Benfica and Barcelona cross paths once again
With a lot to live up to following a nine-goal extravaganza in the league phase, Benfica and Barcelona cross paths once again on Wednesday night in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 battle at the Estadio da Luz.
The Portuguese giants eked out a 4-3 aggregate success over Monaco in the playoffs to earn another date with the Blaugrana, who were only out-performed by Liverpool in the first stage.
Long overdue another slice of European stardom 10 years after their most recent run to Champions League glory, Barcelona fans could be forgiven for already having the Munich final in their sights, having been placed on the opposite side of the draw to all of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Hansi Flick‘s men may still have to battle past one of Bayern Munich or Inter Milan to earn a date with destiny.
Also finding the back of the net for fun domestically, Barcelona followed up an enthralling 4-4 Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg draw with Atletico Madrid with a 4-0 demolition of Real Sociedad on Sunday, rising back to the top of the La Liga standings in the process.
Another nine-goal classic is surely off the cards, but do not expect a lack of goalmouth action between a ruthless Barcelona side and a Benfica crop boasting one of the tournament’s most lethal attackers in Pavlidis.
What should be an entertaining watch for the neutrals should be an even better watch for fans of Barcelona, as Flick’s fearsome attackers have our vote to overwhelm their Portuguese hosts and earn a healthy first-leg lead.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Bayern Munich, Leverkusen go head-to-head in Champs League 1st leg
Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen‘s paths will cross on the European stage for the first time when they go head-to-head in the first leg of their all-German last 16 tie in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The two sides have met on three occasions already this season, with Bayer Leverkusen remaining unbeaten, knocking Bayern out of the DFB-Pokal already here at the Allianz Arena.
Vincent Kompany‘s Bayern are on course to take the Bundesliga title this season, sitting eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, following an impressive 3-1 win at Stuttgart on Friday.
That extended Bayern’s unbeaten streak to nine matches across all competitions, but that run does include the nervy draw they salvaged at home to Celtic in the second leg of the playoff round.
Leverkusen should provide a much sterner test though, and after losing to Xabi Alonso‘s men in the Pokal earlier this season, the Champions League represents Kompany’s last chance for cup success.
Leverkusen also have a strong historical record against clubs from their own country in Europe, knocking Werder Bremen and Hamburg out of the UEFA Cup in 1988 and 2008.
Leverkusen are unbeaten in eight, but missed the chance to close the gap on Bayern domestically with that goalless draw last month, so they will most probably now focus all of their attention on the Champions League and the Pokal.
Alonso’s Leverkusen still need to prove they are up for the big occasion, after losing last season’s Europa League final, as well trips to Liverpool and Atletico in the league phase, and Bayern at home in the Champions League are often unstoppable.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
PSG welcome Liverpool to the Parc des Princes
Seasoned Champions League winners meet the perennial also-rans in Wednesday’s last-16 first leg, as Paris Saint-Germain welcome Liverpool to their Parc des Princes base for a heavyweight encounter.
Arne Slot‘s men more or less swept aside the competition to top the league phase table, while the Ligue 1 champions annihilated Brest 10-0 on aggregate during a playoff pummelling.
The much-coveted European crown continued to elude PSG during the golden era of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, since when the powers-that-be have moved away from signing the superstars of today to focus on nurturing the superstars of tomorrow with Luis Enrique‘s guidance.
Les Parisiens’ new-look crop were at serious risk of an embarrassing early exit from Europe, but a three-game winning sequence – including a 4-2 comeback job over Manchester City – saved their league phase bacon before they squared up to familiar opposition in the playoff round.
Like PSG, Liverpool hold a 13-point lead atop the Premier League rankings courtesy of back-to-back 2-0 wins over Manchester City and Newcastle United in their last two games.
Slot’s men will not have it their own way by any stretch, especially given their patchy away form, but they are well-rested following a weekend off and have our backing to eke out a potentially critical win before they endeavour to finish the job at Anfield.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Feyenoord aim to take down another Italian giant Inter Milan
Aiming to take down another Italian giant in this season’s Champions League, Feyenoord will welcome Inter Milan to De Kuip on Wednesday.
Despite sacking their manager, the Dutch side slayed AC Milan in last month’s playoffs, and they now host Inter for the first leg of their last-16 contest.
This season, injuries and mismanagement have seen the Eredivisie side use a record 36 players in domestic football, and they recently suffered three defeats in eight league matches – as many as throughout the previous 50.
Since then, fourth-placed Feyenoord are unbeaten in six games, following a goalless home draw with NEC Nijmegen on Van Persie’s dugout debut.
Now, having reached the last 16 for the first time in the Champions League era, the 1970 European champions aim to become just the fourth team to beat both Milan and Inter in the same continental campaign.
In their last two Champions League games at De Kuip, the hosts have beaten Bayern Munich and Milan, so they are certainly no pushovers.
Yet, a decimated squad might succumb to Inter’s vast reserves of nous and experience, leaving them with a deficit to make up next week.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
