Here I am, again, with my view on the 1/8th Finals of the Champions League, season 2008-2009.
Last week, I wrote the following:
"Here's an early review on the first 8 matches of the 1/8th round in the Champions League of season 2008-2009.
As you all (should?) know, there were -in total- 8 matches yesterday and today. Many big clubs showed their status by reaching the 1/8th finals, resulting in the following line-up:
Internationale, Man Utd, Atl. Madrid, FC Porto, Ol. Lyon, Barcelona, Arsenal and AS Roma played their games yesterday, whilst Chelsea, Juventus, Villarreal, Panathinaikos, Sporting Lissabon, Bayern Munchen, Real Madrid and Liverpool finished their games (when I started writing) only 15 minutes ago.
Results were:
Inter-Man Utd: 0-0
Atl Madrid - FC Porto: 2-2
Ol. Lyon - Barcelona: 1-1
Arsenal - AS Roma: 1-0
Chelsea - Juventus: 1-0
Villarreal - Panathinaikos: 1-1
Sp. Lissabon - Bayern Munchen: 0-5 (!)
Real Madrid - Liverpool: 0-1
If I had to predict the outcome for the quarter finals (and yes I know, there's still another round of games in the 1/8th finals), I would say Man Utd, FC Porto, Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Villarreal, Bayern Munchen (quite obvious I guess) and Liverpool... If this were to be the case, once more, English clubs will show their strength by getting 4 teams into quarter finals. But then again, I could be completely wrong as well of course... We'll just have to wait and see. Next games are on the 10th and 11th of March."
So, was I right in my predictions? Did all the teams I mentioned to get to the next round (Quarter Finals), actuallt get there?
Well, with last Tuesday's and Wednesday's matches and therefor their results, I would say: Yes! I got them all right! :) Woohoo! ;)
On Tuesday, Panathinaikos decided to lose against Villareal with 1-2, Chelsea draw 2-2 with Juventus, Liverpool smashed and wacked Real Madrid back to Spain with an amazing 4-0 and Bayern Munchen decided to destroy all hopes and believes in Lisbon, by beating Sporting Club 7-1! (So, I guess Sporting Club Portugal can change their name back to Sporting Lisboa/Lissabon, as they did nothing to honour Portugal and it's football, by losing 5-0 and 7-1 againts Bayern Muchen).
Yesterday, Wednesday, Porto draw a businesslike 0-0 against Athletico Madrid to go through on away-goals, Barcelona beat Lyon 5-2 (with their attacking trio Messi, Eto'o and Henry all scoring), Arsenal needed a 16-takes-penalty shoot-out against AS Roma to go through, as the match ended 1-0 for Roma and Man Utd scored 2 goals in the 4th and 49th minute, to secure a 2-0 win against Inter Milan.
Unfortunately, I have to admit that I don't know when the Quarter Finals will take place, but once they do, obviously I'll write a new review on them too!
For now, some final stats:
This season, Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) and Miroslav Klose (Bayern M.) both scored 7 goals so far. They are followed shortly by Lisandro Lopez (Porto) and Messi (Barcelona) with 6 goals each. All of them are still going in the Quarter Finals.
Over-all topscores are Raúl (Real Madrid-64 goals), van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid-56) and Henry (Barcelona-49). Henry will be able to still add to his tally this season, Raúl and van Nistelrooy (he's also injured) will have to try again next season.
Over-all Dutch topscorers are van Nistelrooy, Kluivert (no club-29 goals) and Makaay (Feyenoord-29 goals), with both Kluiver and Makaay most unlikely to ever score again in CL.
Over-all Matches Played tells us Raúl (123), Roberto Carlos (Fenerbahce-120) and Giggs (Man Utd-110). Only Ryan Giggs is able to likely add more to his total, as he's the only one of the top-3 remaining in CL so far.
Dutch players top-3: Seedorf (Milan-101, Cocu (quit) and Frank de Boer (quit) with both 81. If Edwin van der Sar gets to the Finals with his Man Utd, he will pass both Cocu and De Boer and become second with a (possible) 82 games. He now has 77 games.
That's it! See ya!