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"Wigan: A club so inconsistent that even the players don’t know what mood they’ll be in."
It is the final match day in the Champions League group stages and a lot is yet to be decided. Some famous names like Liverpool already know the Europa League is their destination whereas Rangers are definitely out.
However, there are still many places in the last sixteen of the Champions League up for grabs. Tuesday and Wednesday night are sure to be exciting times for all football fans.
The Spanish giants have still to book their attendance in the last 16 but at the moment, both are looking likely to progress. Barcelona put their Rubin Kazan troubles behind them by defeating Inter Milan 2-0 at the Camp Nou. This result put the Catalan club back on top of their group.
Not a Lot of Wins
It is a very tight group though with Barcelona being the only side to have two matches, they hold the upper hand entering the final games. Pep Guardiola takes his side to Kiev to face Dynamo, a match that has the potential for upset. Inter Milan, on paper, have the easier task of hosting Rubin Kazan but then again, that is probably what Barcelona thought too.
It is a very tight group though with Barcelona being the only side to have two matches, they hold the upper hand entering the final games. Pep Guardiola takes his side to Kiev to face Dynamo, a match that has the potential for upset. Inter Milan, on paper, have the easier task of hosting Rubin Kazan but then again, that is probably what Barcelona thought too.
At these high pressure games, it is usually the big game players who rise to the occasion and Barcelona have big game players. Zlatan Ibrahimovic proved his worth to the club by coming off the bench ad firing home the goal that brought down Real Madrid. That is the sort of strike that will see the Swedish striker earn legendary status at the Camp Nou.
Another Barcelona striker in the news a lot these days is Thierry Henry. He may have opened the scoring in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Xerez but the controversy from his hand ball rumbles on.
Henry Can’t Lose Cheat Tag
The claim by the FAI to be added to the World Cup was laughable but the exoneration of Henry is out of order. Not for the first time, Henry coldly cheated and has yet again gone unpunished. If the governing bodies of the game were serious about ridding football of cheating, a high profile incident like this would be the way to do it.
If Barcelona progress in the Champions League due to a piece of Henry cheating, their fans will accept it but many others won’t. Lets hope the Champions of Europe are able to progress by legitimate means.
Real Madrid are also top of their league but with an away tie to Marseille to play, there is still some work to be done. It would take a freakish run of results to deny Madrid a place in the last 16 but whilst it remains possible, it should not be ruled out.
Madrid Thrash Marseille
Madrid defeated Marseille by 3-0 when the sides clashed at the Santiago Bernabeu so Madrid hold a healthy head to head advantage over their rivals. With Madrid being three points clear of Marseille, the Spanish giants need to be aware of this gap. A 2-0 loss will still be enough to put Real Madrid into the last 16 of the tournament. All is ot lost for Marseille though.
If the French side are able to beat Madrid, they stand a chance of being able to leapfrog AC Milan into 2nd place. AC Milan face FC Zurich at the same time as the match in France. The Rossoeri know if they win, they progress regardless of what happens so there is every incentive for the Italian side. Of course, a Real Madrid win will see AC Milan through as well.
This means AC Milan fans will not be saddened by the return of Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo made a brief appearance in Madrid’s last home game and returned to the starting line-up versus Barcelona. Ronaldo had a lively first half when Madrid were dominant but faded in the second half. Ultimately, there was heartache for Real as they lost 1-0 but the Champions League is a great way to bounce back.
Manchester United Aiming for the Top?
Manchester United have already qualified for the knock-out round but have not yet won the group. The champions of England travel to Germany to face Wolfsburg. This game may have more importance to the hosts than the visitors. Alex Ferguson has been making full use of his squad at the moment and may choose to do so again.
CSKA Moscow, the team rivalling Wolfsburg for the final knock-out place, may not be so happy but as the saying goes, football’s football. CSKA will look back on the 3-1 lead they held at Old Trafford only to end up drawing 3-3. They two dropped points could be the difference between Champions League and Europa League football in the New Year for the Russian club. This shows that the margins in top flight football are very fine.
Big Game in Italy
Football fans love a final day showdown in the Champions League and that is exactly what is in store in Italy.
Juventus face Bayern Munich with the winner earning a place in the last 16. The odds are in Juventus’ favour as a draw would also see them progress. This sometimes works against a team though as doubt sets into what tactic is best for the players.
Bayern Munich will be hoping to exploit this with a lot of the hope being placed upon Frank Ribery. Bayern are coming to terms with the fact that they look like losing their French wizard soon but are hopeful he does the business in Italy. Keeping Bayern Munich is the Champions League may be a great way to keep Ribery beyond the end of the January transfer window.
There are obviously some games where there is nothing at stake but sometimes these can bring goals and thrills as the players are more relaxed. Champions League football can be very intense when things are competitive so the more relaxed nature of the final group games can make for a very different style of game. Come next Wednesday night, all the placings will decided and preparations for the last 16 draw can be made. There is sure to be some final twists and turns in the last matches of the 09/10 Champions League group stages.
by Andrew Reilly
for The Silver Circle at www.footballtip.co.uk
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Dear Greg,
I've been a member since July 2003, maybe one of the first to join the Silver Circle.
2004 was a good year but I really enjoyed the long run we had in, I think, July 2005. It was exhilarating! 2006-2007 was not as exciting although still quite profitable and so far 2007-2008 looks quite good. I'm wondering if we're going to hit a long one again soon. Anyway, it's been a pleasure as always with your service, Greg. Armstrong and you are one of the few people I trust on the internet. You have made my retirement so much more fun and financially happy!
Best Wishes, Trent Wrayford, Sidney
