Premier League Hold Champions Key
The serious business of the Champions League is upon us with Barcelona the favourites at this remove to land the ultimate prize in Rome. Their footballing displays this season have the Catalan giants at 5/2 favorites before a ball was kicked in the round of 16.
Lyon stand in their way of further progress, but in truth the French champions are not the same side who were genuine dark horses in the competition a few years back. Manchester United comfortably brushed them aside at the round of 16 in 2008, and Barcelona should do something similar over the two legs in spite of only drawing in France.
Jose Mourinho got on Alex Ferguson’s nerves when Porto shocked the Red Devils in 2004. The ‘Special One’ dash along the Old Trafford sideline on that evening was his introduction to the wider world. Fergie now hopes Mourinho will return to the Premier League. They’re good buddies now you see. But, Jose will no doubt want to pull another fast one, and so add a new dimension to their relationship.
United are a much stronger squad now than they were in 2004, and the feeling persists that the tie will be won at Old Trafford in a fortnight. The champions are tipped to prevail and after their first leg encounter in Milan, that view has gained even greater credence
Whiile Inter were poor, Real Madrid reached reached even greater levels of ineptitude against a Liverpool side, who were dogged and in a manner which has served them well in Europe since Rafa’s arrival.
As for Arsenal, they will be disappointed they didn’t bag more against Roma, while Chelsea will feel they have work to do against Juve in Turin on 10 March.
Bayern Munich were the big movers in the market after their 5-0 romp of Sporting Lisbon, and are 9/1 to win the competition outright. That is probably unlikely, but don’t bet against them reaching the semi-final if a favourable draw is theirs.
Indeed, the draw is all important, with an all English final very likely. The rest of Europe may not like it, but the power base of football in this continent is with the Premier League, and it does not look like shifting for a few years yet.
Live Champions League on RTÉ Two television and www.rte.ie/live on Tuesday 10/Wednesday 11 March from 7.00pm.
Six Nations Crunch
England (9/4) have a chance of beating Ireland at Croke Park if they can improve on their showing against Wales. The experts claim Kidney’s men can wear them down, with Kidney’s men 6/1 to win the match from behind with england ahead at half-time. Tommy Bowe a good bet at 12/1 to be the first Irish try scorer.
Live RBS 6 Nations rugby on RTÉ Two and www.rte.ie/live from 2.30pm on Saturday, 28 February.
