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.

Champions League Highlights

Apologies for the lack of updates and content...site relaunch coming in May!!!

Mourinho's Inter defeats CSKA as expected 1-0



Leo Messi passes Arsenal 4-1


Wednesday's highlights after the break

Inter Milan 1-0 CSKA Moscow

Inter Milan came away with a victory against CSKA through a 65th minute Diego Milito goal. Also, check out the goal-line clearance from Aleksei Berezutski that kept the game 1-0. Milos Krasic will miss CSKA's home leg next week through suspension.

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.

Olympique Lyonnais 3-1 Girondins de Bordeaux

Lisandro Lopez picked up a brace during Lyon's big home win against their French rivals Bordeaux. Michel Bastos also scored for Lyon. Marouane Chamakh scored the loan goal for the visitors.

Bayern München 2-1 Manchester United

Ivica Olic scored a 92nd minute goal to lift the hosts past Manchester United by a score of 2-1. Wayne Rooney opened the game up with a nice finish from a well-placed cross assisted by Nani. Wayne Rooney then helped Franck Ribery tie the game up, when a shot off a Ribery free kick was deflected off his foot and into the goal. Olic then sealed the deal late, giving Bayern the big win, even without Robben.

Champions League Highlights: Round of 16; 2nd Leg

Without Poppa to make his picks here are the highlights from Tuesday night's Champions League matches. Inter and CSKA both pick up wins on the road to advance into the quarter finals.

Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1

Sevilla 1 CSKA Moscow 2

Lo Siento

What can €300 million buy you? A yacht, a mansion, a couple lambos, ferraris, bentleys, your own water park, a helicopter, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka's services, etc.

But it cannot guarantee a ticket to the Champions League quarterfinals. We saw this after Lyon held the Galacticos to a 1-1 stalemate yesterday at the Santiago Bernabeu. In response to another Real Madrid failure, Kaka has already plead for forgiveness from the Madrid faithful. Well played Kaka, make the fans love you.

Take a look at the highlights, is this as big a choke as its made out to be? I mean Real Madrid do buy the absolute best players in the world, but Lyon is not that far behind as far as talent goes...



Highlights of the AC Milan massacre after the jump

Tuesday's Champions League Highlights

Porto suffered an embarrassing loss at the Emirates thanks to Nicklas Bendtner's hat trick, which made up for his dismal performance over the weekend against Burnley. Check out Samir Nasri's ridiculous goal dribbling through almost all of Porto's defense.

The most exciting match of the day also had a tally of 5 goals. A back-and-forth second half capped off by a brilliant Robben strike saw Munchen advance by the slimmest of margins. Unfortunately for Fiorentina a terrible decision in the 1st leg (an offside goal by Klose) cost them the opportunity to advance to the quarter finals.

Inter X Chelsea Highlights

Inter Milan 2 Chelsea 1
   

Sevilla X CSKA Moscow Higlights

Sevilla 1 CSKA 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.