Chris Maduewesi
Member
The first leg ties in all ramifications can be said to have attained box-office status,yes by way of excitement,and you will be sure that the return fixtures would even guarantee more.
Real Madrid appeared to have been the real deal in the first leg,looking like they did enough against Borussia Dortmund to reach an advance stage of making the semis.
Barring Real Madrid,the other remaining six teams are still in with a mathematical chance of progressing ahead of their opposition.
Worthy of mention is the efforts of Manchester United and Atletico Madrid in keeping themselves in the contest going into the second leg.
They didn't just make up the numbers,but both teams competed and equated as much as they got in their games.
As of now,It is a tough one to call who goes through but it is the Champions League we are talking about here,and as has been the case down the years there could be some twist to this tale.
In no particular order,here is a preview of all the games to be played on Tuesday and on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich vs Manchester United:
Who would have thought that the first leg at Old Trafford would end in a 1-1 draw?
Bayern coming into the game was on a row,freshly winning the Bundesliga title,they were widely tipped to completely run over an inconsistent United side that was seemingly struggling for 'identity.'
United were solid and pulled up a defensive masterstroke stifling Pep Guardiola's side from blowing them away from the tie.
Bayern was left reeling with frustration and after the game,Arjen Robben said that United played like a handball team.
Expect fireworks in the return leg at the Allianz Arena,if not for anything,United must score a goal to stand a chance of going through.
Bayern are not a team that defends,so would come out because 1-1 is a precarious situation to be in,and a 1-0 scoreline late in the game can send pulses racing.
Having lost last weekend to Augsburg,United would feel that Bayern are beatable,at least Arsenal and Manchester City have shown it with their visits there.
However,the Bayern team that lost on Saturday was completely a second string side,though it had players like Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger in the starting 11(both players are suspended from this game).
David Moyes seems to have had his side playing at the right time and would approach the game on the backdrop of Saturday's 4-0 thumping of Newcastle.
United's left-back Patrice Evra is already likening their season to that of 2012,when Chelsea didn't do well at home but ended up winning the Champions League,adding that they could surprise Bayern.
"Our season reminds me of the Chelsea season when they were not playing well in the league," said Evra.
"It's unusual to say you can save your season in one game, it's painful. Now we have to make sure the fans are proud of the second leg at Bayern."
If United gets to score an early goal,then expect Bayern to become jittery and might end up pushing the panic button,it is not impossible that the English side could do it though.
Chelsea vs PSG:
This another game that can go either way. Chelsea trail by a 3-1 deficit from the first leg and need a victory of at least 2-0 to go through.
How they would rue that last minute goal from Javier Pastore at the Parc des Princes last week,because if they end up crashing out,it would boil down to that goal they conceded at the time they did.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic going to miss at least four weeks of action,already confirmed out of this game at Stamford Bridge,it could be a vista for Chelsea to feel some level of superiority.
But Ezequiel Lavezzi proved that he could be a handful for Chelsea's defenders as was evidenced in the first game,add up Edison Cavani and you would know that PSG have a goal in them.
Jose Mourinho revealed on Monday that he would be ready to risk Samuel Eto'o in the game,though the Cameroonian is not certified fully fit for the game.
Such is the desperation and Mourinho has shown that he clearly does not trust Fernando Torres in such a massive task,well the Spanaird doesn't leave him much of a choice,does he?
Laurent Blanc would feel disappionted if they don't go through to the last four of the tournament,having put themselves in good position to do so.
However,he would be coming up against Mourinho who knows how to psyche up his players for the big occasion,another big performance would be required of PSG if they are to emerge out of this contest victorious.
Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona:
Diego Simeone's team showed why they were evenly matched in the build up against Barcelona,holding them to a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona had to come from behind to salvage a draw,cancelling out Diego Costa's wonder strike earlier on.
Both teams are going headlong on each other even on the league front,and this is one of the two remaining important ties between them this season.
Atletico have somehow found a way to grind out results in the league,marginally winning 1-0 in some and as someone noted,it is reminiscent of Jose Mourinho's 2004/2005 first season at Chelsea.
It might not be delightful to the eyes but it is efficient for team as they are getting the result whichever way.
Barca on their part are grappling with off-the pitch incidents,with the latest being a transfer ban placed on them last week by FIFA.
As would be expected the Vicente Calderon should be electric for this tie,both teams having done enough to pit themselves as direct rivals this year.
Simeone has done a great work with Atletico making them competitors,but Barcelona won't go away without a whiff on Wednesday,they will surely make a statement.
Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid:
Tie over? maybe. But it would be disastrous if Real does not see out their 3-0 lead from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However,last season's clash between these two in Germany makes you think that everything is possible.
Dortmund put four past Madrid last season in the first leg of the semifinal game,and the man who did it is back for the second leg on Tuesday.
Robert Lewandowski missed the first leg in Spain,but he is now available for selection at the Westfalenstadion.
Madrid have injury woes,key man Cristiano Ronaldo could miss the game as he is major doubt with a swollen knee.
Dortmund fans would be roaring on their players,supporting them as the 12th player but the missed opportunities to have scored an away goal might have cost them already.
