There are a few big names conspicuous by their absence, but that doesn’t mean we’re not ecstatic that the Champions League is back. Here are a few things to keep an eye on over the next two nights.
Barca’s European hegemony to continue unabated
Some of the fawning and slightly exaggerated praise for the current Barcelona team might lead you to think that all is rosy in the Catalan garden, but not everything has been going the way of Pep Guardiola’s side of late.
The Catalans might hold the Indian sign over bitter rivals Real Madrid in terms of head to heads, but after Saturday night’s shock loss to Osasuna, they trail Los Blancos by ten points in La Liga and with the majority of the league offering scant resistance when up against the big two, that lead is beginning to look unassailable.
Pity then, for the rest of Europe that it is only likely to make Pep Guardiola’s men all the more determined to succeed in Europe for the third time in four seasons. They’re unbeaten in the competition so far in this campaign and haven’t lost a match since the away leg against Arsenal in the last 16 last season. Leverkusen, currently sixth in the Bundesliga, don’t look like a side capable of ending that run.
Last 16 misery for Arsenal again?
As if drawing Barcelona in the knockout stages of the last two competitions wasn’t bad enough, Arsenal then had the misfortune of drawing the toughest of all the group stage runners-up in the last 16. The Gunners faced down AC Milan and knocked them out a few years ago, but both sides have changed dramatically since.
Wenger wouldn’t readily admit it but without the likes of Fabregas, Flamini and Adebayor, Arsenal are arguably weaker, whereas Milan are younger and more mobile than the side that fell to a 2-0 defeat at the San Siro in 2008
European nights, especially at the Emirates, often bring out the best in Arsenal and it wouldn’t exactly be a surprise if they can knock out the Italians en route to the last eight. To have the opportunity to knock them out in London requires a good show at the San Siro tomorrow night, however, and Thiago Silva, Ibrahimovic and company might leave them with just too big of a mountain to climb.
More magic from Man United’s next signing?
Nicolas Gaitan has been the subject of interest from Manchester United for some time now and although the club have publicly avoided being linked with the Argentine, we all know there’s no smoke without fire.
United have had a pretty good record with imports from Portugal to date (although for every Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s a Bebe) and Gaitan looks a very good prospect, even if a tricky winger is not exactly what they need at this moment in time.
One of the two men at the front of this shot will be a United regular next season. Our money’s on the man on the right.
The pint-sized 23-year old isn’t exactly prolific, but he has five assists in the competition already and will be one of Benfica’s main threats when they travel to take on Zenit tomorrow evening. Although United fans watching on will be hoping for a glimpse of what Gaitan might bring to Old Trafford next season, Alex Ferguson will probably be secretly hoping Benfica go out so his value doesn’t escalate beyond the £40 million or so already being bandied about.
Can Apoel continue to silence the doubters?
The group stages in this season’s Champions League were far more exciting than in years gone by due to the end of the predictable cycle that saw all of the big clubs go through with the minimum of fuss. The two Manchester clubs exiting so early was a massive shock, but the biggest and most welcome surprise has been the form of FC Apoel, who progressed to the last 16 after winning Group G.
Lyon are no mugs, but there are better sides that Apoel could have drawn in the last 16 and if they can muster a draw, a narrow defeat or even a win in France tomorrow night, what has already been a wonderful campaign could yet grow some legs.
For famous people’s sakes, let’s all hope Aaron Ramsey doesn’t score against AC Milan
Whitney Houston was the latest famous figure to fall foul of the dreaded Aaron Ramsey goal curse after the Welshman’s strike against Sunderland at the weekend, thus following in the footsteps of Osama bin Laden, Steve Jobs and Colonel Gaddafi.
Coincidence? Hardly. Ramsey is a fine midfielder but his poor goals return suggests not a lack of confidence in front of goal, but a wicked scheme expertly planned to take out the next unsuspecting celebrity whenever Ramsey sees fit.
Could the curse strike again this week? Goals are hard to come by at the San Siro so it’s unlikely, but A-listers worldwide will be watching the second leg in fear, that’s for sure.
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