-
Champions League trophy - Source: Getty Images -
Related
It's that time of year again as the cream of European football take on each other in the hopes of being crowned European Champions 2009, tvnz.co.nz's Sarah Williams previews the action.
(Check in on Wednesday for the second part of our champions league quarter final preview)
WEDNESDAY (NZT) 6:45 kick-off
Manchester United v Porto
I don't want to start this preview on a bad note, but I have to say, if there is one team that you are bound to find a picture of in the dictionary next to the word 'jammy' its definitely Manchester United - as the world found out when hot-balls reared its head at the Champions League quarter-final draw - where the current European champions got lucky with Porto.
That's not to say Porto are not a good side, because they are, in fact Porto are in such good shape they have only lost one of their last 25 matches in all competitions, they also enjoyed a 3-1 win over Guimaraes at the weekend that has left them seven points clear at the top of Liga Sagres.
But Chelsea, Barcelona or even Arsenal Porto are not and Manchester United will go into this first-leg clash as flying favourites.
It is safe to say that after an uncharacteristic late League hiccup United are back on track and in high spirits after teen sensation Federico Macheda scored the much needed winner against Aston Villa on Monday (NZT) to put United back on top.
But with just one day to recover from their victory over Villa, United will be feeling the burn.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side will be inspired by the team's comeback (yawn) and Rooney, Vidic and Scholes will offer Fergie fresh legs after returning from League suspension, while no one will probably miss midfielder Anderson or Dimitar Berbatov (who is sidelined with an ankle injury) they will be without the defensive skill of skipper Rio Ferdinand.
Porto may not have the Ronaldo or the Rooney to offer but they do have the attacking threat of the Champions League second top goal scorer Lisandro Lopez and the brilliantly named Brazilian forward Hulk (yes, that is his REAL name!).
They finished above Arsenal in the group stage and knocked Athletic Madrid out of the tournament on away goals in the last round and as Alex Ferguson has pointed out FC Porto are a physically strong side.
The worst thing United could do is believe their own hype going into this clash.
Porto may have never won a game on English soil, and nor do I think they will win this clash, but I do fancy them to nick an away goal against United at Old Trafford.
Prediction: Man United 2, FC Porto 1
Villarreal v Arsenal
Arsenal head to Spain this week to take on Villarreal in the first quarter-final leg of the Champions League.
Arsenal may be favourites to go through to the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time since they knocked Villarreal out of the 2006 semi-finals (where they went on to get beat by Barcelona in the 2006 Paris final) but the London side have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the clash with flying Dutchman Robin van Persie being ruled out with a groin injury.
Arsenal may be lucky to be able to call on Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott (both passed fit) while Cesc Fabregas (taking time out from spitter-gate and Real Madrid /Barcelona transfer rumours) is also making the trip to his home nation.
Arsenal will though, desperately will miss the goal scoring prowess of van Persie who was instrumental in helping the Gunners reach the last eight of the competition after he scored the only goal at home to Roma that ensured the game went to extra time in Italy and possibly the longest penalty shoot-out EVER - which Arsenal won.
The Gunners will also miss the influence of pint-sized midfielder Andrei Arshavin (who is ineligible) and Eduardo and Diaby through injury.
But Arsenal may have got a lucky break (excuse the pun) as Villarreal have their own injury problems with influential winger Santi Cazorla ruled out after breaking his leg during the sides 3-0 defeat to Almeria at the weekend.
One ace Villarreal do have up their sleeve though is former Gunners great Robert Pires who knows Wenger's style of play well, a fact that has lead Wenger to believe that Pires will raise his game against his old club.
Both sides here have a point to prove, none more so than a topsy-turvy Villarreal, whose league form is putting them in real danger of failing to qualify for next year's tournament.
With the attacking threat of Pires, Joan Capdevila and Marcos Senna, Villarreal will make this a tough game for the Gunners, but after a stumbling couple of months there is a confidence growing as Arsenal seem to have got their mojo back.
While I don't fancy Arsenal to go on and win this tournament I do fancy them to nick an important away goal in Spain.
Prediction: Arsenal 1, Villarreal 0
Join us on Wednesday for the second part of our Champions
League preview where we look at the changes of European
heavy-weights Liverpool v Chelsea and Barcelona v Bayern Munich,
and don't miss all the up-to-date action of the UEFA Champions
League at
tvnz.co.nz
