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Familiar foes re-united

Features

ballseason

The draw of the knockout stages  of the European Champions League is always a tense moment but for those who get easy draws; it feels like Santa Claus has visited early.

The much awaited draw was held on Monday and football fans were quick to appeal to their emotions as far as their teams or rivals were concerned.

This draw also plays with our minds. The competition has not seen a team defend the title successfully in a quarter of a century, yet the draw has the temerity to throw us a couple of repeat ties that include PSG vs. Chelsea, Schalke vs. Real Madrid and off course Manchester United...oops scratch that, Manchester City vs. Barcelona.

Man City vs. Barcelona

This has been dubbed as the big clash of the quarterfinal stage. If you were to ask Man City mandarins they will say that they are delighted with the draw. But behind closed doors and puffing on their cigars they have to wonder whose palms they need to grease with oil money in order to get to the quarterfinal stage for the first time in their history.

I will have to admit that while as City has learnt how to survive in the Champions League compared to their early forays, their recent struggles against minnows such as Stoke and laborious wins over teams such as Leicester are reflective of the unpredictable nature of football.

With all their key players on fire, City can hold their ground against Barcelona. City talisman Yaya Toure will have the extra motivation usually associated with the venom of an ex. However, Barca’s forward line, when it finally clicks, can be frightening. City’s major undoing will be the quick fire passes by Barcelona just outside the goal area. Any major mistakes and City will be turned into a Spanish omelette. Banter’s take? Barcelona will go through, though after some hard work.

Schalke vs. Real Madrid

Call it real charm for Real Madrid because the knockout tie has all but given the team a pass into the Quarter finals.

In the past, Real Madrid have made a habit of annihilating minnows in knockout wins. Last year at this very stage, Real Madrid pounded Schalke into a pulp beating them 9-2 on aggregate.

Given that Real have been impressive both in domestic and European campaigns, I cannot see a crack big enough for the Germans to hide in.

In fact, Schalke should go out to ensure that their history is not peed on nine more times by Real Madrid. Otherwise this could be another real nightmare for them.

Arsenal vs. Monaco

It is apparent that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger got out of jail quite easily after landing French side Monaco. In this draw, Gooners may have ended up watching the tie under their blankets if they had landed Barca or Bayern Munich.

Truth be told, this is as easy as it could get for Arsenal. But again one may ask; is there anything that Arsenal does with ease? I don’t think so. This is not beyond Arsenal’s heart-breaking stunts. They can very easily cede an away goal after 19 seconds.

We have been assured that Arsenal is going to familiar ground in Monaco. But how many familiar grounds has Arsenal lost on in the Premier League, against the so-called small teams?

It has been pointed out that Monaco got through despite the fewest goals scored for a qualified team in history, but they have not faced as generous a defence as Arsenal.

If the Gunners take the driving seat at the onset they could give their manager a happy return to his old stomping ground. Arsenal must simply live up to expectations and knock out Monaco.

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea

Other than the City–Barca match up, this could be the next exciting clash. This is owing to the fact that Chelsea squeezed past the French moneybags in the quarter-finals with a last gasp goal to proceed on away goals. Having been roasted like bacon in Paris, where PSG chalked up a 3-1 win, Chelsea needed an almighty performance to overhaul the goal deficit. This they did with barely seconds to spare.

I do not foresee another last minute drama, but given the way the previous tie ended we are for sure in for lots of drama.

Both teams have definitely beefed up their squads. Both are quite well into their respective domestic leagues and we know that PSG has learnt its lesson.

It is painful for Blues fans but you cannot be lucky twice in two years, Jesus does not reside at Stamford Bridge!

 

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