Super Tuesday - Quarterfinal Preview

By: Nathan | April 2nd, 2007

Well time flies as the ball bounces back to the pitch for the Quarterfinals of the Champions League. 8 teams remain with plenty of big names and goofy player situations to boot.

First up Liverpool vs. PSV @ PSV Stadium - LIVE on ESPN2 2:30pm ET
Fresh off some payback to the Gunners the Reds are flying high with their new stadium going ahead as well. Who says America isn’t having an impact in world football…unfortunately its only in the boardroom and not on the pitch. Back to the game - PSV is coming in on a not so hot high on the back of a draw with mid-table NAC Breda and a straight shallacking from title challengers Ajax 5-1! In addition there will be no Alex sighting, my much talked about favorite defender. Other items of note leading up to kickoff:
1 - Injury weakened PSV is the main story on the continent - the hospital list includes: Alex, striker Kone, and Afellay. But what could this provide, a flash from the past, the dutch master himself…PATRICK KLUIVERT. Farfan and Kluivert is an intriguing pairing up front.
2 - In case you missed it…Crouch X3
3 - Sissoko out (suspension), and Macherano looking to make his CL debut, quite a season for him indeed. From the ‘Ham to CL Quarters.
4 - Koemann plotting his surprise - I just hope it’s Kluivert.

prediction……1-1, Crouch continues on his roll with Farfan levelling for PSV.

Hey Kids don’t forget Uncle Bob will be LiveBloggin the game tomorrow!

Next up the glamour game….
AC Milan vs. Bayern Munich @ San Siro - SDD on ESPN Classic 5:00pm ET
While pretty on paper, this feels like 2 mighty giants in boxing getting together for a final PPV match to make some money. They should both consider themselves lucky to have drawn each other, as that is the only way one of these teams was making it to the semi’s. With that said there will be moments of brilliance, and should be one of the higher scoring match-ups in the round. Nesta is back and pairs with the old Maestro back on the center of defense. BTW one of the funnier April Fool’s Day articles for me involved Maldini here. Bayern is coming in healthy, but with some comical suspensions keeping them from fielding a full strength line-up. Here are the notes:
1 - Farts jokes and drug test outbursts, they really never get old. Also Van Bommel out through suspension, lucky it’s not 2.
2 - Bayern are already bitching about the Russian ref…goodness we can’t even wait until he blows his whistle to attack him???
3 - What can I say, if Maldini talks…I listen.
4 - A great round-up of the history between the 2 teams.

prediction……2-1 Milan, Kaka and Pirlo, with Makaay picking up a poaching away goal

Wrap-up and Wednesday preview tomorrow