Learners’ Podcast 29 – The Champions League

On this week's show the languagecaster team focus on the Champions League knock-out stage We ask where David BeckhamA isA in our weekly Beckham WatchA and also have another expression forA English for Football. There is a transcript A for the reports below as well as the following links for language learners. Worksheets and transcripts Vocabulary lists Online quizzes and crossword puzzles Weekly blogs from our football-crazy writers inA fansa€™ forumTranscriptYes, spring is here and the Champions league is back. Holders Milan will be hoping to retain the mostprestigious trophy in European club football for the 8th time but 15 other teams still stand in their way.A A The shadow boxing of the group stages is over and it is now do or die as the last 16 teams from 9 different countries battle it out to see which of them reaches the final in Moscow in May.A England has most representatives left in the competition with four, followed by Spain and Italy with three each and it is from this pool of teams that most people's choice of champions comes from.A  Champions League heavyweights Milan, Madrid and Liverpool are among the favourites again, while teams such as Manchester United, Barcelona and Inter will also figure heavily among experts' tips.A  While they have previously won the Cup, these clubs feel they should have won it more often and this hunger may be enough to push them all the way this year.A A How about the dark horses? Maybe former champions Porto or Celtic can reclaim their former gloriesA  or perhaps it is finally Lyon's turn after so many years of coming close. The outsiders have to be Greek side Olympiakos and Turkey's first ever representatives at this stage, Fenerbahce, but in a knock-out competition anything can happen.A A After the first leg was played this week the ties are all finely balanced though Barcelona's victory at Celtic gives them a clear edge and Chelsea and Milan will be also be satisfied with their scoreless draws away from home. Sevilla, Madrid, Manchester United and Porto all have away goals to play with in the return legs and will also be confident of qualifying for the last eight. Hoping to join them will be Liverpool after a 2-0 home victory against Serie A leaders Inter Milan.A A We asked some off Languagecaster's regular pundits who they thought would be champions and which team might be the dark horses.A DB:OK, so who are your favourites for the Champions League this year?Hans: I think there are two this year, Manchester United and Barcelona.DB: OK, you've got to pick one of those, who's going to win?Hans: Barcelona.DB: Any dark horses?Hans: I think FC Porto are the dark horse but they've got to get past Schalke.A Ben: I have a feeling that Chelsea from England are going to do ok this year, so I think they could go all the way to Moscow and potentially win it.DF: How about dark horses?Ben: It could be a long shot, you know, 'cos they're playing Man United in this round but if Lyon can somehow squeeze past United I think they've got a couple of, you know, really bright sparks for the future, in particular, Benzema and I think, you know, they could really make a name for themselves in this tournament.A DB: OK, so who are your favourites for the Champions League?Paul: Well, this year I think it's going to be an English team that are going to win. Last year England showed ... that the top sides in England had real quality when they took three of the four semi-fianl places and I think this year an English team will do it.DB: OK, if you had to choose one English team, who would it be?Paul: I'd go for Chelsea.DB: Any dark horse?Paul: Let me think, I'd go for, perhaps a Spanish team maybe Sevilla.DB: OK, thanks.TranscriptA