A Look Back at the Day and the Rest of My CL Predictions (plus tidbits and a dark secret revealed)

The matchday is done and it's time to look back through my predictions and shake my head with shame. Actually, I feel that I did pretty well today. 5 and 3 isn't bad for a start. Without any further ado, let's take a look at what transpired.

Barca over Udinese (4-1) and Juve over Rapid Vienna (3-0) turned out to be the gimmes I though they would. I'm not the biggest fan (or really any fan at all), but it is nice to see Barca producing the offensive fireworks they are capable of. Bayern didn't even allow a shot on goal against Club Brugge (1-0). They still only grabbed the victory by a lone Demichelis strike (it's always good when he puts it into the right net). Just as I predicted, ManU made hard going of it against Benfica (2-1). It was left to Ruud "the horse-faced wonder" to rescue them at the death. And finally, let's have a big round of applause for FC Thun who earned their very first CL victory (1-0) (Of course it was only their second ever CL game and they really weren't bloody likely to beat Arsenal, were they? But still.) That's a great accomplishment for a team that is relatively small even by Swiss standards.

So now it is time to see where it all went wrong for my powers of prognostication. Arsenal pulled out a victory in Amsterdam (2-1). The medioce quality of this year's Ajax aside, I really didn't see Arsenal getting the win. I thought that their injuries and their poor league form would tell here. I mean, Wenger's sides have always been mentally fragile. How could they do this to me? A pox on them! I have to admit that I really was guessing about Pana and Werder (2-1). I know that Werder have a reasonable stable of attacking weapons, but I don't know much about Pana. I just went on the recent poor CL form of Greek clubs. That'll teach me, I suppose. And finally, Villareal and Lille drew (0-0). I knew both sides were relatively lightweight for the CL, but I thought that Riquelme would manage to inspire his side to victory. Apparently no one was doing any inspiring on either side.

And now, my surefire predictions for tomorrow. I've learned my lessons from the matchday past and am ready to apply my now more-finely-honed powers of foretelling to upcoming Champions League clashes.

Real Betis over Anderlecht:

I don't have any real reason for this. But Anderlecht are in the midst of a record CL losing streak. Why should it end now?

Chelsea over Liverpool:

The glamour match of the week. Last season Liverpool won this tournament, eliminating Chelsea in the semis, and still managed to finish about 157 points behind them in the league. This season, after only seven games, Liverpool are already 14 points back. But the 'Pool can still turn it on in Europe. They have dangerous players and desire to prove that last year wasn't a complete fluke. But I think that Chelsea are just bit stronger and have even more motivation in this one.

Porto over Artmedia:

Artmedia are a great story. Just like Thun. Unfortunately, while Porto are not even a shadow of their former CL winning selves, they are also not Sparta Prague. The Bratislava side will have to be happy just to have made it this far.

Real Madrid over Olympiakos:

Two wins this past week are just what Real needed to regain some confidence following three losses in the week prior. Even if they hadn't had such a good week I would be picking Real here.

Lyon over Rosenborg:

Rosenborg are a sentimental favorite of mine (I actually have been to see them play while visiting family in Trondheim. It was freezing and pouring rain.) and the Lerkendal can be a beastly place to visit. However, Rosenborg are a team in decline. While they are fighting to stave off a relegation battle after 13 straight championships, Lyon are looking strong contenders for a fifth consecutive French title. It would be particularly ironic if it were former Rosenborg star John Carew who puts them to the sword.

PSV over Fenerbahce:

They may be trying to overcome a wholesale turnover in the midfield, but I still think that PSV could make it out of the group stage. And, of course I'm going to root for a team that fields Beasley.

Inter over Rangers:

Inter can be finicky, but I don't think this choice needs any explanation.

Milan over Schalke:

Chelsea-Liverpool may be the the high profile match, but this could be the most exciting. If Schalke can put things together, that is. They have all of the capabilities to make this a very exciting game. Unfortunately for them, Milan have more quality at every position. Milan should stay perfect.

Now that I've leapt out on that limb, it's time to see if it holds me.

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Tidbits

Ok. Only one. The U-17s are out, as everyone knows. The wisdom is that it's no shame to go out to the Netherlands, but that doesn't mean it isn't disappointing. Our kids had their chances. At least Mexico are still flying the flag for the region. I much prefer their chances to those of Costa Rica if they had managed the upset. I know their the USA's archrival, but I will be supporting them in the semis.

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A Dark Secret Revealed

Gentle readers (that's right! Plural! I know you're out there!), the time has come for your humble blogger to make a dark, personal confession. I am afflicted by a condition that is considered by many to be... unnatural. An affront to all that is good and true. There are, in fact, those who believe that persons such as myself should rounded up and put into camps or sent to re-education centers. Some feel that our condition is not curable and that we should simply be put out of our misery before we can infect others. I labor under the burden of Chelsea fandom. I know, I know. I can bear your screams of horror. But please. Do not flee. In my defense, my fandom predates the Chelski era. I was first seduced by the promise of an up and coming club featuring such talents as Vialli, Zola, Petrescu and the personalities of Wise and le Saux. They played a slick, continental brand of passing football in a league that was known more for rough and tumble physical play. Sure they had trouble maintaining concentration and struggled against the less talented teams, but they always raised their game against ManU, Arsenal, Liverpool. They were coming off significant European success. They seemed primed to reach the heights. But then they stagnated. Year of underachieving in the league. Embarassing exits in Europe to such powerhouses as Vallerenga and St. Gallen. And then the crippling debt. Who could blame us for welcoming Abrahmovic with open arms? Who wouldn't have? Is my fandom really so different from yours? Look into your hearts. Can you find the strength to accept me as I am, as one of you?