Let The Real Champions League Begin
The Champions League Group stage has come to an end. Not terribly exciting I hear you say. You’d be right! Predictability was very much in evidence, with only the race to see who would top the respective groups being the only excitement on Match Day 6. Even that failed to set the pulses racing. The draw for the round of 16 takes place on 19 December, with matches down for decision on 24/25 February and 10/11 March.
The RTÉ panel were of the view that Barcelona would be the most likely team to deny a Premier League side lifting the trophy again. They are the new favourites at 9/2, but the wise men also offer up the assertion will Chelsea will be difficult to beat in the round of 16 if their strongest side is available. That’s a big if, but you still would fancy Big Phil’s men to overcome the likes of Juventus or Bayern Munich in the spring. After that anything is possible.
You can also factor in a returning Fernando Torres for Liverpool, allied with Rafael Benitez’s fondness for the competition and the Reds’ could be dreaming of glory in Rome yet again. The defending champions will be involved at the business end; Fergie will want to add back to back titles. And then there’s Arsenal. Wenger is still talking a good fight, but you can’t help but think his talented group of players will get pushed around when the heat is turned up.
At the start of the competition, I had a sneaky fancy for Inter Milan and The Special one, but their form in the group phase was patchy. Surprisingly they are ahead of Liverpool in the betting at 8/1. As for Real Madrid and Roma – well they are likely to be game stayers in the race to Rome – but are expected to come up short a fence or two from home.
Stick with the quartet of Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool – with the latter nicely priced at 10/1 to land their sixth European title. If you are tempted and fancy that the Pool can be champions of England come 24 May next, then it’s about 40/1 for that particular, but yet noteworthy double.
Heineken Cup
Munster are well capable of getting a bonus point in their return Heineken Cup against Clermont Auvergne. They may be a necessity, because qualification is by no means guaranteed. A tight scenario seems to suit defending Champions and who would bet against them.
As for Leinster, their journey so far has been a lot smoother, and even if they failed to deliver some telling blows against Castres last weekend – the important one being a bonus point – a victory on French soil in the return encounter should more or less book a quarter final place.
Watch highlights of Castres v Leinster on Friday, 12 December from 11.20pm on RTÉ Two – Clermont Auvergne v Munster on Saturday, 13 December from 8.00pm. Coverage also available on www.rte.ie/live
