There are four games this week being played. The only game that seems to be out of reach is the Bayern Munich-Arsenal game as Bayern hold a two-goal lead and will be home in their match. The match that I think will be the biggest this week is the AC Milan-Barcelona clash on Tuesday.
The games being played this week and last are the second legs of the round of 16. The winners of this round will advance on to the quarterfinals in the first week of April. As bad as I am at picking almost every other sport, I'm currently ranked 27th on ESPN's Champions League pick'em so I'm hoping my picks continue to go in that direction.
Tuesday's Games:
AC Milan @ Barcelona (Aggregate: Milan 2-0)
In this first leg between the two AC Milan came out and shocked most of the world by defeating Barcelona 2-0. Without Mario Balotelli for the Champions League they were still able to score two goals against arguably the best team in the world at this point. Milan's goals came from Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari who have given Milan the two-goal lead going in to the second leg.
Barcelona will be playing a very offensive game today as they are already trailing two goals due to the aggregate. They will likely need to score at least three goals if they are going to win today due to them not scoring any goals as the away side in the first leg. I'm expecting Milan to play a very defensive game which scares me. They will likely be playing with two defensive midfielders in hopes of keeping Lionel Messi and the rest of the Barcelona attack from getting a lot of looks today.
I think it is inevitable that Barcelona will come out scoring. Milan was able to stop them from scoring in the first game and I just don't see them being able to do that again. Whether or not Milan is able to add a goal of their own today will be what decides everything. If Milan can score at least one goal that would mean that Barcelona would need to score four for the win. My guess is Milan get at least one today and keep Barcelona from scoring more than three and advancing due to the away goal rule.
My prediction: Barcelona win 3-1 (Aggregate:Draw 3-3) (Milan advance on away goals)
Galatasaray @ Schalke 04 (Aggregate: Draw 1-1)
The first match ended in a draw between the two with Jermaine Jones scoring for Schalke and Burak Yilmaz scoring for Galatasaray. This game isn't getting as much coverage as the other game of the day due to the other two clubs being two of the biggest in the world, but each of these teams can be a real threat due to their guys up front.
Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Galatasaray's Didier Drogba both didn't score a goal during the first leg and I'm guessing both of them will be giving each other's defense some trouble in this game. The addition of Drogba and Wesley Sneijder in the recent transfer window has greatly strengthened the Turkish side and this is a time where their added leadership and play need to be high if they are going to advance.
I'm expecting a couple of goals to be scored in this game. I think both teams will be playing offensively due to the aggregate being tied at ones. Whether or not Galatasaray will be able to score multiple goals is what will decide this game because of the away goal rule. I'm guessing Schalke will return home though and outplay Galatasaray on their field today.
My prediction: Schalke win 2-1 (Aggregate: Schalke win 3-2)
Wednesday's Games:
Arsenal @ Bayern Munich (Aggregate: Bayern 3-1)
The first game saw Bayern come to London and completely outplay Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Bayern had two goals in the first half from Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller with Lukas Podolski bringing it closer in the second half with a goal of his own for Arsenal. It was when Mario Mandzukic added a third goal for Bayern that the match-up between these two teams appeared over.
Today Arsenal will have to pull off a miracle. If they are going to win this game they are going to need to score at least three goals as the away side just as Bayern did in the first leg. Manuel Neuer is in my opinion the best goalkeeper in the world at this point. I'm highly doubting that Neuer will give up any more than two goals at any point so the likelihood of Arsenal pulling that off isn't likely going to happen. Not only that but I just think Bayern are the much better team than Arsenal and I'm expecting them to win at home.
My prediction: Bayern win 2-1 (Aggregate: Bayern win 5-2)
FC Porto @ Malaga (Aggregate: Porto 1-0)
In the first game between the two sides I thought that the play of Joao Moutinho would be what would shift the game for the Portuguese side. 10 minutes into the second half and Moutinho scored the only goal of the game that will now be heading for the second leg between the two teams on Wednesday.
If Malaga is going to win this game they are going to have to play a much better game than they did the first time around. They only had two shots on goal for an entire 90 minutes and only had possession of the ball for only 37 percent of the game. The player to watch in this game will be Isco for Malaga. If they are going to advance it's going to be because of him. He's going to need to help Malaga get a goal or two if they have any hopes of making it on to the next round.
My prediction: Draw 1-1 (Aggregate: Porto win 2-1)
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