The Ultimate QF Second Leg Preview

By: Rob | April 7th, 2008

Barca win the CL So its nearly upon us. The excitement as 4 more teams dreams of reaching Moscow are cut short and they go home to ponder Rome next season. 4 teams will advance to be one step closer to be being crowned kings of Europe. Will there be any upsets? Maybe. Will there be tears? Guarenteed.

Liverpool Vs Arsenal

The Story So Far : Arsenal dominated the first leg, and probably should have got a penalty, but they go to Anfield with a 1-1 draw. As little Nicky Bendtner points out - Arsenal have to score. Liverpool just have to keep a clean sheet to advance. Fabregas for one expects them to play for a 0-0.

Since the first leg: - they’ve played each other, Liverpool rested most of the first team and…well it finished 1-1 exactly as the first leg finished in the Champions League. One side is going to have to win here though.

The Key Men

Cesc against Liverpool Small

Gerrard fistpump small

Liverpool - Steven Gerrard. Usually this space is reserved for Fernando Torres, but Liverpool don’t have to score tonight. If they are gonna keep a clean sheet, then Gerrard will have to orginise his midfield well, and give a captain’s performance

Arsenal - Cesc Fabregas. In the first leg, Cesc began to show a bit of his early season form again. He pulls the strings in the Arsenal midfield and he is absolutely essential to them. Don’t bet against his goal being the winner.

Notes? - Arsenal are still without any kind of left winger, with Tomas Rosicky seemingly caught the Saha disease and turned to glass. Liverpool will return to thier strongest XI after resting most of them the weekend.

Expect - High drama, in the closest tie of the 4.

Prediction - Arsenal to work hard to score, and then get one in the second half, before the killing the game with a second late on.

Chelsea Vs Fenerbahce

The Story So Far - The first leg was literally a game of two halves. Chelsea battered Fener in the first 45 but could only get one goal - a lucky deflection off Deivid. Zico fired his men up in the second half though, and Fener dominated. A great goal from Kazim Kazim and a beautiful strike from an off balance Deivid gave the advantage to Fener, despite Chelsea’s away goal.

Since the first leg - Chelsea won comfortably in the league. Fener got a spectacular last minute goal to give themselves a 2-1 win against Kayserispor

The Key Men

Drogba sticks his tounge out The Artist Formally Known as Colin Kazim Richards

Chelsea - Drogba. I was rather tempted to put Avram Grant here as his tactical prowress has been questioned somewhat recently. But Chelsea have to score at the Bridge, and if they are going to Drogba needs to play well - and maybe pass the ball once in a while, something he refused to do in the first leg.

Fener - The Artist Formally Known as Colin Kazim-Richards. Kazim Kazim as he is known these days, played a blinder against Chelsea in the first leg, if he can repeat that kind of performance, Fener might cause a big upset.

Notes - No-one knows what is going on with Lampard. He is apparently ’sick’.

Expect - A big big game. Chelsea might have enough in the tank to nick it, but Fener have a hell of alot of heart, and its been a season of upsets.

Prediction - Ballack to nick a goal for Chelsea to put them through on away goals.

Manchester United Vs Roma

The Stroy So Far - Roma played their hearts out in the first leg, but a mature performance from Man United (and a surrender from Roma after Rooney’s goal) led to a 2-0 win in Rome. Roma, therefore have it all to do - but United’s defence will be lacking to goal-repelling partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic, which makes the tie more exciting.

Since the First leg - Roma beat Genoa 3-2 thanks in part to a brilliant strike from Vucinic. Man United meanwhile just about grabbed a draw against Boro, a late Rooney goal making it 2-2.

The Key Men

C Ron in United..Blue Mirko salutes a goal

Man United - C-Ron of course. With the United defense looking shaky, Roma can score at OT, but if Ronaldo scores early the tie is all but over.

Roma - Vucinic. Again, Roma will need to score at least twice in the Theatre of Dreams if they are to progress, probably three times. And without Totti, Vuci is the man the responsibility falls to.

Notes? - As mentioned above, both Ferdinand and Vidic are out for United. Two of Silvestre, Pique and O Shea will fill in. Totti is still out for the Eternal City club.

Expect - United to progress, but not before Roma have had a go at them.

Prediction - Roma to score and rattle united a bit, but Man United to score late on. Probably as a cross comes in, Ronaldo will slip and it will smack him in the face before going past a confused Doni. A commentator will say “He can do no wrong at the moment”

Barcelona Vs Schalke

The Story So Far - Barca owned Schalke in the first 45, and Bojan became the first player born in the 1990s to score in the Champions League. Second half, the German side threw everything at Barca, but to no avail.

Since the first leg - Barca failed to score at home to Getafe. Schalke nicked 1-0 at home.

The Key Men

Henry, the choker, chokes.
Kuranyi must have actually performed Barca - Henry. With an injury ravaged side, Henry could do with a performance, he has a real window to cement his place in the side with the ongoing Ronaldinho situation. He’s been accused (even by me) of being a bit of a choker when it matters, so maybe he could prove us wrong. Probably not. Bojan will probably outshine him again.

Schalke - Kuranyi. Its getting boring, but he does run the side, and he does seem to choke against the big teams, so maybe he can prove us wrong as well.

Notes - Messi, The Dhino and probably Deco are all out.

Expect - Barca to look shaky but to get through.

Prediction 2-0 to Barca. Bojan to get at least one.