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Rubin : Barca humiliated
The fourth round of the Champions League matches is the second stage of the head to head and there are some big name teams gunning for revenge in this round of fixtures.
It is not very often that Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Rangers will all lose in the same set of games but this is exactly what happened and anyone who predicted the outcomes will have won a pretty penny at the bookmakers. The even more startling thing is that all of these games were at home meaning that the teams will have to go away from home to extract their revenge.
For three of the four teams, this should be a task well within their grasp as they have the players and the capabilities of doing so but whether they have the desire who knows? There is a strong argument to be made that the Champions League group stage has been diminished in quality by the lesser teams involved which has led to the lower interest being shown by the top teams, who know they will be able to get through the group stages.
There is a very strong argument that the Champions League does not come alive until March when the knock out games between the teams that everyone wants to see takes place. However, there is a lot of football between now and then and there may be a high level of desire on behalf of some of the teams to right a wrong from the last game.
Rubin Shock Champions
No one would have thought that lowly Rubin from Russia would defeat the champions of Europe. Even if they did, no one would have believed they would have done so away from home, the small team from the Eastern managed to win in the Camp Nou, something teams like Real Madrid and Manchester United have struggled to do.
Things went like a dream from the first minute with a long range stunner shocking the Catalan fans and even after an equalizing goal for the home side, effective football on the break secured a winner for the Russians. So, now there is an added edge to the home game.
No one will expect them to do the double and Barcelona players will be keen to bounce back strongly and gain three points in their quest for a place in the knock out stage, so perhaps it may rebound on Rubin. If Barcelona players play to their full potential, with Messi and Ibrahimovic gelling together very nicely, there could be a large score line on the cards in Russia.
Rangers Troubles Pile Up
Another surprising result was the one suffered at home by Rangers who were roundly cuffed 4-1 by Unirea from Romania. Given that Sevilla also managed to win 4-1 in Glasgow, that is an 8-2 deficit the Scottish champions are experiencing in their CL home games so far. However, that is a small drop in the ocean compared to their current finances with news breaking this week that Rangers are to all intents and purposes being run by Lloyds bank.
By right, the club should be looking at entering administration, which would obviously bring the point deductions and fiscal penalties that goes alongside it but all parties are hoping to avoid this at the moment. This clearly puts a different light onto the return match in Romania, where Dan Petrescu will be hoping his side can clinch the double over their Scottish foes.
Rangers players know that every penny is vital for the club at the moment and every point in the Champions League is worth money. Therefore, a draw or away victory will bring some much needed cash into club, hopefully allowing the players to be paid on time in the following month and perhaps stave off some of the creditors who are now becoming twitchy about their money. Michel Platini has talked a lot about European teams running themselves properly and budgeting within their means. If the French footballing genius has any gumption, he would act quickly to discipline Rangers and to send out a warning that clubs must start living within their means.
Benitez Starting to Look Worried
Liverpool have not had the best of times recently but some of their fans will still overlook some of the bad areas because they beat Manchester United, who to be fair are not a shadow of the team they have been in the past couple of seasons. Four defeats before defeating United and then defeat at the Emirates in the League Cup sees Liverpool in a terrible run of form and visiting France to take on Lyon is not something to look forward to.
Anfield has seen many glorious nights in Europe where the Kop has witnessed a late winner fly into the net directly in front of it but this time it was Lyon who were celebrating as they enacted a smash and grab raid in Liverpool. Crime and theft is not something uncommon in Liverpool but this was such a public display of criminal intent, it left the Scouse population stunned. Even without Benzema or Juninho, Lyon looked a different class and if they can maintain the same form in France, they could take all six points from Liverpool.
Rafa Benitez would then need to start being very concerned about his position in charge of Liverpool as his club are not in the financial position to be dropping out of the Champions League before Christmas.
Madrid Shocker!
Real Madrid have to travel to the San Siro to take on AC Milan after a 3-2 defeat in the Bernabeu but lets be honest, the club are in the middle of a mini-crisis themselves. They followed the Rossoneri home defeat with a 0-0 draw in the league which was followed by a stunning reversal in the Spanish Cup.
Spain does not treat their cup competition too seriously, there is a second leg to follow but the score line would have sent shock waves around the world. Alcorcon, from the third division in Spain, 4 versus Real Madrid, who scored 0. 4-0! 4-0! Given the second wave of the galacticos that is a score line you would never have predicted and it is not unreasonable to think that many are considering Manuel Pellegrini may well be out of a job soon. A result in the San Siro may buy him some time before the axe falls on him.
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
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