So the knock-out stages of the Champions League have finally begun and Liverpool can be happiest of the British teams after the first legs. They may have not played brilliantly but they did enough to beat a Barcelona team that obviously has major problems within the club. Ronaldinho underperformed and with Samuel Eto’o missing Barcelona were always going to be less of a threat but Liverpool slugged it out and deserved the victory.
Although Liverpool closed Ronaldinho down well and limited his input, he’s still not at his best and it’s clear to me there’s trouble at the club. As it looks they won’t retain the Champions League as they probably won’t retain the Spanish League either. I think Frank Rijkaard is going to leave and Ronaldinho probably will too in the end.
Credit has to go to Rafael Benitez though. He set his team out well and set them out to play positively which takes a lot of courage at the Nou Camp. He took the right approach and Liverpool got their reward with a very healthy result to take back to Anfield.
I think Liverpool will beat them in the second leg - I can’t see Barcelona resisting them at Anfield. They might score but I think Liverpool will too so I fancy them very strongly. I think they’ll go for their goals and approach the match very positively.
That was a massive result for the Merseysiders and although I can’t see them winning a sixth European crown this year they will be very hard to beat.
The previous night Celtic earned a credible 0-0 draw against AC Milan at Parkhead but it’s obviously in the Italians’ hands heading to the San Siro for the second leg. Celtic did well though and 0-0 gives you a fighting chance – if Celtic score a goal Milan will have to score twice and with Italian sides you never know how they will react, but all in all you’d have to say Milan will be far too good for Celtic. But like I said, if Celtic get a goal it’s a hard night’s work for Milan.
Arsenal also have a lot of work to do after their 1-0 loss away to PSV. I’d still expect Arsenal to be good enough but the away goal is critical and if you don’t get one you’re slightly vulnerable. If PSV were to score at the Emirates Arsenal will then have to score three which would be tough.
It was a shock result really but Arsenal have played a lot of matches lately, with replays in the FA Cup and replays in the Carling Cup, so they’ve played a lot more than any other team really and that has worked against them. They are a quality side though and although it will be tough I’d back them to progress.
Manchester United got a good result in a tough game against Lille, who are a young, hungry team and well organised. It wasn’t an easy night at all for United but their experience showed in the end. I can’t see Lille having much joy at Old Trafford though and United have the away goal so they look in very good shape.
I can understand Lille’s frustrations with Giggs’ goal, but I think it was a good goal. Lille were caught napping and the referee was right. He made two crucial decisions. He disallowed one of their goals and he was right to do that, and he allowed United’s goal to stand and was right there also I believe – the onus is on the defensive side to get their act together and once the referee signals to take the free kick you’re free to do so. Lille might feel unlucky but good sides take advantage of every opportunity they can and that’s what Manchester United did.
The goal was a bitter pill to swallow for the Lille management, who then beckoned their players off the pitch but I’d forgive them that. They came to their senses quite quickly and the players went back on and finished the game so I think that should be the end of it. I wouldn’t be too hard on them – the emotions of the moment got the better of them and my own personal view would be to let it pass without punishment.
Of the other teams involved, Valencia impressed me most with their 2-2 draw away to Inter Milan having been behind twice. I fancy them to go through as they are the best of the Spanish sides at the moment. They are a good side and they won’t be easily beaten by anyone. For me, their result in Milan was the most impressive result of the week. They weren’t fancied but they’re a quality side, very close to the top of the Spanish league and have one or two players to come back from injury so they are looking like serious contenders for this year’s title.
Eamon was in conversation with Johnny Proby.
