Preview: 2006/2007 Champions League Favorites Preview PART I

- By Joseph Schoenbauer

 

Lyon - France

With the signings of Alou Diarra, Kim Kallstrom and Jeremy Toulalan, Lyon is arguably even stronger in midfield than last year, despite the sale of Mamadou Diarra to Real Madrid for 26-million euros, which follows the 25-million euro sale of Michael Essien to Chelsea the year before.  Lyon can also count on the steady, if not spectacular Tiago in the center of midfield, though Benoit Pedretti has been sold to Auxerre.  Lyon’s defense looks exceptionally strong as well, with Cacapa and Cris the likely partnership when healthy.  Muller and Squillaci, a new signing from Monaco, provide cover in the center.  Abidal had a decent World Cup, while other wing backs Berthod, Reveillere, and Clerc are all capable of doing the business.  In goal, Coupet looks to finally assume the mantle of France’s number one with Fabien Barthez having retired.

The offense will continue to go through the magnificent Juninho, while Malouda’s continued improvement on the left wing for France in the World Cup gives Lyon width on the left.  Wiltord and Govou are both quick options down the right.  At forward, Lyon has great depth.  The towering John Carew is a likely option to spilt time with Fred, who is debatably the younger, more mobile version of the two.  Talented youngsters Hatem Ben Arfa and Karim Benzema also provide options and depth.

Having failed to advance past the quarterfinals for three years running, Lyon are beginning to resemble the Arsenal side who for so long also failed to get past the quarterfinals.  However, Arsenal’s run last year has given proof that jumping the hurdle is never impossible.

Strongest starting 11: Coupet; Abidal, Cacapa, Cris, Reveillere; Malouda, Diarra, Toulalan, Juninho; Govou, Fred

Valencia – Spain

After failing to qualify for last year’s edition, Valencia is back after defeating Red Bull Salzburg 3-1 on aggregate in the 3^rd qualifying round.

Valencia has built an extremely strong squad for this season, and on paper look to have the talent and depth to compete on all fronts, if they can sort out their center back issues.

Offensively, the sale of Mista to Atletico has been compensated by the purchases of Morientes from Liverpool and Tavano from Empoli, who will battle it out to partner leading scorer David Villa up front.  In midfield, Valencia have sold crowd favorite Juan Pablo Aimar to Zaragoza for 12 million euros and Rufete to Espanyol.  But in return, they have purchased Spanish international right-winger Joaquin for 25 million euros and brought back the hugely impressive David Silva from his loan spell at Celta de Vigo, where the youngster starred last season.  They also welcome back Edu from virtually a year out through knee surgery to the center of midfield, while Vicente is also looking to regain full fitness having suffered several ankle injuries over the past two seasons.  Spanish internationals Albelda and Baraja are also stalwarts of the team that will play many minutes in center midfield, while Hugo Viana is also a skilful option.  The lion-maned Angulo once again will provide quality depth going forward. 

Defensively, Valencia’s wingbacks are first class, with Miguel of Portugal marauding up the right, and new signing Asier del Horno from Chelsea attacking up the left.  In the center Roberto Ayala and Valencia have reconciled their differences, haven fallen out over a contract dispute during the summer.  The excellent Raul Albiol looks to have beaten out Carlos Marchena and David Navarro to partner him in the center of defense, while Emiliano Moretti is expected to cover for Del Horno for the first part of the season as he recovers from injury.  Santiago Canizares continues in goal after a comeback year for him last year.  

Strongest starting 11: Canizares; Del Horno, Albiol, Ayala, Miguel; Vicente, Silva, Edu, Joaquin; Villa; Morientes

Liverpool – England

Rafa Benitez’s reputation as a miracle worker in European competitions took a slight hit last year when Liverpool went out whimpering to a resolute Benfica side.  The question marks still remain about the actual quality of several of his players, but it is undisputed that Benitez does have the ability to get the results in Europe without the strongest of teams.

Over the summer Liverpool have added options in several areas of the field.  Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez will add speed and width on the right and left, while Craig Bellamy has been signed to give Liverpool both speed and goals, something Djibril Cisse could not combine before he was loaned out to Marseille.  Finally, 12-million euro signing Dutch international Dirk Kuyt arrives from Feyenoord, where he spent the past seasons terrorizing defenses with Salomon Kalou, who has signed for Premiership rivals Chelsea.  These signings will look to complement fellow attackers Luis Garcia, Peter Crouch, and the ageing Robbie Fowler.

In midfield, Benitez has essentially settled on Xabi Alonso and Sissoko in the center, with Gerrard slightly to the right and further forward.  Boudewijn Zenden provides quality cover.  Benitez is also still a big fan of using 2 left backs or 2 right backs at the same time, hence the signing of Fabio Aurelio to work with the likes of John Arne Riise or Stephen Warnock on the left should he choose not to go with Mark Gonzalez further forward.  On the right Steve Finnan maintains his place, while two of last years midseason recruits, Krompkamp and Antonio Barrigan, have moved on to PSV Eindhoven and Deportivo La Coruna.

Pepe Reina is more than capable in goal, while Carragher, Hyppia, and the younger Daniel Agger, who has been called the Danish Beckenbauer, are all competent center backs.  Should either of these three center backs become injured or need a rest, look out for the Argentinean teenager Gabriel Paletta to be called on, having recently signed from Banfield of Argentina.

Strongest starting 11: Reina; Riise, Carragher, Agger, Finnan; Aurelio, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard; Bellamy, Kuyt

Inter – Italy

Roberto Mancini has strengthened an already powerful Inter side with several signings over the break, and they have to be considered serious contenders for the Champions League crown.  Obafemi Martins has been sold to Newcastle for around 14 million euros to make way for Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Juventus (25 million euros) and Hernan Crespo from Chelsea. A struggling Adriano remains, as does the brilliant Alavaro Recoba and El ‘Jardinero’ Julio Cruz, giving Inter one of the deepest forward lines in Europe.    

In midfield, they have benefited again from Juventus’s demise with the purchase of Patrick Vieira, who will likely line up with Esteban Cambiasso in center midfield, with Luis Figo and Dejan Stankovic on the wings.  Inter will not be able to count on Juan Veron, who has moved back to Estudiantes in Argentina, David Pizarro (Roma) or Cristiano Zanetti (Juventus), but Dacourt provides extra muscle when necessary.  Argentineans Javier Zanetti, Santiago Solari and newly signed Mariano Gonzalez provide further options out wide.

Defensively, Inter have a lot of depth.  On the right, they can count on captain Javier Zanetti, as well as newly signed Brazilian international Maicon, should Zanetti be pushed into midfield, while on the left they have World Cup hero Fabio Grosso, who signed from Palermo for 4 million euros, as well as the Brazilian Maxwell, who became most famous for his displays at Ajax two seasons ago before rupturing knee ligaments and signing for Empoli.  The highly experienced Favalli has joined AC Milan, while Cesar has been loaned to Corinthians of Brazil.  In the center, the likely pairing of Walter Samuel and Marco Materazzi looks to lack a bit of skill, though both are certainly not afraid to go in for a tackle.  Unfortunately for both, they tend to mistime their tackles far too often, leading to many yellow and red cards.  The speedy Cordoba can fill in all along the back line, as can Argentinean international Nicolas Burdisso.  Toldo and Julio Cesar are both capable of leading from the back, with Mancini still yet to decide on the number 1 for the new season.

Inter will certainly look to win Serie A this year, as their biggest rivals Juventus have been relegated to Serie B and AC Milan start with negative 8 points.  Should Inter maintain a lead going into the second half of the season, they may be able to focus more attention on the Champions League, to push for a place in the finals.

Strongest starting 11: J. Cesar; Grosso, Cordoba, Samuel, Zanetti/Maicon; Stankovic, Cambiasso, Vieira, Figo; Ibrahimovic, Crespo

Real Madrid - Spain

A newly-elected president promised three players over the summer.  Calderon said he would sign Fabregas, Robben and Kaka but failed to sign any.  However, Real Madrid members and fans appear to not be too disappointed, as they have made several other signings that should help newly-appointed head coach Fabio Capello form a side that any Italian could be proud of.  Questions will remain on the ability of a forward line consisting of the much-criticized Ronaldo, the dropped (from Man U and Holland) Ruud Van Nistelrooy, the demising Raul, and a Cassano who has virtually lost the last year and a half of his career to ankle problems, crying, and weight gain.  But Madrid’s defensive midfield is as solid as Capello could hope for, as is the defense.  A new side to Real Madrid has definitely been molded now that Florentino Perez has gone.

In attack, Ruud Van Nistelrooy has been brought in for 15 million euros, having fallen out with Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, to provide the goals that Ronaldo failed to bring in last year’s competition.  Real Madrid has since kept hold of Ronaldo, who is currently fighting back from minor shin surgery. With the World Cup now out of his head, Madrid fans will be hoping he can focus on his performances with Real Madrid, and perhaps lessen the amount of lavish parties and cheeseburgers as he turns 30 years old in the near future.  Antonio Cassano has regained confidence since being reunited with Capello, while Raul is still in with a shout because of his name and leadership qualities.

On the wings, Robinho continues to grow into a complete player, and if given the chance, will surely provide more goals with a year under his belt in which he was absolutely amazing one week, and then off touch the next.  However, Capello prefers the attacking trio of Van Nistelrooy, Raul and Reyes/Cassano, with Emerson, Diarra and Guti making up the midfield, making it increasingly likely that Robinho will have to suffer on the bench.  Jose Antonio Reyes, having finally made his dream move to Real Madrid, will look to solidify his spot on the left or right wing as the season moves forward.  He is currently keeping Beckham and Cassano on the subs list.  In the middle, Gravesen has moved to Celtic, and Pablo Garcia has been loaned to Celta Vigo, making room for new arrivals Emerson from Juventus and Mamadou Diarra from Lyon. 

Defensively, Real Madrid could end up looking the ageing side that it is as the season wears on.  Cannavaro, Salgado, and Roberto Carlos are all the wrong side of 30, though the strong-tackling Sergio Ramos will add youth.  Woodgate has been loaned out for the year to Middlesbrough of England to prove that he can stay fit for more than 2 games in a row, meaning Raul Bravo or Mejia will provide cover if injuries should occur.  Helguera also still remains at the club because he failed to find a new club.  He and Pavon, who are not being considered by Capello, will do well to find any minutes on the pitch, and will look to leave in January.

In goal, Capello has shown signs of preferring the taller Lopez in goal, though will likely resume with the younger, quicker Casillas in the long run.

Last but not least, Capello had recently stated that the sublimely-talented Cicinho had no place in his squad because he is not tactical enough for the Italian coach on defense, and stands no chance of displacing Salgado at right back.  Cicinho has since ruptured ligaments in his knee and will be out until March. This news is a true sign that the Florentino Perez era is well and truly over, and the Fabio Capello era has begun.  How long the Madristas can take a second dose of Capello’s defensive regime should be an interesting question, especially considering the fans booed and jeered the team already after they drew 0-0 in their league opener with Villarreal.

Capello’s starting 11: Casillas; Roberto Carlos, Cannavaro, Ramos, Salgado; Emerson, Diarra, Guti; Reyes, Raul; Van Nistelrooy

 

Manchester United – England

Having failed to get out of the group stages for the first time ever since the Champions League was restructured last year was a big blow to Alex Ferguson and his team.

In attack, they have offloaded Ruud Van Nistelrooy and put their faith in Louis Saha, who looks to be over his injury hoodoo that has plagued him since his arrival at Manchester United.  At just 20 years old, Wayne Rooney looks to have the mental and physical strength to carry a team, as long as he doesn’t continue to earn red cards in such spectacular fashion.  33-year-old “Baby Faced Assassin” Ole Gunnar Solksjaer rounds out the forward line, with youngster Giuseppi Rossi sent out on loan to Newcastle for at least the first half of the season.

Cristiano Ronaldo has now confirmed himself as one of the best wingers in the game following his performances with Manchester United and now with Portugal at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.  The experienced Ryan Giggs or the younger Park Ji-Sung regularly partners him in midfield on the opposite wing, though Kieran Richardson could stake a claim if Giggs gets injured and/or Park Ji-Sung continues to fail to find net.  The ageing Paul Scholes returns to the center midfield.  His partner will be Michael Carrick, who joined over the summer from Tottenham for no less than 26 million euros.  Darren Fletcher and John O’Shea will be expected to fill in when either Scholes or Carrick are out.

Defensively, Rio Ferdinand is coming off a successful World Cup, and Gabrielle Heinze returns having missed virtually all of last season at left back.  Wes Brown and Vidic will look to partner Rio at the back, with Gary Neville continuing as captain on the right of defense.  On the left, Manchester has Heinze, Silvestre, and Evra to count on, while John O’Shea can also provide cover.  With Neville out injured, Wes Brown will likely slide out to right back.

In Edwin Van der Sar and Thomas Kuszczak Manchester United have a tried and tested number one and youthful number 2 at their disposal.

Question marks will remain until the knockout stages as to if the likes of Saha, Brown and Vidic can stay healthy, the long term abilities of Giggs and Scholes, and new signing Carrick’s lack of experience in the Champions League competition.  

Strongest starting 11: Van der Sar; Heinze, Ferdinand, Vidic, Neville; Giggs, Scholes, Carrick, Cristiano Ronaldo; Rooney, Saha