The 2nd set of Champions’ League knockout stage fixtures start today and wrap up tomorrow. Europe’s premier club tournament continues with EPL side Chelsea facing FC Copenhagen out of Denmark. The “big” match up of this set of games is Inter Milan hosting Bayern Munich in a rematch of last year’s Champion’s League Final.
To the picks!:
TUESDAY’S MATCHES
FC Kobenhavn v Chelsea
Chad FC Kobenhavn 1 – Chelsea 1
Call me crazy but I think the Løverne (lions) can get a result today against the Blues. Chelsea has not been playing well at all as they try to find their identity since the transfer for Fernando Torres. The pressure is on Chelsea to win games and score goals and I don’t see it happening today even as they face off with a much weaker club.
Corey FC Kobenhavn 2-Chelsea 1
Chelsea are reeling again & it was quite a shock to see a battle-tested veteran like Ashley Cole get put off by a shoulder bump prior to his missed PK that sent Chelsea out of the FA Cup at the weekend. The atmosphere around Stamford Bridge right now is turning into a bit of a circus & until Ancelotti can find which attacking 3 works best for him, it’ll likely continue. On the road I think they get caught again by a side in Kobenhavn that gave Barcelona fits when they visited Denmark.
Olympique Lyon v Real Madrid
Chad Real Madrid 2-Olympique Lyon 1
Look for Cristiano Ronaldo to score a brace and then he will become this week’s best player in the world according to the media. Real Madrid may be able to score more goals but they will be happy to get a win on the road.
Corey Olympique Lyon 2-Real Madrid 1
The Special One takes his charges over the border into France against a Lyon side who have turned their league season around in France after a horrendous start for them. At home in the Stade Gerland I think they’ll have enough to get past the pragmatist extraordinaire & I feel that Lyon may target Sergio Ramos in Madrid’s backline.
WEDNESDAY’S MATCHES
Inter-Milan v Bayern Munich
Chad Inter-Milan 2-Bayern Munich 1
This is a tricky match to project; Munich has loads of talent with Lahm, Ribery, Schweinsteiger and Gomez but they sit third in the Bundesliga table 13 points behind surprise club Dortmund. The edge will have to go to Inter Milan at the San Siro with a late goal coming from Eto’o.
Corey Inter-Milan 1-Bayern Munich 1
I think this match has draw written all over it. Inter has recovered a bit following an iffy start to their domestic campaign & the goalscoring form of January signing Giampaolo Pazzini has been terrific since he signed for the Nerazzurri. However, I think it’ll be all square at full-time unless Arjen Robben’s pace can rip apart Inter’s backline like Gareth Bale’s did in the group stage.
Olympique Marseille v Manchester United
Chad Manchester United 2- Olympique Marseille 0
Manchester United did not look very good at all versus non-league side Crawley Town this weekend in the FA Cup. Can they flip on the switch an play well in the Champions League? Under normal circumstances I would say no but Marseille is by no means a strong club and the Red Devils should have enough quality to see them off even on French soil.
Corey Olympique Marseille 1-Manchester United 0
Truth be told it wasn’t just against Crawley Town that Man U hasn’t looked good. They’ve looked rather pedestrian on numerous occasions this year only to grind out a positive result for them with their late game magic that they’re known for. That kind of form tends to catch up with you eventually & with Rio Ferdinand & Ryan Giggs set to not make the trip to Marseille, I think it catches up with them on Wednesday as Loïc Rémy nicks a winner for Les Marseillaise.