It's England v Italy - the Premiership v Serie A in the last 16 of the Champions League. Intriguing fixtures with the tinker man, Claudio Ranieri returning to Chelsea, the scene of some disgusting football conduct. Arsenal and Roma do battle once more; two excellent footballing sides lock horns in a tie that has all the right ingredients to be one to remember. But the tie of the round has to be Premiership, European and World champions Manchester United versus Scudetto winners Internazionale.
Its Fergie v Jose - let the battle commence. Looking at Roma against Arsenal, I think this will be an extremely entertaining tie, with Arsenal coming through a tough Roman test. Although Roma can play some breathtaking football and even taking into account their 3-1 demolition of Chelsea, they have been extremely inconsistent this season. Coupled with the attacking threat posed by Adebayor and Van Persie alike, the gunners will be too strong for the Giallorossi. Arsenal have had their problems as well, but in Arsene Wenger they have a manager who can reassure young inexperienced players and steady the ship. Destiny, it can be said plays a part in the Champions League and with the final being held in Rome, there will be plenty of Romans who feel their side have enough quality to achieve this goal and give The Eternal City's favourite son a night to remember.
An altogether more interesting tie waits in the shape of Juventus against Chelsea. Claudio Ranieri returns to the club that shamelessly sacked him four and a half years back with a Juventus side in sparkling form. Only 2 months ago, Ranieri was on his last legs and dismissal was only one game away, but he masterminded two victories over Real Madrid and embarked on a magnificent winning run, only losing to Inter (courtesy of a dubious Muntari goal). Chelsea on the other hand has been slipping up at home recently and are not performing as many thought or expected they would. Luis Felipe Scolari is under increasing pressure to galvanise a stuttering side, and with an apparent lack of funds to strengthen in January, his attacking options seem a bit light.
Scolari, in my opinion is tactically naive and Chelsea only have one way to play, with the wing backs an irreplaceable cog in the Brazilian's machine. If Juventus realise this, just as the rest of the premiership have, they will most certainly take control of the tie. Juve though, do seem to lack a bit of quality and seem to grind out results through sheer hard work, but with Buffon and the other injured players back they will have enough to see the Chelsea threat. I do believe some will call that ‘Karma.'
Jose Mourinho has started the mind games already, apparently, "Zlatan Ibrahimovic is better than Cristiano Ronaldo." A statement sure to fire up the Portuguese Ballon d'Or winner and one which I do not agree with, despite my admiration of Ibra-cadabra's unquestionable talents. Images of Jose rampaging down the touchline in 2004 will surely be in the forefront of Sir Alex's mind in the lead up to this clash and with only one victory over a Jose Mourinho managed team in 12 attempts, Sir Alex will no doubt be going all out for a convincing victory.
The key will be in my opinion Zlatan Ibrahimovic, when he plays, Inter play. Mourinho will prepare thoroughly as he always does, but Zlatan is a special player who can change games and win matches single-handed. Inter's back line may be a point of weakness United can exploit, but having only conceded 11 goals in Serie A this season, it is not a handicap they will be worried about. Manchester United should have enough attacking options and creativity to overhaul a sturdy Inter defence. Coupled with a defence of their own, that is more than capable of repelling Inter's attacking menace, I cannot see past United.
Putting my neck on the line and making such predictions the final score stands at 2-1 to the premiership... Just. All the games have their own story and are equally intriguing. Only time will tell if I am a new-age soothsayer.
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