Champions League knockout stage once again brings us the world's most exciting football event

Let me start by reminding anyone who bothers to read my blog that my prediction record for the past two years of the first knockout stage has been very good (ie it is worth you while to read & follow my blog!). In 2010 I predicted 8/8 winners right & last year I got 7/8 right, the only exception being my beloved Bayern Munchen, who sadly gave away an overall 3-1 lead to with 25 minutes to go & got knocked out 3-3 on away goals rule!

This season, I did predict Manchester United would fail both in EPL & in Champions League (in my annual review last August I tipped what I call the "cosmetically assembled trophy buying" Man City to win EPL!!).

This year, once again Barcelona & Real Madrid, with their star studded teams have been the stand outs, with the usual suspects (minus Manchester United & the "cosmetically assembled" Manchester City) are trying to lay a claim to the throne. My team, Bayern Munchen, having comfortably won the so called group of death on day 5, are one of the outside favourites, and have the added incentive of the final being held in Munich in May 2012.

The following are my tips (in bold), I intend to get at least 7/8 right again this year!

Barcelona vs Leverkusen

Even without David Villa who's lost form & broken his leg, the magnificent Guardiola troops under the leadership of Messi, Xavi, Inesta, Puyel & co, and with their new potential superstars Fabergas & Sanchez, are one of the best teams of all time & deserve & will probably be there in the final in Munich in May!

AC Milan vs Arsenal

I acknowledge Wenger & Arsenal, with their relatively meagre resources have once again overachieved in CL in Europe this year. However, the current Milan side, alongside Bayern, are outside favourites to claim the title this year & are a far more cohesive & dangerous team than the Milan side of the last few years. They will be too good for this brave if naive Arsenal side.

Benfica vs Zenit

This is the perfect opportunity for Benfica to come out of the ever dominant shadows of their domestic rivals Porto, by beating a somewhat out of sorts & injury hit Zenit teams, which if manages to perform like previous years, can overcome Benfica.

Real Madrid vs CSKA Moscow

In his second year in charge, the much admired as well as disliked Mourinho has made the team a much more cohesive side & a killing machine in the group stage of the CL, although beating Barcelona in the La Liga has continued to desert Mourinho (Real lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the latest Clasico). None the less, based on the group stage performances, Real are the in form team & must be regarded as the favourites to win the competition at this stage.

Napoli vs Chelsea

Here's my first & only diversion from reputation this year. For those of us who watched Napoli in Serie A last year, and in the group of death at CL this year, this is a fairly easy prediction to make, especially considering the current inconsistent Chelsea team. I watched Napoli vs Bayern, Man City & Villarreal in the group stage, and was impressed with their compact & skillful displays in every match! In their young Uruguayan striker Cavane, they have a potential superstar in the making.

In my view, with a bit of luck, Napoli are the real dark horses of this year's competition & could be in the semi finals

Bayern vs Basel

In knocking out Manchester United, basel & their young players, with their never say die attitude (Like Napoli above) made this year's CL a real pleasure to watch. However, Bayern have a very experienced & skillful squad at this level, have played Basel several times, and even though Basel's coach is a former Bayern coach, possess enough quality to finish basel's impressive run.

Marseille vs Inter Milan

I was very impressed with the way Marseille disposed of Borussia Dortmund in the group stage. At the same time, I thought Inter Milan were awful & the least deserving qualifier amongst all the teams which qualified for the knockout stage. I comfortably tip Marseille to finish off Inter's miserable season by knocking them out

Lyon vs Apoel

Apoel have been the surprise of the season & a breath of fresh air in a season when the money of Manchester City failed to take them to the second round. However, Lyon possess what the likes of Apoel & Man City do not; vast experience at the knockout level of the CL, and even though Lyon got to this stage with a last day 7-1 win which made some question the authenticity of their qualification (a lesser result would have seen them fail to qualify), they have the quality to finish off Apoel's impressive run.

The only prediction which will be 100% right, will be this: as per previous years, the knock out stages of the CL will once again provide plenty of excitement & nail biting drama & further enhance the competition's reputation as the most exciting football event in the world....and let's hope I continue to correctly tip the winners!

Champions League quarter final pairings: What to expect?

The Champions League final will be held in Madrid in May. Sadly however, the start studded Real Madrid will not be there to win the title at their Bernabeu Stadium! The star studded but at times misfiring Madrid side lost to the gallant Lyon side who despite going to the return leg with the narrowest of margins never lost their self belief.

Whilst I wrongly underestimated Lyon's depth & predicted Madrid would easily go through, I can still save face by referring to my several blogs at the beginning of the season when I claimed Real were a collection of great but selfish players who would not be able to deliver Mr Perez instant gratification, at least in the first year of his reign. The fact that Real have given Barcelona & the out of this world Messi a run for the Primera in fact comes as a surprise!

My other major flop for the round was Chelsea's loss to the arrogant master tactician, Jose Mourinho & his Inter Milan side. Mourinho simply rubbed salt to the Chelsea supporters' wound by reminding what they are missing out of since his departure!

Overall, this year's quarter finals amazingly are littered with surprise qualifiers. The elimination of giant former winners AC Milan, Juventus, Liverpool & Real Madrid as well as Porto & the newcomers Chelsea mean that the less fanciful CSKA Moksva, Bordeaux & Lyon have made the quarterfinals easier to predict, at least on paper!

The most exciting match up is undoubtedly Manchester United vs Bayern Munich. Manchester United comfortably disposed of a misfiring AC Milan whilst Bayern at the just scrapped past a gallant & unlucky Fiorentina side on away goals rule due to a masterful goal by Arjen Robben.

The last gasp heartbreaking final win by Manchester United in 1999 & the subsequent home & the subsequent quarter final home & away win by Bayern on their way to win the CL in 2001 means these two teams have an unbreakable history. Also, in Robben & Rooney, I believe we will witness the second & third current best players in the world going to the battlefield.

My Prediction: If Bayern's defence holds off Rooney & co in the first leg in Munich, Bayern may go on to win the tie. Otherwise, Manchester United are the favourites to go through.

Barcelona vs Arsenal: Arguably the two most skillful & entertaining club sides in the world repeating their CL Final encounter of a few years ago. With Messi in his current form speeding towards the super stardom legendary status, Barcelona are favourite to take advantage of Wenger's side's occasional lapses & go through.

Lyon vs Bordeaux: The all French tussle will produce the first French side in the semi finals of the CL since Monaco reached the final & lost to Mourinho's Porto a few years ago. Lyon have been a consistent performer in the CL League & go the battle with the confidence boosting elimination of Ronaldo & Co of Madrid. On the other hand, Laurent Blanc has built a masterful compact unit at Bordeaux capable of many surprises. I believe Bordeaux will continue their dream run to the semi finals.

Inter Milan vs CSKA Moskva: Whilst CSKA have quietly enjoyed good solid performances & slightly easier draws to get to the quarter finals, they are also a great team which fully deserve their position at this level. On the other hand, hats off to Mourinho for getting Inter Milan through the battle with Chelsea. I still feel uncomfortable about Inter & believe CSKA are capable of causing a huge upset!

No matter which team you are following, the quarter finals will be as exciting as ever. Let's just hope they do not get too tight & defensive. The away goal rule is making home teams timid & nervous & has a negative impact on the game as a spectacle.