It's been a while, but it's back!
The UEFA Champions League resumes today and tomorrow with the first half of the first leg of the Round of 16 (try saying that three times fast). Four matches are on tap this week, including a couple of very intriguing games for fans of English clubs.
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Tuesday, February 15
AC Milan v. Tottenham Hotspur - The Italian giants take on the darlings of this year's competition. Spurs have played some fantastic football in their maiden voyage through the Champions League, and now look to continue their Cinderella story with a good showing against the second most successful club in European competition.
Spurs are actually the seeded team in this pair of fixtures, by virtue of having won their very tough group (while Milan finished second to Real Madrid in Group G). Regardless, I don't see how the London side can sustain their great run against a Milan side that is firing on all cylinders.
Valencia v. Schalke 04 - Both sides benefitted from relatively weaker groups, although nothing can be taken away by the way either side advanced to this stage. Valencia, especially, showed a killer instinct, demolishing Group C opponents Bursaspor and Rangers in offensive displays that even group winners Manchester United could not come close to matching.
Schalke are very much a middling side at the moment, while Valencia is the top Spanish club not named Barcelona or Real Madrid. Current form should favour Valencia, but with Schalke being led by former La Liga superstar Raul, things could get interesting.
Wednesday, February 16
Arsenal v. Barcelona - Possibly the two best passing sides in the world get together for what is becoming a regular occurrence in the knockout round. Unfortunately for Arsenal, what has also become familiar is Barcelona's domination when these two teams meet, and this year's outlook has more of the same.
Some say that Arsenal may be the best suited team to face the Catalan club, although the fact remains that for all of the Gunners' superb passing abilities, they still don't boast the Holy Trinity of the current game known as Xavi, Messi and Iniesta. And Barcelona's smooth abilities going forward are matched by a very solid defensive corps, something that Arsenal are sorely lacking.
Since this match is at the Emirates, it should be a close one. But the return leg at Camp Nou could be a whole other story altogether.
AS Roma v. Shaktar Donetsk - This'll likely go down as the most overlooked of this week's fixtures, what with Roma having a sub-par season and Shakhtar running away with a Ukrainian league that garners very little attention from observers of the bigger competitions.
Traditionally, Roma would be considered the favoured side, but given current form in both the domestic leagues and the Champions League (Shakhtar edged out Arsenal to win Group H), one has to give the nod to the Ukrainian side.
Then again, Serie A is going strong while the Ukrainian Premier League has been on winter hiatus since November, so match fitness should be on Roma's side. Time will tell if it'll be enough.