THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE is back tonight with two intriguing second round, first leg ties to kick off another bumper week of football action across the continent.
F.C. Copenhagen v Chelsea
Chelsea resume their quest for European glory with a tricky tie against Danish side F.C. Copenhagen. When the draw for the round of sixteen was made back in December, few could have envisaged the dismal run of form that Chelsea would bring into the resumption of Europe’s premier club competition.
They may be lucky then that in facing Copenhagen, they face a side that has not had a competitive game in two months due to the winter break in Scandinavia. Whilst this did not affect Shatkar Donetsk last week against Roma, the intensity of a Premier League side, even one that is playing as poorly as Chelsea is an impossible thing to recreate in training.
The Danes will offer a stout defence, a physical challenge all over the pitch and in Senegal striker Dame N’Doye a prolific threat upfront. They have the recent experience of holding Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the group stage and will have to look at facing a struggling Chelsea with relish.
Fernando Torres is set to make his Champions League debut for the Londoners and a goal in Europe would be the perfect way to kick-start his Chelsea career.
Likely teams
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Essien, Kalou, Malouda, Torres.
F.C. Copenhagen: Wiland; Jorgensen, Antonsson, Wendt, Pospech; Claudemir, Bolanos, Kvist, Vingaard; Gronkjaer; N’Doye.
Odds: FC Copenhagen 4/1 Chelsea 4/3 Draw 5/2.
Lyon v Real Madrid
It is the Champions League last sixteen and thus it is time for Real to depart. As they have done for the past five straight years. Nothing grates more in the Bernabéu than this record. Which is why Jose Mourinho was summoned from Inter to work his magic.
Victory over Lyon will be an obvious sign that Madrid are improving in Europe. Not only because they will have made the quarter finals but they would have eliminated the team that sent them packing last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo will again be their main danger but the decision to start either Emmanuel Adebeyor or Karim Benzema could be key. The Frenchman is returning to his former club and will not be short of motivation but Adebayor is playing well and as ever, will not be short on confidence.
Lyon were dealt a major blow with the loss of star striker Lisandro Lopez to injury. There have been suggestions that they are Real “bogey” team in Europe and should they score early then the tag could stick for another year.
Real under Mourinho are a different beast however and it is important to remember just how many chances they missed in last years tie. They will hardly be as wasteful this year and should they score in France they should progress.
Likely teams
Lyon: Lloris, Réveillère, Cris, Lovren, Cissokho, Toulalan, Källström, Briand, Gourcuff, Delgado, Gomis
Real Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Albiol, Carvalho, Marcelo, Alonso Khedira, Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo, Adebayor.
Odds: Lyon 7/2, Draw 5/2, Real Madrid 5/6
