Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Chelsea's Hazard is hoping to repeat Champions League underdog glory of 2012
Friday, 27 December 2013
Azeri children joined Champions League match (PHOTO)
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Barcelona set minimum ticket price of £77 for City fans
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
Smartphone Champions League Round of 16, Matchday 1 final scores
The first four games in the SCL Round of 16 are now complete, the scores have been counted and now know the names of half of the quarterfinalists.
Sony already has two smartphones in the next round, while Nokia and HTC also got their names on the board.
The HTC One reigned supreme in the early 2013 flagship battle, scoring nearly twice the number of votes the Samsung Galaxy S4 managed.
Having dealt with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in the previous round, the Nokia Lumia 1020 had a far easier task this time and it completed it with ease. The Motorola Moto G simply stood no chance here.
In the first Sony-Nokia encounter of the tournament the Japanese manufacturer scored the victory with the Xperia SP progressing at the expense of Nokia Asha 501.
The internal Sony derby saw the Xperia Z1 wipe the floor with its Xperia Z predecessor.
Here's the revised tournament bracket.
Voting on the other four Round of 16 games starts in a few minutes!
Smartphone Champions League Round of 16, Matchday 2
The first four quarterfinalists in our Smartphone Champions League have already been revealed, and now it's time to learn the names of the other four. Some really exciting games await as 8 more smartphones will battle it out for the remaining spots.
We've got the LG-made Google Nexus 5 in actual today against the Apple iPhone 5s in what should be a thrilling encounter. The other Apple smartphone is also going to see some action today, hoping to put an end to Samsung's participation in the tournament. We've also got an in-house battle and a proper mid-ranger contest - all the ingredients of an exciting matchday.
The LG Nexus 5 vs Apple iPhone 5s is certainly the most interesting battle of the day. The two handsets easily swatted their first round rivals, but this is going to be a completely different game and both will have to be at their best if they want to stand a chance.
The Galaxy S III is the last remaining Samsung smartphone in the tournament and it will meet an old foe here. The Apple iPhone 4S and the former Samsung flagship have a lot of history together, but this adds a whole new dimension to their rivalry.
Sony and Nokia are the two on-form manufacturers in the first Smartphone Champions League. The two already served an exciting Round of 16 game, which went in Sony's favor, but now the Lumia 520 will be hoping to get sweet revenge against the Xperia M.
Finally we have two Nokia smartphones battling it out for a place in the quarterfinals. The Lumia 1520 should have little problem with its Lumia 720 sibling, but we'll only know for sure when the voting closes.
Voting closes December 27, 10AM GMT!
Alessio Cerci Targets Champions League Before World Cup
Manchester United's chances of signing Torino star Alessio Cerci in January have been boosted after the midfielder revealed his desire of featuring in the Champions League.
The Premier League champions are keen on adding quality to their squad in the mid-season transfer window after David Moyes admitted that United will be looking to strengthen the midfield in January.
The Italian international has scored nine goals and registered seven assists in 17 Serie A appearances this season. talkSPORT reports that United are interested in signing Cerci when the transfer window opens next month as a move to Old Trafford would guarantee him European football before the World Cup.
United have progressed to the knockout round of the Champions League after topping Group A. The English champions are pitted against Olympiakos in the Round of 16 of the European competition.
"I feel ready for the Champions League - I have matured. I think it's the right time to make the leap. I want to get there, even before the World Cup," Cerci is quoted as saying in Tutto Mercato Web.
United could face competition in signing the 26-year-old midfielder after he admitted a move to his former club AS Roma. However, the Italian outfit are not featuring in the Champions League and a move to Stadio Olimpico will see him miss on the European competition this season.
"Roma? It's no secret to go back to where I grew up. Now it's a dream, but also it's a goal to go to Juventus," the Italian international stressed.
Meanwhile, United star Phil Jones is hoping to finish the year on a high during the fixtures against Hull City and Norwich City in the space of three days. The Red Devils have won the last four games played in all competitions, while conceding only one goal in the process.
"Steve Bruce has done a great job there. He's got the team he wanted, the players he wanted and that's the reason why they are performing in big games. We've definitely got to be wary of them because they will be tricky opponents on Boxing Day," Jones told United's official website.
"Against Norwich, most of the preparation will be on the tactics board and in the team meetings, it probably won't be much outside on the training pitch. But we've got to be ready for [the game]."
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Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Cerci eyes Champions League football
Torino midfielder Alessio Cerci has stressed that he would strongly consider joining a Champions League club during the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old winger, who has previously been linked with Manchester United, had been tipped to seal a transfer away from the Stadio Olimpico in the summer.
However, when asked about the possibility of a switch next month, Cerci told TMW: "I feel ready for the Champions League [and] I have matured. I think it's the right time to make the leap. I want to get there, even before the World Cup."
The Italian international has scored nine goals so far this season.
Bayern Munich can make Champions League history
Bayern Munich won the 2013 Champions League final by defeating arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund, with the help of a dramatic late goal from Arjen Robben.
It may sound mythical, but no football club in the open era has managed to win the Champions League in consecutive years. All the big names including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have won the coveted trophy - but no club has done it two years in a row.
Bayern Munich are undoubtedly the best football club in the world at the moment. They shattered Barcelona's dominance in Europe by recording a 7-0 aggregate win over the Blaugrana in the Champions League last season. They won the treble under ex-manager Jupp Heynckes and are now being managed by former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola won 13 of the 16 tournaments he contested for with Barcelona, and another treble with Bayern Munich is possibly the only way he can justify his appointment as manager of the Bavarians.
Bayern have incredible squad depth and a scintillating mixture of young talents and experienced players. They also acquired German wonderkid Mario Gotze from Borussia Dortmund, signalling their intent to the footballing world.
Bayern will be looking to continue dominating Europe and defend their Champions League crown. They are on top of the Bundesliga and they cruised into the knockout stages of this season's Champions League. Bayern Munich could well and truly create history this season.
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Monday, 23 December 2013
San Jose Earthquakes reschedule two matches to accomodate CONCACAF ...
The CONCACAF Champions League's profile north of border is growing. So much so that the San Jose Earthquakes tweaked their schedule to accomodate regional play.
The Earthquakes announced on Monday two changes to their regular season schedule to give them more time to prepare for a CCL quarterfinal series against Deportivo Toluca F.C. San Jose rescheduled their home opener against the Colorado Rapids to Wednesday, May 7 at Buck Shaw Stadium with a 10:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The match was previously set for Sunday, March 9. Additionally, the Earthquakes will now open the MLS regular season against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 15 at Buck Shaw Stadium at 10:30 p.m. ET. That game was originally scheduled for May 7. Game dates for San Jose's two-leg series against Deportivo Toluca F.C. will be announced at a later date. The first leg will be played at home between March 11-13 while the second leg will take place in Toluca, Mexico, between March 18-20.
Smartphone Champions League Round 1 Matchday 4 final scores
Round 1 of the Smartphone Champions League is now complete and we now know what smartphones will be taking part in the Round of 16.
The last matchday of the first round turned out to be pretty uneventful with all handsets that managed to secure an early lead holding on to it until the end.
The Lumia 1520 brought yet another great result for Nokia, destroying the Galaxy S4 mini in what was the most voted on encounter of the day.
The Apple iPhone 4S gave Sony its solitary loss in the first round, beating the Xperia C for a spot in the Round of 16.
The Motorola Moto G smashed the Samsung Galaxy S DUOS 2 in another one-sided game.
Finally, the Sony Xperia M smashed the Samsung Galaxy Young to improve Sony's record to 1 in 2 today.
Here's the revised tournament bracket after the end of Round 1.
Obviously Samsung was the big loser here with only 2 of its 12 participants in the draw progressing to the second round. Nokia did far better winning all but one of its games and serving the biggest surprise of the opening round by beating the Galaxy Note 3. The solitary Nokia loss came at the hands of Sony, which also did splendidly - save for a last minute Xperia C loss the company had a perfect record. Elsewhere HTC One survived a stern first round test to make sure the Taiwanese get their representative in the Round of 16.
The first games of the next round will be starting shortly, so stay tuned.
Smartphone Champions League Round of 16, Matchday 1
With the Round of 32 part of our Smartphone Champions League now over, it's time to turn our heads to the Round of 16 where things get more and more interesting by the day. You can check out the results from Matchday 4 to see the which smartphones went through in the opening round and which had to go home after their very first game.
Today we have the first batch of eight handsets who survived the Round of 32. In the Matchday 1 of Round of 16 we'll see some ferocious battles. There are the Samsung Galaxy S4 vs HTC One, Nokia Lumia 1020 vs Motorola Moto G, Sony Xperia SP vs Nokia Asha 501 and Sony Xperia Z1 vs Sony Xperia Z.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 was victorious against the iPhone 5, but the HTC One has proven to be one tough contender snagging a win against the LG G2. Now, both titans of the Android world clash and only one will survive. Which one will it be?
Next up is the Nokia Lumia 1020 which stands up against the Motorola Moto G. Both phones are entirely different in their characters, so it'll be interesting to see which one will move on to the Quarterfinals.
Moving on to the Sony Xperia SP against the Nokia Asha 501. This is going to be an interesting battle as both Nokia and Sony have had only one defeat so far.
Finally, we have a classic old-vs-new battle with the Sony Xperia Z1 facing its predecessor, the Sony Xperia Z. We'll let you decide which one deserves to move forward.
Cast your votes now! Voting ends Wednesday, December 25, 12:01PM GMT.
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Tottenham Hotspur win as Everton eye Champions League
Kyle Walker of Spurs is tackled by Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton. Photo: Getty Images
Tim Sherwood claimed his first victory as interim Tottenham Hotspur coach on Sunday as his side came from behind to win 3-2 at Southampton in the Premier League.
Tottenham lost at home to West Ham United in the League Cup in mid-week, following the sacking of manager Andre Villas-Boas, and Sherwood saw his side fall behind against Southampton to an early goal from Adam Lallana.
Emmanuel Adebayor equalised for Spurs and a Jos Hooiveld own goal put the visitors in front, only for Rickie Lambert to draw Southampton level, but Adebayor struck again to seal the first win of the post-Villas-Boas era.
"In the second half they (the players) took it on. We showed we have real quality," Sherwood told Sky Sports.
On Adebayor, who made his first league start of the season, Sherwood added: "Emmanuel Adebayor has not been playing, so he did not require much motivating. You put him back in because of what he has done in history."
Beaten 5-0 at home by Liverpool in their last league outing, Spurs moved above Manchester United to seventh place in the table, four points below the top four, while Southampton remained ninth after a sixth successive game without victory.
In the late game, England midfielder Ross Barkley scored a brilliant 84th-minute free-kick to earn Everton a 2-1 win at Swansea City that propelled his side into the Champions League places.
Everton right-back Seamus Coleman broke the deadlock in the 66th minute with a swerving 30-yard shot, but Swansea equalised four minutes later when Dwight Tiendalli's volley deflected in off Bryan Oviedo.
Barkley settled matters at the death, bending a sumptuous free-kick in off the crossbar from just outside the box to give Everton manager Roberto Martinez victory against his former club.
The victory left Everton in fourth place, a point above Chelsea, having played a game more, while Swansea remain 11th.
Liverpool deposed Arsenal as league leaders on Saturday with a 3-1 win at home to Cardiff City, while Manchester City moved up to second place by winning 4-2 at Fulham.
Arsenal can return to the top of the table by beating Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, but Jose Mourinho's visitors will draw level on points with Liverpool if they prevail.
AFP
Wenger urges UEFA to cancel Champions League's 'away goals rule'
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has asked UEFA, the ruling body of European football, to drop the away-goals rule, according to reports.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wenger brought up the subject at a recent meeting in Geneva of leading club managers with his campaign fired by his team's painful exit from the Champions League last season.
Arsenal beat eventual champions Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Allianz Arena in the German city to level the aggregate score at 3-3 in their last-16 tie but were eliminated due to their 3-1 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates, the report said.
The Gunners have been paired with the German giants at the same stage again this season, the report added.
Wenger said that people are surprised by his question but he thinks it is a problem in the modern game.
He added that there is a counter-effect as when teams play at home, they try not to concede goals, which is also the first thing managers demand. ( ANI)
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Wenger asked UEFA to cancel Champions League away goals rule
Arsene Wenger, manager of Arsenal. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
By James Cunliffe Saturday, December 21, 2013 10:47 PM
Arsene Wenger has revealed that he asked UEFA to scrap the away goals rule after it saw Arsenal crash out of last season's Champions League.
The Gunners have been drawn against Bayern Munich in the last-16 of this season's Europe's premier compeition, just as they were last term.
Twelve months ago the north Londoners lost 3-1 at home to the Bundesliga giants but then went to Bavaria and won 2-0, only for the German side progress to the quarter finals on their way to winning the competition at Wembley Stadium.
Wenger, whose team face Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday, said: "Last year we went out on away goals and after that I asked for UEFA to cancel the away goals. We lost 3-1 here and then won 2-0 at Bayern.
"The weight of the away goal is too heavy, too big and is not justifiable anymore."
The rule was introduced before the Champions League era, when the competition was still called the European Cup and Wenger believes it's not necessary now.
"People are surprised by my question, but I think it a problem in the modern game," said the Arsenal boss who brought the matter to a recent managers' meeting in Geneva.
"Why did they put the away goal in? Because there was nothing on television.
"When you went out of the European Cup [in the past], you got kicked everywhere, but nobody said a word, so to encourage the teams to play they said, 'OK, we'll give you an incentive for the away game'.
"However, in the modern game everything is on television and analysed, so there is not a big difference anymore.
"Sometimes I think there is a counter-effect as teams play at home not to concede goals - now at home, the first thing managers say is, 'Let's not concede goals'."
Smartphone Champions League Round 1, Matchday 4
The last four Round 1 games in the Smartphone Champions League are starting today and we'll get to learn the names of the final four participants in the Round of 16. You can check out the results from Matchday 3 to see the smartphones which already qualified.
We've got five manufacturers in action today - Motorola, LG, Sony, Samsung and Apple are all in the mix. You probably already know this at this stage, but in case anyone missed it we should note that the draws are only based on popularity in our database, so some strangely matched pairs are bound to clash. Now let's see who's facing who in the third day of the Champions League.
The first game sees the Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet face a smartphone from the other end of the size spectrum - the Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. Those are two very different handsets, but each promises to deliver flagship user experience so it will be interesting to see which one you like better.
Then there's the Sony Xperia C, which will stand up against the Apple iPhone 4s. Sony has perfect record so far, while Apple already lost one of its three participants in the tournament, so on paper the dual-SIM Xperia C should have an advantage here.
The Motorola Moto G will trade punches with the Samsung Galaxy S DUOS 2 in the likeable mid-rangers' clash.
Finally, we have the Sony Xperia M versus the Samsung Galaxy Young. Will Samsung fans finally get their act together and do something about the rotten form of the Korean phones here or will Sony continue to dominate?
Voting ends Monday, December 23, 10AM GMT.
Olympiacos, Zenit punished by UEFA
Olympiacos and Zenit St Petersburg will both have to close part of their stadiums for their UEFA Champions League last-16 home ties after being punished by UEFA for the racist behavior of their fans.
Olympiacos must close the lower tier of the north stand at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium for the last-16 first leg against Manchester United on February 25 and have also been fined 30,000 euros (£25,000).
UEFA imposed the penalties following incidents during Olympiacos' home Champions League Group C game against Anderlecht on December 10.
A UEFA statement read: "Olympiacos have been sanctioned for the racist conduct of supporters, insufficient organization (of UEFA Safety and Security Regulations), the setting-off of fireworks and the use of a laser.
"There will be a partial closure of the Greek club's stadium - the lower tier of the north stand - for their next UEFA competition home match. They have also been fined 30,000 euros."
Zenit St Petersburg have also been similarly punished for incidents in their Champions League Group G game at Austria Vienna on December 11.
Zenit must close part of the Petrovski Stadium for the last-16 home match against Borussia Dortmund on February 25 and have been handed a 40,000-euro fine.
UEFA said: "Zenit have been penalised for the racist behavior of fans - namely the displaying of a banner - the setting-off and throwing of fireworks and crowd disturbances.
"There will be a partial closure of the Russian team's stadium - specifically the area housing the club's ultras - for their next UEFA competition home game. Zenit have also been fined 40,000 euros."
Olympiacos have appealed against the decision.
Press spokesman Kostas Karapapas said: "The punishment is because of one particular banner which as soon as it was seen was taken down and that is why it is harsh to say the least.
"There was no racist slogan or racist banner, and no racist chanting or songs were heard during the match with Anderlecht.
"The punishment from UEFA is a first level decision and we have submitted an appeal to try to ensure that our stadium is full for the match against Manchester United."
Friday, 20 December 2013
Story so far: FC Barcelona
The spectre of being eliminated 7-0 by FC Bayern München in last season's traumatic semi-final is the backdrop to FC Barcelona's intense desire to put things right in the UEFA Champions League this term. Now with the added interest of their first Argentinian coach since FIFA World Cup winner César Luis Menotti in 1983, the task for the incoming Gerardo Martino was to draw the utmost out of experienced but ageing stalwarts like Xavi Hernández and Carles Puyol, cope when Lionel Messi's injury problems impacted again and encourage the unveiling of Neymar's newly signed skills.
Story so farAlthough retaining their Liga title in the face of a resurgent challenge from the city of Madrid would always loom heavily over 2013/14, the fact Barcelona have been beaten semi-finalists six times and tournament winners three times since 2000 - added to that Bavarian humiliation last spring - indicates how significant the UEFA Champions League is to Camp Nou executives, players and fans.
Moreover, the draw blessed them with the opportunity to pit themselves against Celtic FC, who famously defeated them at Parkhead last term, and a first competitive meeting with AFC Ajax. Indeed, that debut visit to Amsterdam brought Martino's first reverse in all competitions, as late as 26 November, while it took dogged performances to secure four points from trips to Glasgow and Milan.
However, 13 goals and some sparkling football in Camp Nou victories against all their rivals marked the Catalans down as serious knockout round opponents for whoever drew them. The heavily Spanish-influenced Manchester City FC, it transpired.
Pivotal momentUnquestionably in Glasgow. Neil Lennon's side played with equal, if not more, intelligence and energy than in winning this fixture 2-1 last season. Víctor Valdés's goal came under something of an onslaught and, with Messi injured, Martino was looking around for solutions. He found them with the introduction of Alexis Sánchez and the team's new tactic of occasionally playing longer, earlier passes.
Neymar has usually been the target of these sometimes controversial tactics. At Celtic Park he drew a pass down, held it, served Alexis on the right and the ensuing headed goal from Cesc Fàbregas came out of the 'extremely difficult to execute but highly gratifying to score' category. Three precious away points.
©Getty Images
Key player: Lionel MessiSergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué, Neymar and Valdés all have claims. Yet it is testimony to his extraordinary powers and influence on this club that, despite playing just three times in Group H, it must be Messi. Six goals in those 270 minutes, one of them the equaliser in Milan on a pitch Barça were not enjoying and against a Rossoneri side with their tails up, meant that by the time of his eventual lay-off the 26-year-old had scored sufficiently to guarantee the Spanish champions seven points.
Rising star: NeymarHow smoothly he has fitted in, seems remarkable considering it took him until matchday six to find his debut goal in the tournament. At 21, having changed continents and after a draining FIFA Confederations Cup, the Brazilian international has charmed everyone with his modest demeanour and impressed in the way he has harnessed what were, previously, slightly anarchic skills. Either playing wide left or deputising in what has become known as the 'false 9' role when Messi is injured, Neymar has been an electric hit, totalling ten goals and a handful of assists in all competitions. A star is born.
Number: 4The number of times Messi has suffered muscle strains since pulling up injured in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes last spring. His latest muscle tear caused the forward to sit out the latter part of 2013, recuperating in Argentina, but in theory the Ballon D'Or holder will be back in top form well before the knockout rounds begin.
Quote"The tempo of our play is increasing as the season develops. We have a new coach and step by step he's teaching us precisely what he demands of us. We are both taking hold of and applying his concepts. You can see that in our play."Piqué gives the 'stay calm and keep on winning' message.
Next challenge: Manchester City FC(Away: 18 February, home: 12 March)As soon as Luís Figo paired his former employers with Manuel Pellegrini's rising Sky Blues side, the neutral football fan won the lottery. Given their current scoring rates this season, the teams are on target to have registered close to 200 goals between them on all fronts by the time they meet in February.
All over the pitch there are individual skill battles which tantalise, and either manager immediately announced of the opposition, "They won't be pleased at having drawn us." The principal task for both sets of back-room staff will be to use the coming weeks to get four main players - Messi, Sergio Aguëro, Pablo Zabaleta and Valdés - fit again. Roll on February.
Story so far: Manchester City
Manchester City FC came into this UEFA Champions League campaign hoping to make it third time lucky. After failing to get out of the group stage on their first two attempts, they looked to Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini - a man who had taken unheralded Villarreal CF and Málaga CF sides to the latter stages - to succeed where Roberto Mancini had failed.
On paper it appeared the perfect plan - Pellegrini's knowhow and experience combined with a squad of world-class talents strengthened further by the likes of Álvaro Negredo, Jesús Navas and Fernandinho - and on the pitch it is looking pretty clever too so far. City made it through to the last 16 at the third time of asking and they did so comfortably, winning five of their six Group D fixtures and qualifying with two games to spare.
Story so farCity kicked off with a 3-0 victory at FC Viktoria Plzeň but then came down to earth with a bump as their 20-match unbeaten home record in Europe vanished in the face of an FC Bayern München onslaught, the holders prevailing 3-1 in east Manchester. Yet Pellegrini's men have not put a foot wrong since. After wins in Moscow and Manchester against PFC CSKA Moskva, they ended matchday four with their progress secured. A home win against Plzeň kept alive their hopes of snatching top spot from Bayern and they came desperately close on 10 December, falling just one goal short after a dramatic 3-2 triumph in Munich.
©Getty Images
Pivotal momentIt is tempting to name the 2-1 comeback win in freezing temperatures at CSKA as City bounced back from their home disappointment against Bayern. In truth, though, it has to be the December night they came back from two goals down to beat the defending champions on their own patch. Yes, both sides had already qualified but what a statement to send out to the rest of Europe - triumphing in Bavaria against a Bayern side who had just won a record ten consecutive UEFA Champions League matches.
Key player: Sergio AgüeroPellegrini says he is the third-best player in the world behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while Jamie Carragher, a UEFA Champions League winner with Liverpool FC, considers him the best striker in the Premier League. The praise is well-merited given his brilliance in a sky blue shirt this season. Already City's record scorer in Europe, he has power, technique, an impressive shooting range and an indisputable hunger for goals that has brought him 19 in 20 games this season. Pellegrini will be desperate to have him fully recovered from his calf injury for when FC Barcelona come to town.
Rising star: Álvaro NegredoFernandinho has begun to catch the eye in the City midfield after a slow start, but the rising star has to be Negredo, another summer arrival but one who hit the ground running in the Premier League and has shone equally in Europe. His partnership with Agüero has already become a major feature of City's game, but it is not just his link-up play that has caught the eye - the Spaniard has 13 goals already for the club, including their first-ever European hat-trick.
Number: 50This is the total number of goals managed by City in 12 home matches in all competitions, of which they have won 11. In the Premier League they have scored six against both Tottenham Hotspur FC and Arsenal FC and put four past Manchester United FC. With Pellegrini playing two up front, the plan seems to be 'we'll score more than you' - and they are doing just that, averaging 4.16 per game, which makes the round of 16 encounter with Barcelona such a mouth-watering prospect.
Quote"I think Barcelona will be very concerned that they have drawn us. They are not the team of two years ago." Bold words from Pellegrini but given City's current form, particularly at home, who can blame him?
Next challenge: FC Barcelona(Home: 18 February, away: 12 March)City have not faced Barcelona before but given their international dimension these days, they have some intriguing links with the Camp Nou club - notably through sporting director Txiki Begiristain and midfielder Yaya Touré, both European Cup winners with Barça. Begiristain believes City's firepower gives them a chance - "We scored in Plzen, in Moscow, in Munich," he said - but there is a flip side given they conceded a combined seven goals against those teams at home. Vincent Kompany's fitness problems and Joe Hart's dip in form have not helped so there is room for improvement ahead of the visit of Messi, Neymar and company.
Luis Suarez dreaming of Champions League football with Liverpool after signing ...
The Uruguayan put pen to paper on a long-term deal and is setting his sights on a top-four finish with the Reds this season
Done deal: Luis Suarez has agreed a new £225,000/week deal
Luis Suarez says he is dreaming of playing Champions League football with Liverpool after signing a new long-term deal with the club.
The Uruguayan striker, who has struck 17 goals in 11 Premier League matches this season, believes the Reds can challenge at the top of the table and secure a Champions League spot come the end of the season.
And after putting pen to paper on a new contract - thought to be worth around £225,000 per week - Suarez thanked the fans and manager Brendan Rodgers for their support.
All eyes for now are on a top-four finish this season. He explained: "The first dream for me is to play in the Champions League with Liverpool. It's my hope and my dream.
"I think when we have very good players, we can try our best at the Premier League. I think if we stay at this level, we can fight with other teams at the top of the table."
And on Rodgers, he said: "He was very important. When you have the confidence of the manager, you can try your best. I think when the team is together you can be happy as well. In the dressing room I am so happy. I don't have problems with anyone.
"We have a fantastic dressing room here. We have many big players, but in the dressing room, they are all nice people and they are funny too. This is important."
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Liverpool's Move for Champions League Sensation Nearing Completion, Says ...
Liverpool will sign FC Basel's Mohamed Salah during next month's January transfer window, according to the winger's former teammate.
Salah's burgeoning reputation has seen him linked with moves to some of Europe's biggest sides and after the Swiss champions failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, a move next month seems all the more likely.
The Egypt international, who has starred against Chelsea and Tottenham in the 2013 in both the Europa League and the Champions League, indicated earlier this season that his preferred destinations were Manchester United, Real Madrid or the Blues.
But Liverpool may be on the verge on securing the 21-year-old's services, according to his former teammate Mohamed Zika.
"Yes, I am 99 per cent sure this will happen," Zika said when asked of Salah's move to Anfield, King Fut reports.
"He makes us and all of Egypt proud. Everybody talks about Mohamed Salah now - and aside from that he is my friend. I'm very happy with him."
After a hugely successful January transfer window last year where the club signed Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge, Brendan Rodgers has indicated he is looking to do business once again as the Reds bid to strengthen their position in the Premier League's top four.
But the former Swansea boss was quick to stress that the club will only be looking to add players to the squad who are already better than what they currently have.
"Of course, we want to reinforce the group, but it has to be players that are clearly better than what we have and can come in and help the group," Rodgers told reporters during his latest press conference.
Salah, who is valued at £15m, could fit that description. Despite his tender years, the skilful winger already plays an integral role for both club and country, having scored 17 goals in 27 games for Egypt. He also scored twice in both contests against Chelsea in the group stage of the Champions League.
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Smartphone Champions League Round 1, Matchday 3
Our Smartphone Champions League is in full swing and it's time for Matchday 3. You can check out the results from Matchday 2, which turned to be was a real nail-biter.
Anyway, let the battles in Matchday 3 commence. Today, we have some equally interesting matches, which are well worthy your attention and participation. Mind you, the draws are only based on popularity in our database, so some strangely matched pair are bound to clash. Now let's see who's facing who in the third day of the Champions League.
First, we have a classic Apple-Samsung battle in the face of the iPhone 5s against the Galaxy Note II. The latest Apple flagship enters as a strong favorite here, but we already saw plenty of surprises so we are taking nothing for granted.
Next up, the Samsung Galaxy Grand will stand against the Sony Xperia SP. Sony has been doing really well in the past two Matchdays, so we are expecting this game to be an interesting one.
Moving on we see two Samsung smartphones fighting to continue their participation in the tournament. The Samsung Galaxy S III will have to face the Galaxy Mega 6.3 in a game for a spot in the Round of 16.
Finally, we have yet another Windows Phone in the mix - the Lumia 720 is fighting against the Samsung Galaxy Core.
Cast your votes now! Voting closes tomorrow, December 21 at 2:00PM GMT.
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Olympiacos Appeal Ground Closure for Manchester United Champions League ...
Olympiacos have launched an appeal to overturn the partial stadium closure that threatens to dampen their Champions League round of 16 first-leg encounter with Manchester United.
Punished for allegedly showing a racist banner during the Dec. 10 tie with Anderlecht, press spokesman Kostas Karapapas has confirmed the Greek club will do everything they can to ensure the Karaiskakis Stadium is bouncing for the match on Feb. 25, 2014, per Reuters and via Eurosport :
The punishment is because of one particular banner which as soon as it was seen was taken down and that is why it is harsh to say the least.There was no racist slogan or racist banner, and no racist chanting or songs were heard during the match with Anderlecht.
The punishment from UEFA is a first level decision and we have submitted an appeal to try to ensure that our stadium is full for the match against Manchester United.
Although Olympiacos managed to win the fixture with their Belgian opponents 3-1, thus confirming passage into the knockout stages, they will be calling on the support of home fans to test United's resolve during the first-leg encounter.
Away goals hold major prominence in the Champions League and it's vital the Greek champions put David Moyes' men under as much pressure as possible throughout the opening 90 minutes.
If Olympiacos head to Old Trafford with a decent result, or without conceding an away goal, they will fancy their chances of stunning the English title holders on their own patch.
Zenit St. Petersburg are the subject of similar sanctions from UEFA but will not appeal their stadium closure in the lead up to the crucial match against Borussia Dortmund.
EuroFootball/Getty Images
Both Olympiacos and the Russian outfit also received fines for the incidents and will be ordered to pay €30,000 and €40,000 respectively.
While United and Dortmund won't be too upset about having some of their opponents' fiercest fans missing, it's disappointing to see Europe's showcase club competition hampered by reported racism and disturbances.
UEFA must stand firm if evidence shows any supporters breaching social boundaries, as right now, the punishment does little to deter repeated episodes from occurring.
Blueprint for Manchester City Champions League Triumph
Manchester City have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in three attempts and will now take on Barcelona in the standout tie of the round. It's a daunting prospect, but one City 't fear given the quality of football they have produced at times this season. They managed 15 points in qualifying with a 100 percent away record, culminating in a fantastic win over Munich at the . It's a result that sent a message to the rest of Europe, and Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping it breeds confidence amongst his players, who had often seemed tentative before his arrival. Two seasons of group stage exits under former boss Roberto Mancini were threatening to scar City psychologically; a third early exit would have been catastrophic. But Manuel Pellegrini has ensured that monkey is now off City's back, and they can look forward to a knockout tie with the world's biggest club. It's unlikely that City will have enough to go all the way and lift the trophy in Lisbon next May-there are more complete sides in the competition-but here we look at the areas City need to improve if they are to beat the odds and be successful in Europe.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
City must resolve their goalkeeper situationMost sides require a top-class, in-form goalkeeper if they are to be successful in the Champions League, and right now City have neither. Joe Hart has proven in the past that he has the attributes to be exceptional, but his form collapsed well over a year ago and has never really recovered. Before being dropped, his confidence was low and his performances were costing the team points. His replacement, Pantilimon , is neither a great goalkeeper nor a confident one, and it's highly doubtful he can lead City to glory in the biggest club competition in the world. If the extended break manager Manuel Pellegrini is giving Hart works and he comes back mentally refreshed and at his best, then City don't have an issue. The problem they have is that there is no guarantee that will happen, and Pellegrini and his staff are likely to have been weighing their options ahead of the next transfer window.Signing a goalkeeper of the requisite quality in January who 't ineligible for the Champions League is an extremely difficult task, but ideally City need to find one who ticks all the boxes.
City must continue to attackIt's clear for all to see where City's strength lies. Pellegrini 's attacking approach has already seen them score 75 goals in 25 games this season-50 in 12 home matches. They managed 18 in six Champions League group games, and only Real Madrid, with 20, managed more.
Much of that has been down to the striker partnership of Alvaro and Sergio , who have instantly clicked and formed a devastating combination. They scored 11 goals in qualifying, and both look supremely confident every time they step onto the pitch.
Michael Regan/Getty Images
The form of has also been a major contributing factor to City's impressive goal tally. He has gone from being a player close to the exit door at the end of last season to a first-team regular this one, with a series of impressive displays making him one of City's best players this season.
Add to that the wonderful David Silva, who remains City's most important attacking player, and they have a front four capable of rivaling any in the world.
City must tighten up at the back
While City's attack has been functioning superbly, the defensive side of their game has been a little shaky, particularly when Vincent is injured. They conceded 10 goals in their six group games-too many for a side with aspirations of lifting the trophy.
and Pablo are City's best defenders, and their place in the side is guaranteed. When is back fit, he is likely to partner at the centre of defence. , a 20-year-old with incredible potential, always looks far more assured when playing alongside his captain, and City will be hoping they can both remain fit and form a solid pairing.
At left-back, Gael is City's best option, and his form is improving after a slow start to the season. If City can field the -Kompany-Nastasic-Clichy combination on a regular basis, they may well begin to see an improvement at the back.
Michael Regan/Getty Images
Keeping key players fit is essentialVincent , Fernandinho , Toure, David Silva and Sergio . This is the spine of the Manchester City team, and if they are to be successful in Europe this season, these players have to be fit and playing well.
provides leadership for the team and organisation in defence; Fernandinho and Toure are the driving force in midfield; Silva is the creator of everything going forward; and is one of the deadliest finishers in the game. Without one of more of these, City can sometimes appear well short of being one of the best sides in Europe. With them, they can mix it with the best.
Summary
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
City have one of the fiercest attacks in football, and Barcelona will not be particularly pleased with the last-16 draw. They are capable of an upset, there's no question about that, but whether they are capable of lifting the trophy is another question altogether. Progress has been made, though, and expect them to be stronger contenders in the coming seasons.
Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here .
5 Reasons Juventus Failed in the Champions League This Season
Lack of Tactical Variety
Paolo Bruno/Getty Images
Juventus may have upgraded their attack significantly in the summer, but they failed to address something that they were accused of last season in Europe, an over-reliance on the 3-5-2 system.
Antonio Conte does have tactical variety, having started his tenure at the club with the 4-4-2 (interpreted by some as a 4-2-4).
Quite soon though, it was clear that the 3-5-2 system best suited the players at his disposal, and it has been a huge success.
However, given its lack of use in Europe, particularly the Champions League, it was unclear whether it could translate to the European game.
After squeezing through the group stage-despite topping the group-before facing a weak Celtic side and then finally being eliminated by a formidable Bayern outfit, it was unclear as to how successful it had been.
Conte appears to be willing to experiment with a 4-3-3 formation that was used twice against Real Madrid this season, but it is clear that the players are not available to use this system on a more regular basis.
Simone Pepe's injury has particularly harmed Conte's ability to switch formations more regularly, as there are a real lack of advanced wide players in the squad.
Next summer, it will be clear that wingers will be the priority in the transfer market, which will then enable Conte to chop and change his tactics dependent on the competition or opposition.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
A
Western Sydney Wanderers fans will have the chance to see their team take on some of Asia's best teams. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP
It seems that seven years after its debut in the Asian Champions League, much of Australian football views the tournament with as much enthusiasm as an English batsman views the start of a Mitch Johnson run-up. The excuses are coming in early ahead of the 2014 version with a tricky but not scary draw for Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners being described in terms that should be saved for the Socceroos and the World Cup. Clubs are talking about needing financial support to play, the mainstream media's default setting is increasingly one that moans about cashed-up Asian clubs taking on salary-capped A-League sides and fans just don't seem that interested.
And then there are the games themselves. "To be honest, playing in Asia, is not all that enjoyable," said Kevin Muscat in 2010, perhaps failing to consider whether the feeling was mutual. "People going down left, right and centre, stalling for time ... I think it's evident for people to see. Being involved in it and watching it I can understand why people don't come and watch."
They did initially, a little. In the first ever appearance in 2007, a year after Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation, there was genuine excitement in a crowd of over 20,000 when Sydney FC hosted one of Japan's biggest and best in Urawa Reds. Attendances for Melbourne Victory's opening games were also pretty good and then in 2008, Adelaide United reached the final, elbowing aside such names as Pohang Steelers, Bunyodkor and Kashima Antlers. The Gamba Osaka pass and move groove was too much in the final but Australia had made its presence known in the competition.
Success breeds interest and exposure, the Ashes is a reminder of that, but Adelaide's early efforts were not followed up. Even the eagerly-awaited debut of Brisbane Roar, the great hope, in 2012 was a big disappointment as the team departed the group stage with no wins from six games. Such poor results are quick to be portrayed as the result of differences in resources and while it really is not so simple, it is an easy narrative to sell.
There was some excitement in the second round earlier this year when Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande and their World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi arrived to play Central Coast Mariners but after the Gosford side was eliminated, interest quickly followed suit. The entertaining final between Guangzhou and Seoul was one of the events of the year in Asian football and a huge deal in China. It was not even broadcast live down under.
A lack of familiarity with the opposition is understandable to an extent, given the country's recent arrival in Asia, but there has not been a major attempt from the media to immerse readers in the dizzying football cultures on offer in the massive continent to the north. Geneva and its European environs remain the point of reference rather than Jakarta when it comes to the world game. It is a little surprising that the excitement over the move to Asia, hailed as a gamechanger in Australia for the increased exposure to better standards of play, does not seem to extend to the tournament that provides the most regular and consistent opportunity to engage with the new confederation.
This is not to say that the tournament is loved across the continent. It certainly has issues. Take China and Iran out of the equation and attendances are erratic (though midweek games tend to have a bigger impact on attendances in many parts of Asia than Europe). It turns out that turning football fans in Asia into fans of Asian football is not easy and when even AFC staff still have the European version in mind when they mention the 'Champions League' then there is still some way to go.
South Korea is the usual poster boy for indifference to the competition and not without reason. The general public has never had much interest in Asian football. Despite this, K-League clubs have still won double the number of continental club championships than any other country. Even in Korea, interest and enthusiasm is growing, if slowly, helped by the attitude of the clubs.
Central Coast Mariners initially asked Football Federation Australia for financial help in order to cover costs for the 2014 version - prize money has increased over the years and is set to rise again soon but it still lags way behind the European version. Still, for those clubs that perform well in the tournament, there is money to be made and opportunities to be had.
The Mariners' concerns echo sentiments expressed in 2006 when Korea's Jeonbuk Motors wanted to exit the competition as parent company Hyundai Motors tightened its belt. Upon learning that the fines for departure were greater than the costs of participating (at the time, the AFC helped out little with expenses), the Greens stayed and won the whole thing. In the end, the car manufacturers admitted that the Asia-wide exposure had been worth an amount untold times greater than the costs. Jeonbuk then started to sign more Asian players to continue its continental brand push and the club is now probably the most enthusiastic Champions League participant anywhere. The tournament has played a major role in turning a mid-table cup team in Korea to a genuine continental power with big ambitions.
There are other, more immediate and visible, benefits. Adelaide's run to the final in 2008 paved the way for Sasa Ognenovski to move to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in Korea. The giant defender led the Moonie-owned club to the Asian title in 2010 and became the Asian Player of the Year. It was a meaningful moment that helped to open the continental door for plenty of countrymen. The tournament is an ongoing shop window for Australian talent, much needed for a country with only nine teams in its top league.
The Asian Champions League is far from perfect - the recent expansion to include more countries was long overdue and more is needed, the criteria for entry is misguided and the schedule does Aussie clubs no favours - but while it is easy to complain about the flaws, you tend to get out what you put in. It has to come from the clubs supported by a media that is able to look beyond simplistic stereotypes and fans who may find that if they embrace this much-maligned tournament, it actually has much to offer.
Arsenal can surprise Bayern Munich in the Champions League, says former ...
Now mainly deployed as a centre-back, the softly-spoken Brazilian is in Morocco to represent Atletico Mineiro at the Club World Cup in Morocco, with the South American champions set to face Bayern in Saturday's final if they can see off Raja Casablanca tonight.
With one eye also trained on developments in North London, the 37-year-old has asked his former teammates to remember how perceived favourites have been overturned in the past.
The pairing of the English league leaders with their Bundesliga counterparts is "similar to when Bayern played Barcelona," the 37-year-old told The Independent.
"I remember how everyone said Barcelona would win, but Bayern did a very good job and went through.
"Arsenal are having a very good season and they have the quality to progress to the next stage."
Silva feels the growing maturity of Arsenal's young players, coupled with the contribution being made by transfer signings secured over the last two years, will bring success both in Europe and domestically.
"Because Arsenal are a young team they are always getting stronger and stronger.
"They have brought in players with the quality to make a difference on their own and for the team as a whole."
With Arsenal having not won a trophy since he left the club, Silva can claim a certain authority on just what it is that makes the difference in the pursuit of honours.
Breaking Down Manchester City's Champions League Opponents Barcelona
Manchester City professed to want Champions League pressure and competition at Europe's highest level. Manuel Pellegrini was hired to manage City primarily to guide City to success in this tournament.
If City really wanted a challenge, they got it in drawing four-time Champions League victors Barcelona in the round of 16. As you probably recall, Barcelona won the Champions League in 2009 and again in 2011.
Other teams have won more Champions League titles. Reigning kings Bayern Munich have won it five times. Barcelona's nemesis Real Madrid have won it more than any other team (nine times).
On recent and present form, though, Barcelona are quite possibly the hardest possible start for Manchester City in their first ever foray into elimination play in the Champions League.
The Catalan side will not haul their past silver onto the pitch with them against City.
Every time Barcelona line up, however, they bring not only a significant history of winning at this level, but also ongoing excellence in their own league with the world's best player four years running in Lionel Messi .
Scarier still are the cast that support Messi. Neymar, Xavi and Andres Iniesta are all football greats playing at or near their career standards of excellent play for today's Barcelona.
Messi has been out of action since November 10, per John Drayton of the Daily Mail. Yet Barcelona remain atop La Liga (on goal difference over Atletico Madrid) through 16 league matches.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Since Barcelona have won four of the past five La Liga crowns, including last year's, it is difficult to project another side unseating them assuming Messi regains full health in the next month or so.
And facing Barcelona in the Champions League promises to be somewhere between exciting and terrifying for City manager Manuel Pellegrini's side.
Not that he is about to let anyone see him sweat.
"Barcelona is not the team it was two years ago," Pellegrini recently said according to Ian Ladyman of the Maybe so, but the touts say otherwise. Ladbrokes has Barcelona (9/2) as the co-second favorite with Real Madrid to win the Champions League behind defenders Bayern Munich (13/5). Manchester City are tied with their rivals, Manchester United, as the eighth choice at 16/1. Daily Mail. "They changed three managers in the last three years, maybe the performance of the players is not the same...two years ago they were more unbeatable than today," Pellegrini continued.
In retrospect, Manchester City might have preferred scoring one more group stage goal against Bayern Munich after all.
It is certainly noble to accept the challenge that Barcelona will present head-on.
But City would be far more likely to survive the round of 16 if it were Olympiakos or Schalke coming to the Etihad in February.
PSG look much too strong for Leverkusen in Champions League
Before Monday's Champions League last 16 draw, Leverkusen CEO Michael Schade said he hoped Zlatan Ibrahimovic would get the chance to play at the BayArena. He will now see his dream become reality with Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish superstar heading to Germany, though the tie may well end up being something of a shame for Schade.
"A challenge we'll happily take on" was Simon Rolfes' reaction to the draw, while Stefan Reinartz was bullish in claiming "we have already proven that we can match teams who are much better off financially". The response in France was one of muted jubilation. With Manchester City and Arsenal avoided, Laurent Blanc, the PSG coach - habitually grouchy with media - was all smiles in front of the cameras just minutes after the draw, and though he insisted Leverkusen were "also a big team", he gave the impression of a man for whom Christmas had come early.
Looking at the key match-ups in the tie, Blanc's barely concealed glee had some justification.
Bernd Leno v Salvatore Sirigu
Just imagine Sirigu actually arrived at PSG as second-choice to Nicolas Douchez. Hard to believe as many of you will barely have heard of Douchez given Sirigu immediately seized the first-choice gloves when his rival was injured at the start of the 2011/12 season and has not relinquished his grip. Five years Leno's senior, Sirigu has only marginally more experience at Champions League level - 16 games to Leno's 14 - and is equally as steady. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani in the PSG ranks, Leno will have a magnificent opportunity to extend his renown beyond Germany's borders; he may also simply find himself too busy to care.
VERDICT: The only area in which Leverkusen will match PSG
Emir Spahic v Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Serbo-Croat lip-readers: Look away now! Two players who should have 'highly flammable' stamped on them - actually, given Ibrahimovic's penchant for tattoos, perhaps he already does - this will be a combustible contest. The imposing Swede may actually meet his physical match in the robust Bosnia-Herzegovina defender. I wondered why Leverkusen brought in a snarly centre-back in Spahic, now I know. It's just a shame it's not Hyypia in his heyday tackling PSG's star among stars.
VERDICT: Zlatan by a submission
Stefan Kiessling v Thiago Silva
Stefan Kiessling has been hard done by with regard to not being picked by Germany etc. but the Leverkusen forward will get no sympathy from Thiago Silva, and little opportunity to enhance his reputation. Kiessling's aerial prowess is undoubtedly greater than that seen from most Ligue 1 forwards, but Silva showed last season that when the stakes are raised, he lifts his already world-class game to extra-terrestrial standards. He was even praised by Joey Barton for displays against Barcelona in last season's quarter-final, which says it all.
VERDICT: Kiessling will need more than a hole in the net to help him
Lars Bender, Simon Rolfes, Gonzalo Castro v Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi
This is - at least for me - the most intriguing area of the tie: the midfield battle of the respective 4-3-3 formations. Though less technically gifted than that of PSG, the mobility and energy of Leverkusen's trio could hinder the ability of Motta and Verratti in particular to orchestrate play. Can the Leverkusen threesome keep their pressing sufficiently suffocating across the two legs though? Unlikely.
VERDICT: PSG with too much silk not to succeed
Laurent Blanc v Sami Hyypia
Blanc said he knew who the Leverkusen coach was in his press conference minutes after Monday's draw, but then asked media to remind him of Hyypia's name before acknowledging the Finn was "a former Liverpool player". He did add that there would be time to study Leverkusen, and clearly he needs to do some homework.
Like his fellow former centre-back Blanc in his first coaching job at Bordeaux, Hyypia has shown he has quickly and successfully made the transition from player to boss. Given just how inspirational he could be for Liverpool on European nights, you can expect Hyypia to find the right words to fire up his side, who should need little encouragement.
Blanc, whose team start undoubted favourites, will have the opposite problem, though the ultra-professionalism and will-to-win of Ibrahimovic, Silva et al should be enough. Even if Hyypia springs a surprise, Blanc has enough quality in his squad and experience in himself to react.
VERDICT: Bigger and better squad means its Blanc all the way to the last eight.
Ian Holyman (Twitter: @ian_holyman)
Story so far: Arsenal
For the second straight season, defeat on matchday six cost Arsenal FC top spot - and once again FC Bayern München await them in the round of 16, this time as champions. It is a daunting prospect which takes the gloss off an impressive campaign in arguably the toughest section, as Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and SSC Napoli all finished on 12 points. For the 14th successive year Arsenal qualified for the knockout phase and showed true character in winning away to 2012/13 finalists Dortmund. You cannot help wondering, though, what might have been - a point at Napoli on matchday six would have clinched first place and a less demanding UEFA Champions League draw. Story so far The strength of Arsenal's squad was in question when the group stage draw was made and fans' fears were heightened when Arsenal learned their Group F fate. However, following the signing of Mesut Özil, those concerns were allayed by victory at Olympique de Marseille and a comfortable success against Napoli, where the German international treated the home crowd to a virtuoso display and his first goal for the north London club.
Back-to-back matches against Dortmund would define Arsenal's campaign: defeat at home then revenge away as Aaron Ramsey's strike capped a resilient backs-to-the-wall effort in Germany. In another year Arsenal might have come first after beating Marseille to collect their 12th point - as it was, losing in Naples meant that tally only just guaranteed a ticket to the last 16.
©AFP/Getty Images
Pivotal moment Arsène Wenger declared his side "naive" after Dortmund's late winner on the break on matchday three. That dropped point ultimately cost Arsenal pole position, yet most important was how they reacted to the setback to keep on course for a spot in the last 16. Two weeks later Wenger was hailing "a mature performance" after Ramsey's 62nd-minute strike clinched a 1-0 triumph in Dortmund.
Key playerWith the Gunners already short on firepower, injuries to Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski further increased Arsenal's reliance on Olivier Giroud in attack. The French international thrived on the responsibility, working tirelessly as the link man, holding up the ball and bringing Arsenal's wealth of midfield talent into play - not to mention scoring twice and setting up Ramsey's winner in Dortmund.
Rising star No one epitomised Arsenal's unexpected resurgence at the beginning of the season more than Wales's Ramsey, who finally banished the memory of the broken leg he sustained in 2010 with a series of commanding performances that energised the Gunners' campaign. A box-to-box midfielder, the 22-year-old's sudden eye for goal impressed most of all - 13 in total by the end of the group stage, including three in the play-off against Fenerbahçe SK and two in Group F, the winners at Marseille and Dortmund. NumberAfter a difficult summer in the transfer market the acquisition of Özil for a club record €50m as the deadline approached was a tangible measure of Arsenal's ambition, raising expectations and galvanising the squad. A match-winning turn in the victory against Napoli highlighted Özil's ability, but just as vital was the confidence his arrival instilled in the team. "[He is] everything you want from a fantastic player - teamwork, skill, passing, shooting - so just sit there and enjoy it," Wenger said.
©AFP/Getty Images
Quote "It is something I miss. I will try to fight very hard to fill my CV with that. But you play against Barcelona, Bayern, Real Madrid - every year they are there with a chance. Every year you always think: 'Let's do it', and one year it will go for you. Let's hope it will be this year."Wenger contemplates lifting the trophy for the first time at the end of Arsenal's 16th consecutive UEFA Champions League campaign.
Next challenge: FC Bayern München(Home: 19 February, away: 11 March) History repeats itself for the Gunners, who faced the reigning champions at this stage last season, falling to an away goals defeat despite a 2-0 success in Germany. What may seem a good omen for Bayern is anything but for Wenger's men, who have paid the highest of prices for failing to top their section - being drawn against a side running away with the Bundesliga after winning Group D. There is hope for Arsenal, as witnessed by Manchester City FC's 3-2 matchday six triumph in Munich and the history books suggest things could go either way - Bayern winning three and Arsenal two of the clubs' six encounters.
What is the best round of 16 tie?
Knockout phase debutants versus four-time European champions; Didier Drogba's Chelsea FC homecoming; Premier League pacesetters against UEFA Champions League holders - Monday's round of 16 draw threw up a host of fascinating ties.
We want to know which you think is the best fixture and why? Leave your comments at the foot of the page.
Manchester City FC put in an impressive showing to finish level on points with FC Bayern München in Group D, but nevertheless came second. Their reward was being pitted against FC Barcelona, a team who have reached the semi-finals for six successive campaigns. Do City stand a chance? Will Manuel Pellegrini's experience of Spain be beneficial?
©AFP/Getty Images
While Pellegrini will be reacquainting himself with the country he left this summer, Chelsea are preparing to meet again a player who will be etched forever in the club's history books. Didier Drogba departed Stamford Bridge in 2012 - his last act being the winning penalty in the UEFA Champions League final - yet will now return with Galatasaray AŞ. Can he inspire the Turkish side to another upset?
Also looking to defy the odds will be Arsenal FC, so strong in the current Premier League campaign but counting the cost of surrendering top spot in Group F on matchday six. They were subsequently drawn against holders FC Bayern München, the Gunners' conquerors on away goals at the same stage last season. Have Arsenal improved enough to go further this time?
Let us know which of the eight ties you believe is the best using the comments box at the bottom of the page.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Barcelona rue Champions League draw against Manchester City
By Adam Crafton
PUBLISHED: 11:31 EST, 17 December 2013 | UPDATED: 11:40 EST, 17 December 2013
'The worst possible opponents,' scream Marca.
'BIG MATCH', proclaim Mundo Deportivo.
'The curse of Figo', mourn the Catalan daily Sport, who still harbour remarkable resentment towards the Portuguese winger after he made the move to Real Madrid from Barcelona in 2000.
Suffice to say that his reputation in Catalonia did not improve after he pulled out Manchester City during Monday's Champions League draw in Nyon.
Make no mistake, on the continent, Manchester City were the one side that everybody wanted to avoid.
It seems peculiar that a team only fourth in the Barclays Premier League should strike such fear into titans of the European game and anybody present as City slumped to defeats by Sunderland, Cardiff and Aston Villa will know that imperfections very much remain.
Nonetheless, certain performances this season have reverberated to such an extent that Manuel Pellegrini's side are now considered among the favourites to win the competition.
City may toil on the road but nobody can dispute their majesty in east Manchester, where they have now hit Arsenal and Tottenham for six, and Manchester United for four.
City's goalscoring record in Premier League football is unrivalled in the European game this season - no side in Europe's top five leagues have netted more than the 47 league goals in 16 games scored by Pellegrini's squad so far.
Real Madrid are closest with 46, Barcelona have scored 44 and Bayern Munich have scored 42.
The continent has watched on, uneasy, as City relentlessly come forward, tearing through their opponents with arguably the most devastating brand of football English football has witnessed in the Premier League era; as easy on the eye as Arsenal's Invincibles and as blistering on the counter-attack as any of Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest Manchester United teams.
There is the sense, too, that City have finally arrived on the European stage; a suspicion confirmed by the most improbable of wins at Bayern Munich.
In their Champions League group, City recovered from that opening night defeat by Bayern Munich and won the remaining five games, netting eighteen goals in six matches.
Only Real Madrid, armed with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, scored more in the group stages.
As Manuel Pellegrini suggested on Monday, City deserve to be taken more seriously: 'There were many critics after we played here against Bayern Munich at home (and lost 3-1). They said that we had nothing to do in Europe.
'Maybe the same critics have now changed because last week, they were then saying how we should have scored four against Bayern. That shows the improvement.'
The improvement has resounded across Europe. 'For a long time if you thought about a big European game in Manchester you would always think United but not anymore,' admitted Barcelona's director of football Andoni Zubizarreta.
For a team containing Lionel Messi, Neymar and Andres Iniesta, 'scared' may be pushing it a little, but in Barcelona, there will certainly be caution - and there is every reason to be.
Fifty reasons, in fact. Manchester City, in their twelve matches at the Etihad this season, have already netted fifty home goals. That's an average of more than four a game.
Intriguingly, the talk at City's Carrington training ground on Monday was of how playing the first leg at home may in fact hand Pellegrini's side an advantage, such has been their ruthless brilliance at the Etihad.
From the City end, there is little fear. In the past couple of seasons, such a tie may have provoked giddiness. Not anymore. There is excitement but there is also tentative expectation.
There is recognition of a glamour tie - 'a beautiful match', as Pellegrini coined it - but there is no chance that City will be starstruck.
The manager immediately set the tone on Monday afternoon, speaking with something approaching a daring assurance on Monday, predicting that Barcelona will be 'concerned', highlighting that they are no longer the supreme force they were two years ago.
The barbs between the two sides may become increasingly frequent, and tetchy, as February approaches. There may be some unfinished business between Yaya Toure, who Barcelona were unable to find a regular place for in their side, and his former employers. You sense that he will relish this particular occasion.
It will mean a Camp Nou return, too, for City director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano.
Zubizarreta added: 'Going up against Yaya Toure again and Txiki Begiristain means the game has absolutely everything.'
But forget the noise, for this tie truly is all about the football; a showstopping double-header between two of the competition's most complete sides - and a chance for Manchester City to prove that they really are ready to not only shake up, but to now deal the knockout blow to Europe's big boys.
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