckle against the top sides which has been proven time and time again against Chelsea and Manchester United and in Europe over the past two seasons.

So I expect Arsenal to get beaten against Barcelona even though as an Englishman, I hope that I am wrong. Manchester United against Bayern Munich will be a wonderfully balanced tie. I give Manchester United the edge simply because of Wayne Rooney. Bayern struggled in the group and almost didn’t qualify as both they and Juventus suffered at the hands of Bordeaux.

Barcelona do not seem to have the same intimidation factor in La Liga as they do in Europe which is why they are in serious danger of not winning the title. They are currently neck and neck with Real Madrid and equal on points so it will be interesting to see how that transpires. I did say at the start of the season that I didn’t feel that any English club was strong enough to win the trophy this season.

With Liverpool going out in the group stages and Chelsea in the last 16 then that prediction is looking strong. Bayern Munich certainly have enough in their locker to beat Manchester United and go all the way to the final and their coach Louis Van Gaal is a master tactician.

Looking at how the draw has transpired then I do predict a Manchester United and Barcelona repeat final but then again, that is the final that all of Europe are predicting. Can Inter Milan upset Barcelona……yes! Even though they have let a huge lead slip in Serie A this year in the race for the title, Jose Mourinho will be plotting his game plan to beat Barcelona as soon as the CSKA Moscow tie is over.

My predictions are Manchester United against Bordeaux and Barcelona against Inter Milan in the last four but I don’t say that with too much conviction.

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