Chris Maduewesi
Member
Time to get another sleaze of UEFA Champions League football after last week's entertaining first phase of the second round first legs.
With a tinge of ingenuity and good marketing drive,UEFA are optimally maximising inherent revenues from not having all the matches in a round played in the same week.
So after witnessing both Arsenal and Manchester City taken apart by Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively,the duo of Chelsea and Manchester United will take centre stage looking to avoid what befell their English counterparts.
To be fair,City and Arsenal have tougher opposition than the proposition of Olympiacos and Galatasaray to United and Chelsea.
But this is the Champions League and there could be hiccups on the road for any club who approaches their games with kid-gloves.
Olympiacos vs Manchester United:
David Moyes' team travels to Greece on the back of a win against Crystal Palace on Saturday,which they desperately needed to wipe off some gloss in a disappointing season. Being a staggering eleven points behind fourth-placed Liverpool,winning the Champions League could be the only gateway into the competition next season,and it is by no means an easy feat.
United had even struggled with Juan Mata in the side,take into account that he is cup-tied and you will understand how arduous the task is.
But on paper,Olympiacos does not hold a candle to United,and even in their lowest ebbs the Manchester club should be a tough draw for any opposition.
However, the transitional phase under Moyes has seen lower ranked teams have a good run against them this season and getting results. So it won't be totally surprising if the Greek team follow suit.
Certainly there won't be a hiding place for David Moyes and his calvary if they fail to see off the challenge of Olympiacos .
Galatasaray vs Chelsea:
Right from the draws,this clash has Didier Drogba emblazoned all over it. Even the former Chelsea player famously said that he will be playing two home games. And rightly so he would. Chelsea's renaissance and history won't be complete without a mention of the Ivorian,and the sterling role he played while at the club.
Drogba scored the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in 2012 that saw them win the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. But with different loyalties now,he will be leading the lines against his former employers.
Jose Mourinho knows the threat he poses,having signed him from Olympique Marseille in 2004,he could have tired now but never underestimate his capability in front of goal.
Chelsea play the first leg of the competition in Istanbul,with the Turkish team renowned for their intimidating home support;Mourinho clearly understands this,as his came close to crashing out in the quarterfinals last year with Real Madrid.
Galatasaray have a decent team,with some good players like Wesley Sneijder who could still pull that final pass to a striker for a goal.
Also with Roberto Mancini coaching the side,he has a lot to prove against Mourinho not having won any of his four previous meetings against the Portuguese.
The game between these two teams should be a funfare,especially with the Drogba factor and he could be the ace for Galatasaray that would determine the outcome of this contest.
Other ties in the Champions League include that of Schalke vs Real Madrid,and Zenit St Petersburg vs Borussia Dortmund.
Madrid should have a comfortable ride over Schalke,and easily make the last eight of the competition.
The quest for the La Decima is the motivating factor and also having Cristiano Ronaldo back in the team is more than enough firepower to conquer the Germans over both legs.
No surprise whatsoever is expected in this clash,it would be the biggest upset this year if it were to happen.
Meanwhile,the game between Zenit and Dortmund could swing either way.
The Germans are flattering to deceive this season,huffing and puffing in the Bundesliga that they don't look like replicating last year's achievement where they got to the finals.
Dortmund have been horrendous in their domestic league but should be able to see off Zenit if they decide to play.
With a tinge of ingenuity and good marketing drive,UEFA are optimally maximising inherent revenues from not having all the matches in a round played in the same week.
So after witnessing both Arsenal and Manchester City taken apart by Bayern Munich and Barcelona respectively,the duo of Chelsea and Manchester United will take centre stage looking to avoid what befell their English counterparts.
To be fair,City and Arsenal have tougher opposition than the proposition of Olympiacos and Galatasaray to United and Chelsea.
But this is the Champions League and there could be hiccups on the road for any club who approaches their games with kid-gloves.
Olympiacos vs Manchester United:
David Moyes' team travels to Greece on the back of a win against Crystal Palace on Saturday,which they desperately needed to wipe off some gloss in a disappointing season. Being a staggering eleven points behind fourth-placed Liverpool,winning the Champions League could be the only gateway into the competition next season,and it is by no means an easy feat.
United had even struggled with Juan Mata in the side,take into account that he is cup-tied and you will understand how arduous the task is.
But on paper,Olympiacos does not hold a candle to United,and even in their lowest ebbs the Manchester club should be a tough draw for any opposition.
However, the transitional phase under Moyes has seen lower ranked teams have a good run against them this season and getting results. So it won't be totally surprising if the Greek team follow suit.
Certainly there won't be a hiding place for David Moyes and his calvary if they fail to see off the challenge of Olympiacos .
Galatasaray vs Chelsea:
Right from the draws,this clash has Didier Drogba emblazoned all over it. Even the former Chelsea player famously said that he will be playing two home games. And rightly so he would. Chelsea's renaissance and history won't be complete without a mention of the Ivorian,and the sterling role he played while at the club.
Drogba scored the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in 2012 that saw them win the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. But with different loyalties now,he will be leading the lines against his former employers.
Jose Mourinho knows the threat he poses,having signed him from Olympique Marseille in 2004,he could have tired now but never underestimate his capability in front of goal.
Chelsea play the first leg of the competition in Istanbul,with the Turkish team renowned for their intimidating home support;Mourinho clearly understands this,as his came close to crashing out in the quarterfinals last year with Real Madrid.
Galatasaray have a decent team,with some good players like Wesley Sneijder who could still pull that final pass to a striker for a goal.
Also with Roberto Mancini coaching the side,he has a lot to prove against Mourinho not having won any of his four previous meetings against the Portuguese.
The game between these two teams should be a funfare,especially with the Drogba factor and he could be the ace for Galatasaray that would determine the outcome of this contest.
Other ties in the Champions League include that of Schalke vs Real Madrid,and Zenit St Petersburg vs Borussia Dortmund.
Madrid should have a comfortable ride over Schalke,and easily make the last eight of the competition.
The quest for the La Decima is the motivating factor and also having Cristiano Ronaldo back in the team is more than enough firepower to conquer the Germans over both legs.
No surprise whatsoever is expected in this clash,it would be the biggest upset this year if it were to happen.
Meanwhile,the game between Zenit and Dortmund could swing either way.
The Germans are flattering to deceive this season,huffing and puffing in the Bundesliga that they don't look like replicating last year's achievement where they got to the finals.
Dortmund have been horrendous in their domestic league but should be able to see off Zenit if they decide to play.
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