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Inter 1-0 Chelsea

Eto'o 77''

Not finished yet but I love a bit of Chelsea losing. 3-1 on aggregrate to Inter but a lovely ball through (not for the first time) from Schneider and Eto'o finishes with the outside of his right into the bottom left corner, Alex just playing him onside. Looks like Chelsea are on their way out unless they can score twice in the last 10 minutes. They haven't been playing that well, with the Inter back 4 shutting out anything they manage to string together but one goal now would make for a nervy ending...
 
Any predictions for how the draw is going to shape out for the quarter and semi-finals?

At this point, I'd like to see an Inter Milan - Manchester United final...as long as Barca gets eliminated soon, I'll be happy.
 
For the next round, I think I'd like to see:

CSKA Moscow vs Manchester United - They gave us a game at Old Trafford, could be interesting again.
Barcelona vs Bordeaux - Bordeaux have looked strong throughout the tournament, I'd like to see how good they really are.
Inter Milan vs Lyon - To be honest I don't care about this one and it'll be a whitewash to Inter.
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal - Two very attacking sides, should be an end-to-end game in the Champions League for once, no one being cautious.

Obviously, if I'm honest I want to see Man Utd face the team I feel is the weakest, but a trip to Russia could tire the team for a League game as well. Lyon is probably the next weakest side so getting them would be okay. However, I would like to see Man Utd face Barcelona again, or Bayern Munich. Maybe those games would be better for the late stages, though. I think Bordeaux are the only side there that Man Utd haven't faced in any competition for a while, so if we get anyone other than them it's going to seem a bit familiar. Man Utd, Barcelona, Inter, and Arsenal definitely looked the strongest teams from their overall performances in the last round, so I'd like to see them all get a chance to qualify for the last four without facing each other in the last eight. That's probably asking a bit much though - there will be at least one huge tie this round.
 
Magistral performance by Benfica, coming from a disadvantage (1-1 at home and a 1-0 for marseille at '70) to go trough in the Europa League. I really think it's possible to win this...
Juve coming out humiliated by Fulham... lol.

About the Champion's draw:

Lyon vs Bordeux - No favourites, France wins by having a team in the semis, which didn't happened since 2004 with Monaco.

Bayern vs Man U - Football, bloody hell.

Arsenal vs Barça - 2006 final anyone? Barça starts in the lead, but eveything's open.

Inter vs CSKA - Mou got the so-called easiest opponent, btu they must be on their toes: CSKA has been surprising europe, they have on of the best keepers in the world (Akinfeev), and not every team is able to nail a 3-3 in Old Trafford.


Europa League draw in 40 minutes.
 
Bayern Munich vs Manchester United. That is guaranteed 2 great matches. Both have an attacking style of football, but I think that Manchester United can beat them.

Sem-finals:

Bayern Munich/Manchester United - Olympique Lyon/Bordeaux

Internazionale/CSKA Moskva - Arsenal/Barcelona

This means that Barcelona can meet Manchester United in the finals. It's a pity, because I really wanted Barcelona kicked out as early as possible. Arsenal can kick them out as well, but I would have to see Manchester United take revenge for last year
 
Europa League draw:

Benfica vs Liverpool - This belongs in the Champions, not the Europa League. Anyway, this is an early final between the two strongest teams in the draw.
They last meet in 06 or 07, don't remember exactly, when Benfica won 1-0 at home and 2-0 in Anfield. Benfica alredy played Everton thhis season, 2-0 away and a 5-0 trashing at home, so statistics are on our side, but everyone knows they are of no matter on the pitch.
It'll be 2 awsome matches, looking forward to them.

Valencia vs Atletico - Another two strong contenders. Winner will play with the winner of the above match.

Hamburg vs Standard - Hamburg has clear skies and open road to get one step closer to a home final.

Fulham vs Wolfsburg - Fulham is the dark horse of this tourney, and they are capable of beating Wolfsburg.
 
I was down the Cottage last night to see Fulham own Juventus. My friend has a season ticket so I decided to go with him because they are my "local" team. Anyway, what a match! Zamora played like a man possessed, winning everything that came near him... I still reckon he's better than Heskey as a big striker. Was a brilliant night, and even had a singalong down the pub with some Juve fans after the match lol. Their fans were great and I saw no trouble at all, just lots of sad faces :P
 
Hamburg, if they reach the finals, will play as the visiting side. That is too akward for the players, because the finals is in their own Hamburger Arena lol

About the match-ups. First of all, it suprises me that the clubs that are playing the quarterfinals are quite good. Not all may be Champions League material, but I think that these clubs have a great team and all have a shot at the title(some have a bigger shot, some a smaller one).

Fulham - Wolfsburg

England - Germany encounter. I don't really have a favorite for these match. They look evenly match so may the best win

Hamburg - Standard Liege

Hamburg will play a Belgian club again. I don't think that it will be different from the last time. Hamburg are going to go to the semi-finals. Liege won't be a major threat for Hamburg

Valencia - Aletico Madrid

This is the match that I have to see. 2 Spanish clubs with great attacking football that is going to be 2 great matches. The wnner of this match can probably go all the way, because these 2 clubs are strong enough for the final win. My favorite for this match-up is Valencia, but Aletico is absolutely not the underdog in the matches.

Benfica - Liverpool

I really don't know what to expect from this match-up. Liverpool seems to have pick themselves up after a horrible first half of the season. Benfica however isn't an opponent that you want to underestimate so I don't know what the outcome will be.
 
Yehom said:
Hamburg, if they reach the finals, will play as the visiting side. That is too akward for the players, because the finals is in their own Hamburger Arena lol
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I'm sure the "home" team will waive any issues related to it, like away kits and such. It's merely a formality.
 
Lets see how long Fulham can stay in the Europa League. They may surprise us again after defeating Juventus. The time will tell
 
Wolfsburg is another tough draw for Fulham, but I think they can do it. Hamburg are really going to want to get to the final as it's in their home ground.. That side of the draw is really wide open. I think every team in that section (Fulham, Wolfsburg, Hamburg, Standard Liege) are a bit weaker overall than the others (Liverpool, Benfica, Atlético, Valencia). I can't really see Atlético coming out of that side of the draw to make the final, but Liverpool, Benfica, and Valencia have as good a chance as each other. I wouldn't expect Standard Liege to get through either, but I can see Fulham, Wolfsburg, or Hamburg making it as well - The Europa League seems so evenly matched.

As for the Champions League, I'm sure everyone would more expect a repeat of last years final so far, with Man utd and Barcelona looking like the two strongest favourites. But anything could happen before then and you have to expect 'upsets' in the Champions League.

Man Utd have only beaten Bayern Munich once in seven tries, but Bayern have only won two as well, it's been a draw four times.

I'd like to say congratulations to Fulham and all of their fans, they've overcome the odds so many times already in this competition and have to be taken seriously by everyone. Who's to say they won't keep surprising us and make the final, like Middlesbrough did not too long ago?
 
First: in the EL, Fulham wa shelped by the stupid red card of Cannavaro. But I like Juventus being out of the EL for beating Ajax undeserved (but good, they're Italians).

People say Standard Luik/Liege is bad and won't win, but they won surprisingly a lot of times in the EL and in their CL poule.

About the CL.

Olympique Lyon-Girondins de Bordeaux
Hard to predict. I say Bordeaux, but I say 50-50.

Bayern München - Manchester United
Nice. Bayern is doing bad the last weeks, but this can be a nice match. I predict Manchester to win.

Arsenal - FC Barcelona
Nice. The topper of all. I think Barça wins, but Arsenal has a chance.

Internazonale - CSKA Moskou
Inter. Probably in the Italian way.
 
phalanx said:
we beat bayern when it counted ;)
united SHOULD reach the final with ease.
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But we also won the CL after beating you in quarters 2001 :>

We're of course the underdog in this match, but we should have a chance, if we get two good days, because Bayern has two faces in this season, somtimes we're quite good and then we play bullshit :(

Predicting Arsenal, Inter and Bordeaux to take the other quarters
 
Arsenal to beat barca? if that happens i will be pleased.
and with rooney on this form, anyone not barca or inter are definatly beatable.
 
Arsenal vs Barcelona.. I'm so excited. Of course.. I hoped we would meet Barcelona in the finals.. but either way.. I wanted this match-up so bad.
 
Not exactly happy with Man United's CL draw, but certainly not sad either. Would have preffered to face Barca in a two legged match though, where I feel we can certainly handle them. A one-off game however(should we face them) will be much more open, and I say whoever scores first wins.

As for Bayern, should be exciting and while I feel we're definitely a better, more solid squad, I can't help but be a little uneasy at the thought of both Robben and Ribery. If both of them were to have a good night, that'd certainly spell trouble.

Also I think a possible Inter v Barca matchup could provide two really good matches, Inter looked a really good, structured side after knocking out Chelsea, and I could certainly see them managing to take care of Barca too. And then of course we could have an awesome Inter v Man United final(Mourinho v Ferguson yeah let's go)
 
Olympique Lyon-Girondins de Bordeaux

The fact that Bordeaux hasn't been beaten in the CL this year and is doing extremely well in the French competition, I think they can actually win here.

Bayern München - Manchester United

Rooney. Even though I'm hoping Louis van Gaal, Franck Ribery & Arjen Robben can somehow beat them, I still think Rooney will make the difference.

Arsenal - FC Barcelona

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease Arsenal, win ;-;

Internazonale - CSKA Moskou

Should be pretty easy for the Italians, as proven before they shouldn't underestimate them, but still.
 
Arsenal to beat barca? i dont think so, Arsenal have been well beaten by Man U and chelsea this season, i cant see them beating barca, unless barca let them play.if arsenal got to the final with Man Utd though, would be interesting to see if arsene stick to the same tactics that saw them well beaten at the emarates in the semis last year AND in the league this year
 
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