Week 27: Main Report – Champions League 2010

[print_link] | Subscribe: Main Report The Champions League is back after a two-month break with the first-leg matches from the last 16 taking place this week. On this week's main report we preview these games and predict which teams should make it to the quarter-finals. You can listen to the report by clicking above while vocabulary support can be found for the words in bold at the foot of the post. Barcelona and Beckham The Champions League returns this week after a two-month break with the knock-out stage involving 16 teams from 8 different countries. This season UEFA has decided to have the 8 ties played over two different weeks, so there are 4 games this week and four next in an obvious attempt to maximise the competition's advertising power. This means that holders and favourites Barcelona do not play until next week when they face Bundesliga side Stuttgart in what should be a fairly straightforward tie. The Germans scraped out of a weak group though their form has improved recently in the domestic league. Barca's big rivals, however, Real Madrid face a tough trip to France where they will play Lyon. The French side are not as strong as they have been in recent years but Madrid will be under pressure to make it past the second round for the first time in 5 seasons, particularly after spending so much money on new players this year. Now, despite the pressure and this tricky away first leg I am tipping them to progress. On the same night, English champions Manchester United travel to AC Milan where they received a thrashing on their last visit three years ago. Few predict a similar scoreline this time in what should be an intriguing battle, especially as it will see David Beckham face his former club for the first time since he left. Despite the brouha surrounding David Beckham's return to Old Trafford for the second leg I don't think Milan will have enough and Manchester United will qualify. Dark Horses? Another English club in action this week is Arsenal who will play away in Portugal against FC Porto, who are playing in the Champions league for the 13th consecutive year and gave Chelsea a scare in the group stages to prove that they will be no pushovers. In fact, I am predicting that they will knock-out Arsene Wenger's side. The other match to be played this week sees Italian side Fiorentina going to Germany where they will play a resurgent Bayern Munich team that is challenging for the Bundesliga title as well. The Germans have hit form at the right time and will comfortably make it to the next round where they will no doubt make things uncomfortable for whoever they face - a dark horse to win the title maybe? Jose and Chelsea Now, next week sees Russian side CSKA Moscow take on Sevilla from La Liga. The Russians are still in their pre-season, while Sevilla have been inconsistent in recent weeks - dropping out of contention for La Liga title but making it to the Copa del Rey final. A Spanish victory here then. Many people's dark horses, Bordeaux travel to Athens to play Olympiacos in what should be a hostile atmosphere but the French team had the best qualifying record - 5 wins and a draw - and should have too much for the Greek side. The final game to take place next week sees Jose Mourinho return to his former club Chelsea with his current side Inter Milan. Jose is under pressure there, for despite looking as if the club will retain the Italian title he was brought in to win the top European prize for the first time since 1965. Now, Chelsea do not need motivation after coming so close in the past three seasons but I think they are going to get a shock here with Jose's team making the last 8. Vocabulary to maximise : To make as much as possible (here it refers to money fairly straightforward tie: The game should be fairly easy; few difficulties scraped out of a weak group: Just about made it; were not so convincing a tricky away first leg: A difficult match away from home in the first of two games they received a thrashing : They were well beaten (On this occasion 0-3) an intriguing battle: A very interesting game brouha: A media circus (one that always seems to follow David Beckham) no pushovers: The team will not be easy to defeat a resurgent: The team is playing well again after not performing well for some time a dark horse: A team that not is one of the favourites but could win (surprisingly) dropping out of contention: Not in the race for the title anymore