Champions League Quarterfinal Draw and Preview
- Joseph Schoenbauer - March 11, 2006
The Champions League draw was held in Paris, France Friday on the 10th of March. With the outstanding quality of the 8 teams still remaining in the tournament, it was inevitable that each of the draws would result in highly competitive matches. With half of the teams being so dominant in their leagues, they will be able to concentrate fully on attaining a double trophy season, while the other half will be giving their all as winning the Champions League is their hope for glory this season. If the previous knockout round is any indication of how the ties may play out, home field advantage in the second leg may be just what a team needs to separate themselves over 2 legs. The likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Villarreal, and Barcelona will certainly be happy with that aspect of the draw.
Teams listed first play at home in the first leg
Quarterfinal legs to be played March 28/29 and May 4/5
Arsenal vs. Juventus
When Patrick Vieira left Arsenal for Juventus in the summer, it may have signaled Vieira’s intentions to conquer the Champions League, and Arsene Wenger’s intentions to begin preparing for a new era in Arsenals’ history. Questions are still unanswered or unclear to this day, though. Why did Wenger let Vieira go for so cheap (12 million euros) when just one year earlier he could have been sold for 25 million euros? Along those lines, why did Arsenal choose to sell Vieira to Juventus when just one year earlier they had battled endlessly to keep him from going to Real Madrid? Regardless of the answers to those questions, there was always one thing that seemed inevitable, and that was that somewhere and somehow Patrick Vieira and Arsenal were going to cross paths once again to end the biggest question of all: Who made the right choice, Arsenal or Patrick Vieira?
Key Matchups
Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs Philip Senderos – Senderos is highly suspect against big, strong and/or fast forwards and has been thrown into the deep end several times this year with Sol Campbell’s injury and mental problems. Being big, strong and quick only begin to describe Zlatan’s assets. Add to that the baffling foot skills of the Swede and you’ve got yourself a mismatch that could throw the tie in Juventus’ favor.
Thierry Henry vs. Fabio Cannavaro – While he didn’t score in the Euro 2000 final, Thierry Henry did have the opportunity to put Cannavaro on his backside with his incredible speed, and came out on top, although it was thanks to current Juventus striker David Trezeguet that France hoisted the trophy in the end. This time, it will be up to Thierry Henry to score the decisive goals if he wants his team to get past Juventus.
Patrick Vieira vs. Cesc Fabregas – If Patrick Vieira represents the Arsenal midfield of the past, Cesc Fabregas represents the future. Arsene Wenger has gotten some stick for not properly replacing Vieira this year, especially as Arsenal’s form in the Premier League has been patchy at best. Fabregas’s inability to impose his style of play on the more than physical English game has been one of the biggest talking points to Arsenal’s form this year, but his performances in Europe, especially against Real Madrid in the previous round, have been of the highest quality. This match up will give answers to the possible genius of Arsene Wenger, and the future of Arsenal.
Lyon vs. AC Milan
This match up pairs the two teams that won most convincingly over their respective opponents in the Round of 16, which in turn confirmed their strength as true Champions League contenders. Lyon ran out 4-0 winners against PSV Eindhoven, while last years finalists AC Milan overcame German champions Bayern Munich 5-2.
Key Matchups
Kaka vs. Juninho – While Kaka undoubtedly holds the attacking right midfield position in the Brazilian national team, both players are the inspiration and brains behind the attacking moves of their respective club teams. Juninho will regrettably miss the first leg in France, but his presence will be felt come the second leg.
Florent Malouda vs. Jaap Stam – The speed and youth of Malouda down the left wing will keep Jaap Stam occupied throughout the two legs. But Stam’s physical strength and experience could put one over on the Lyon left winger who has become so important to Lyon’s offense.
Andrii Shevchenko vs. Cris – With Cris being rumored to be moving to AC Milan in the summer, Galliani and Co. will get every indication of how strong he really is when he comes up against current Champions League leading scorer with 8 goals and AC Milan’s best and most consistent striker over the past years. With his Brazilian compatriot Cacapa still out, Cris will have to shoulder the burden in the center of Lyon’s defense.
Benfica vs. Barcelona
Current coach of Benfica, Dutchman Ronald Koeman holds a special place in the hearts of all Barcelona fans. It was Ronald Koeman’s famously powerful free kick that gave Barcelona’s Dream Team victory in their only ever Champions League Final victory in 1992. His compatriot Frank Rijkaard will no doubt be looking to emulate Koeman’s feats, and give credence to the journalists and fans’ views that the current Barcelona side is even stronger than the Dream Team that Ronald Koeman captained from 1992 to 1994.
Key Matchups
Samuel Eto’o vs. Luisao – Luisao came out on top against the forwards from Liverpool from the last round. Coming up against the forwards of Barcelona is an entirely different story though. With his transfer to Barcelona from Mallorca before last season, Samuel Eto’o’s eye for goal has only become stronger, while his hunger for trophies is as big as they come.
Nuno Gomes vs. Oleguer – With Carles Puyol suspended for the first leg, and Marquez likely out with a hamstring problem, Oleguer will slot into the middle to man-mark Benfica’s center forward and leading scorer Nuno Gomes. His ability to deal with Nuno Gomes’s aerial threat will go along way to ensuring Barcelona’s passage to the next round.
Deco vs. Simao – While the likes of Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Messi are stealing the headlines this year, Barcelona’s cule’s are still able to recognize Deco’s importance to the teams balance. A constant, skilful presence in the midfield who links offense and defense, Deco runs the show from just a bit deeper, to great effect. His fellow Portuguese compatriot, Simao, operates on either wing for Benfica, and his ability to cut inside and fire shots, as he did against Liverpool in the previous round, will be one that Deco surely will be working with his teammates to cut out.
Inter vs. Villarreal
The “South American Show Down” pits two teams stock full of talent from South America. Villarreal’s roster boasts a Chilean coach in Pellegrini, and no fewer than 7 South Americans who enjoy playing time, including Riquelme, Sorin, Gonzalo, Arruabarena, Barbosa and Franco (recently a naturalized Mexican) of Argentina, and Forlan and Viera of Uruguay. Inter’s roster boasts no fewer than 12 South Americans who enjoy playing time, including the likes of Argentinean’s J. Zanetti, Veron, Cambiasso, Samuel, Cruz, Solari and Burdisso, Brazilian’s Adriano, Julio Cesar and Ze Maria, Uruguyan Recoba, and Colombian Cordoba. This matchup will no doubt be one they will bring back to their home countries when they report for National team duty.
Key Matchups
Juan Roman Riquelme vs. Juan Sebastian Veron – Both attacking creative midfielders from Argentina, Riquelme has become the pivotal player in the Argentinean national team under Pekerman, while Veron has been completely ignored, despite his outstanding play last year for Inter which has continued this year. This match up gives every fan the ability to see them perform on the same field, and will either give credibility or discredit Pekerman’s selection of midfielders for Argentina leading up to Germany 2006. The match up is even more interesting since Riquelme has been touted as Veron’s replacement next season in the Inter team when Veron moves back to Argentina.
Luis Figo vs. Juan Pablo Sorin – The wizardry of Luis Figo comes up against the rock star persona of Juan P. Sorin. Sorin’s energy levels may force Figo to exert more energy on the defensive end than he’s been used to, while Sorin’s forays up field may also prove to be the opening Figo is looking for to deliver his dangerous crosses. Either way, both players will surely have their hands full with each other over the 2 legs.
Adriano vs. Quique Alvarez – Adriano comes in for as much criticism at times in Italy as Ronaldo has in Spain when they go through bad spells like the ones they are both currently going through. The criticism most certainly spells from the potential each of the players has, or has shown over their career. At his best, Adriano is a force of nature, powering past or even through a number of defenders all at once, before unleashing shots with his cannon of a left foot. The captain of Villarreal, Quique Alvarez, and his partner Gonzalo, will have to be ready to be bruised and battered, if Villarreal want to advance to the next round.
Alvaro Recoba vs. Diego Forlan – The chance for the two Uruguayan internationals to shine on the European stage has come. Recoba, despite his constant injuries, looks like a possibility to start up top with Adriano, especially after sparkling recently in a 3-1 Inter win over Lazio in which he scored 2 goals and caused many more problems. Diego Forlan has also begun to score more and more as the season has wore on, meaning he may be peeking just at the right time. Let the battle to be the king of Uruguay commence.