Poppa's Picks: Champion's League Edition

Lyon X Bayern Munich - Today 2:45PM ET

Bayern hold a slight advantage on aggregate with the crucial 1-0 win in Germany.  The game will not see key players Franck Ribery and Jeremy Toulalan.  Lyon coach Claude Puel has asked for Lisandro and company to step it up on the attack and take advantage of their home field advantage.  On the other side of the ball, Louis Van Gaal has also claimed Bayern will implement an attacking style of play as to keep Lyon on their heels in order to defend their lead.  Lyon went to Madrid and qualified; look for them to do the same at home.  Lisandro equalizes, Makoun brings them back to Madrid for the Final, 2-0 in France.*


Barcelona X Inter - Wednesday 2:45PM ET

The Nerazurri stunned big, bad Barcelona 3-1 in the first game earning them a clear advantage heading into this leg.  However, Barcelona do not buckle under pressure.  In fact, they usually do just the opposite.  Inter will have to close down the wing threats of Messi and Dani Alves.  I think Mourinho knows "parking the bus" in front of the net probably won't work against the Blaugrana.  Look for a nail-biter here at the Nou Camp, with Barce taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Messi and Iniesta.  But Eto'o will net a 2nd half goal to give Inter a 2-1 Cinderella-type story to head to the Final with.**


*My biased for Lyon does not apply in this decision
**This decision also has nothing to do with a Mourinho biased.  I only want him to win Champions Leagues with Porto.

Messi Was the Golden Child

Little Leo Messi is very little in this video... either 5 or 6 years old.  This must be the reason why Barcelona tied him up at 12 years old.

Arsenal 2-2 Barcelona

A brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic was canceled out by late Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas goals(the latter from a faux-PK call). Arshavin, Gallas and Fabregas all picked up injuries during the match. Pique and Puyol will miss Barcelona's home leg next week through suspension, as will Fabregas.

Poppa's Picks: Champions League Edition

Lyon X Bordeaux - Tuesday 2:45PM ET
Bordeaux travel east to Lyon in the first leg of the "Bataille de France."  Bordeaux have been in exceptional form, sitting atop the leaderboard domestically.  However Ligue 1 is officially the hottest race in Europe with just 3 points separating the top 6 teams.  Marseille has recently brought down both these powerhouses, eliminating Bordeaux from the League Cup last week and stripping Lyon of some much needed points.  Look for Lyon to try and capitalize at home, with a lot of attacking play.  Bordeaux won't score away. 1-0 Lyon.  Bafetimbe Gomis or Lisandro will score.

Bayern Munich X Manchester United - Tuesday 2:45PM ET
Rooney and company will be relishing the opportunity to return to England with an advantage.  This Manchester team has a chip on its shoulder after being written off with no Cristiano.  They proved this in the last fixture by destroying AC Milan 7-2 on aggregate.  Not to mention a dominate 4-0 win this weekend domestically.  Bayern is still looking for someone to really step up in the Champions League.  Their top scorer is Arjen Robben in the competition with just 2 goals.  Bayern are also coming off a major loss to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, losing their first place standing.  Robben and the Germans will get a decent result in Munich 1-1.  Nani scores for Man United.

Arsenal X Barcelona - Wednesday 2:45PM ET
Forward Nicklas Bendtner has recently stated, "Messi can be stopped."  I beg to differ...Arsene Wenger has already expressed concern over the upcoming tie, and little Arshavin has said the Gunners aren't good enough to challenge Chelsea and Manchester for the title.  Meanwhile Barce seem very focused, and a visit to London shouldn't ruffle their feathers all that much (unless you're Thiery Henry).  Andres Iniesta has already ruled himself out for the match, but I think the Spanish side will still come away with the victory 2-1 over Arsenal.  Messi, Arshavin, Xavi the scorers.

Inter Milan X CSKA Moscow - Wednesday 2:45PM ET
Inter were dazzled by Roma over the weekend, but that shouldn't hurt their confidence all that much.  After eliminating a strong Chelsea, Mourinho's side seem to have the formula down in the late stages of the competition.  With the Russian League just getting underway earlier this month, CSKA are fresh enough to challenge the Italians.  They've won 2 and drawn once thus far domestically.  But a lack of recent competition may hurt their chances.  Inter will take their home leg 2-0 in the Guiseppe Meazza.  Two for Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o.

Wednesday's La Liga Action

Goals from Zlatan and Bojan lift Barcelona past Osasuna

More La Liga
Valencia 1-0 Malaga
Tenerife 2-2 Villarreal

Messi tears Zaragoza apart

While many people have different opinions to who is the best footballer in the world today, Messi showed why he is consistently in the discussion. Pay close attention to the second and fourth goals.

La Liga Weekend Highlights

Hat-tricks from Argentinians Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain gave both Barcelona and Real Madrid the full 3 points on Sunday. Messi currently with 22 goals is in the lead for the coveted Pichichi award but Higuain is close behind with 19 goals. However Higuain's Real Madrid remains in 1st place in La Liga due to goal differential. Here's an amazing stat on goal differential to show the discrepancy between the top two clubs in Spain compared to the rest of the league; Real Madrid: +50, Barcelona: +48, Valencia (next best): +13. WOW!

Real Valladolid 1 Real Madrid 4

Barcelona 3 Valencia 0

Sevilla 1 Deportivo 1

More La Liga Highlights

Poppa's Picks

Only 8 weeks of fixtures keep the Bundesliga season alive, so this WILL come down to the wire. Especially because these next 3 weeks Leverkusen, Bayern, and Schalke will all play each other once. Keep up with the Bundesliga's nail-biting finish.

Schalke 04 X Stuttgart - Friday 2:30PM ET
Schalke continue to chase Bayern Munich, behind the leaders only two points.  However, Champions League contenders Stuttgart are a road block to the title this weekend.  Schalke who have only lost twice at home this season will host the showdown.  This will be a pretty good game given the great talent on the pitch.  Kevin Kuranyi will score, and Jefferson Farfan will add one on.  Schalke continues their run 2-0.

Sevilla X Deportivo Coruña - Saturday 4:00PM ET
Sevilla are coming off a heartbreaking last minute loss to Real Madrid last weekend in La Liga.  Deportivo sit in 6th place, only 2 points behind 4th place Sevilla.  Diego Perotti and company will want to prepare their stadium for the 2nd leg against CSKA with a win on Saturday, so look for a very attack oriented Sevilla.  However they won't be able to come away with the victory in this 1-1 draw, goals from Alvaro Negredo and
Mexican star Andres Guardado.

Ajax X PSV Eindhoven - Sunday 11:30PM ET
3rd place Ajax square off against PSV who are 4 points ahead of them in 2nd.  With 8 games left in the Eredivisie, the battle for Holland's other Champions League spot is on.  Ajax will be playing in Amsterdam, and have not lost in Dutch competitions since last year (December).  But a strong PSV will want an opportunity at the Champions League, after a solid performance in the Europa League this season.  Ajax will win 1-0, with another from Luis Suarez.

Bayer Leverkusen X Hamburg SV - Sunday 12:30PM ET 
Live on Sunday is a battle from the top of the German table, and Stefan Kießling's Leverkusen is playing phenomenal so watch it!  They currently sit in 3rd, a point behind Schalke, and 3 behind Bayern.  Like Schalke though, Leverkusen face a bit of an obstacle this weekend.  Hamburg is right behind them, but with 7 points less.  They'll be tired after a pressure packed match versus Anderlecht Thursday in the Europa League.  Although this may play in Hamburg's favor, I think it'll be enough to hinder their chances Sunday and allow a Kießling strike to attack Germany's first place spot.

Barcelona X Valencia - Sunday 2:00PM ET
Perhaps the most anticipated event of the weekend is this matchup at the Camp Nou.  Messi's 19 goals versus David Villa's 17.  Deloitte's two richest clubs, Barcelona and Real Madrid are currently tied with 62 points a piece.  Yes, that is roughly 20 wins out of the 25 games already played in Spain.  The Madridistas really want to see Valencia take one from Barce, but they won't even take 2 points.  Barcelona are getting in form for their Champions League showdown against Stuttgart with a win against the Bats.  2-0, Zlatan and Pedro will score.

La Liga Higlights

Barcelona 2 Almeria 2
   

Real Madrid 3 Sevilla 2
   

At. Madrid 1 Zaragoza 1
   

More La Liga Highlights

Barcelona X Malaga Highlights

Barcelona 2 Malaga 1

Champions League Highlights

Olympiakos 0 Bordeaux 1




Stuttgart 1 Barcelona 1

Poppa's Picks: Champions League Edition

Today's Games

Olympiakos X Bordeaux - Tuesday 2:45PM ET
The French Ligue leaders hit up Greece for their first leg in the Round of 16.  The hosts are also contending for domestic supremacy, sitting just two points behind Panathinakos.  Bordeaux are not in their best form winning only 2 of their last 5 matches in the French League and Cup.  Olympiakos on the otherhand are coming off of 3 consecutive victories, followed by a draw.  However, I'm going to say a 1-1 draw here, a good result for Laurent Blanc's crew to head back west with.

Stuttgart X Barcelona - Tuesday 2:45PM ET
Pep has called for his side to step it up for the match at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.  Pssh ya Pep, first place in Spain with 27 total wins in this seasons' competitions just ain't cutting it.  Barce knocked Stuttgart out of the CL back in '07-'08.  The Germans are just not in form this season sitting midtable in the Bundesliga.  But you never know, teams can step it up for big games.  Having said that, I'm going to give Barcelona an away victory here 2-0.  Expect little Leo Messi to put one away for the Blaugrana.

Wednesday's Games

CSKA Moscow X Sevilla - Wednesday 2:45PM ET
Brrrr Russia...The Spaniards are coming off a big win against Mallorca, as they push forward to try and secure another spot in Europe next season.  Moscow's Milos Krasic leads all socrers of the match day with 4 Champions League goals this season.  The Russians have to take advantage and make a run this year as they most likely won't see Champions League competition in the '10-'11 season.  Look to see CSKA hold Luis Fabiano and company to a 1-1 draw.  I heard if they get a good result, Roman Abramovich will give them each a case of potato vodka...Russians love vodka.

Inter Milan X Chelsea - Wednesday 2:45PM ET
Perhaps the most hyped matchup of this round sees Carlo Ancelotti returning to the San Siro to take on the Special One and former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.  The Londoners are arriving in Italy after a weekend win over Wolverhampton, and Frankie Lampard has been cleared to play tomorrow.  Ancelotti joked that the country (Italy) will be cheering on the Blues on Wednesday night.  I am not so sure its much of a joke as hated as Inter is domestically.  Inter are a very physical side for Italy, but expect Chelsea to beast the Nerazurri and return to Britain up 2-0. One from Lamps, one from Didier Drogba.