The Bloody English and Champions League Predictions
This article refers to an earlier version of the Champions League draw. Go to the latest Champions League draw article.
Note: Follow the 2008-2009 Champions League & UEFA Cup Quarter/Semi-Finals DRAW live here on Soccerlens
Like a broken record, the football media industry (of which we are undeniably a part of) will rotate through the following topics between today and the end of the Champions League season:
- The dominance of English sides in the Champions League in recent years and reasons behind it.
- The gap between the top four and the rest of the league in the Premier League.
- Unchecked flow of money into English football and its role in hastening society’s extinction as we know it.
Ok, maybe we’re not all going to die. Maybe football itself will not die (even if FIFA dies we have the NF-Board, beach soccer, indoor soccer, street soccer and what not. Maybe we’ll all go back to playing it for fun. Maybe we should ‘hasten football’s death’?).
But while English clubs (English by virtue of being located in England, not by virtue of their playing squads…although the 6+5 rule could change things) enjoy their time under the bright Champions League sun and while the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool fund colossal debts and transfer spendings through their Champions League campaigns, we can rest assured of three things:
Football in Europe is Changing
- Like all trends, it is a matter of time before Spanish and Italian sides catch up – the impact of the current downturn in economies will only be felt in England after a couple of years, and provided that the Big Three of Italy and Madrid sort out their internal problems they will be on a level playing field where the English teams are concerned.
England may hold the biggest purse strings but the heart of football (for most young footballers brought up on a steady diet of international and European club football, especially those born outside England) is still Spain and Italy, and the top clubs will continue to attract top players as long as they can stay within range of the English league.
- Changes in personnel and managers at the current English clubs will have an impact, possibly negative, on their regular Champions League campaigns. Stability and continuity has ensured success at Barcelona and United and even Liverpool, while Chelsea and Madrid have suffered because of the instability at both clubs.
At least one of the top four clubs will change managers in the next two years; Hiddink is not certain to stay on after the summer, Ferguson is due to retire in 3-4 years and it is not certain if Wenger and Benitez will be there at the end of 2010, let alone 2012.
- European clubs will also learn to adapt tactically to their English opposition – not just the top clubs but the second and third seeds, who have seen these same English sides struggle and falter so many times in their own leagues and in Europe on many occasions.
As Inter showed in the first half at Old Trafford, even the world, european and english champions are not infallible, and Liverpool’s problems in the league are well documented. A stronger tactical focus and the ability to hold on to quality young players (which will happen as football gets more and more money pumped into it, especially at local levels) will level the field (somewhat).
…that is, until the next hegemony by a club or a league takes shape.
So, with that dealt with, let’s NOT talk about how well English clubs are doing or how money is ruining football. Let’s just discuss football, mmmk?
Quarterfinal Draw
The 2008/2009 Champions League Quarterfinal and Semifinal Draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland, the UEFA headquarters, on Friday 20th March. There’s no country protection, any team can be drawn against any team and the semi-final draw will be made at the same time so we will have plenty of permutations and predictions to make from next week till April.
The quarterfinal ties will be played on 7/8 April and 14/15 April, with the semifinals being played on 28/29 April and 5/6 May. The final is to be played on Wednesday 27 May at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Here are the teams involved:
Arsenal
Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Chelsea
Liverpool
Manchester United
Porto
Villareal
Potential Matchups
The one match I don’t want to see is Porto v Villareal. To be fair, it’s a match that will give both teams the best chance of progressing to the semi-final, but it also means that two big teams will crash out and one of the semi-finals will end up being a relatively pedestrian affair (no offense intended to Porto or Villareal fans – after all Porto knocked out United a few seasons ago and Villareal did quite well against United in the group stages this season).
I’m all for equality in football but outside of United, I don’t care much who stays and who goes, as long as it’s a good match and having a weaker team in the semis has the potential to turn it into a one-way battle.
Other than those two teams, there are the usual suspects in the four English teams and Barcelona coupled with a Bayern blowing hot in Europe and somewhat cold in Bundesliga. On current form (European, that is) Arsenal and Chelsea are the weakest of those 6, United haven’t done themselves justice either but they have been solid overall, Bayern will be tough but the top two are surely Liverpool and Barcelona.
Liverpool will do well against any European opposition and after last season and this season in the league will be confident against English opposition as well, while Barcelona, some suspect defending aside, are simply irresistible. I don’t see Arsenal or Chelsea being able to stop either side, and it will take quite an effort from United and Bayern to deal with either of them.
A dream semi-final lineup? I can’t decide, but I’d love to see the strongest four sides on form in Europe – that is, Bayern, United, Barcelona and Liverpool – go through to the semis.
What are your picks?
Topics: Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Bundesliga, Chelsea, English Premier League, Features, La Liga, Liverpool, Manchester United, UEFA Champions League, Villarreal
Football News 24/7
i think it would be manu, liverpool, barcelona and bayern too mate!
March 12th, 2009 @ 15:18I agree in that I would prefer not to see a Porto vs. Villareal Quater final match. I think every team left wants to be drawn with them. It would be good to see Bayern drawn with one of the stronger European forces though…ok they destroyed Sporting, but Barca and United are in a different league altogether. Would be able to establish the improvement in the Munich team.
March 12th, 2009 @ 15:41I don’t know if I agree that they will make it through. Football, unlike most sports, is way to difficult to call. Any team on any given night is capable of an upset. I will say that would be my dream semi as well though. Good choice.
March 12th, 2009 @ 15:48am sure the draw will be rigged like it was last season(remember how the draw was put up on the internet hours before it actually took place) and the english sides will face each other with barca and bayern sqauring off against porto and villareal.
March 12th, 2009 @ 18:11Jamie – “Any team on any given night is capable of an upset.”
That is true.
This is why they play it over two legs.
March 12th, 2009 @ 18:42My pick:
FC Porto vs Villareal
March 12th, 2009 @ 18:55Man Utd vs Barcelona
Bayern vs Chelsea
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Put the 4 english teams in EACH quarter:
Man U vs Porto
Liverpool vs Villareal
Chelsea vs Bayern
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Winners being Man U, Liverpool, Bayern, and Barcelona (We’re all in agreement there). Then split the English sides AGAIN.
Man U vs Bayern
Liverpool vs Barcelona
Winners being…WHO CARES…that’s a GREAT FINAL
March 12th, 2009 @ 20:30My predictions:
Quater Finals:
Arsenal vs Liverpool
Barcelona vs Porto
Chelsea vs Villareal
Man United vs Bayern Munich
Semi Finals:
March 12th, 2009 @ 22:14Man United vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Barcelona
Platini will make sure that the English teams face each other
March 12th, 2009 @ 22:49I know everyone will probably disagree with me, but i have the slightest feeling that FC Porto will win this year.
March 13th, 2009 @ 02:41i would like to see…
man u vs chelsea
barcelona vs liverpool
bayern vs villereal
arsenal vs porto
with arsenal,barcelona,bayern,manu going through
then
arsenal vs bayern
man u vs barcelona
arsenal and barcelona going through
arsenal vs barcelona
arsenal wins!
March 13th, 2009 @ 04:37It is going to be another boring year of english domination. There is only one non-english team i can see making the finals: Barca. Bayern, Porto, and Villareal just aren’t on the same level with Chelsea, Man U and Liverpool. I could see them knocking off Arsenal but not those 3 and I say this as a huge Bayern fan. I will hope for the best but barring a somewhat weird draw I think we’ll have 3 english teams in the semis and an all england final. Boring. With that said here’s my dream semi Quarters to Semis:
Liverpool > Porto
Bayern > Chelsea
Man Utd > Villareal
Barca > Arsenal
Bayern vs. Liverpool
Man Utd vs. Barca
March 13th, 2009 @ 06:33Come off it. Everyone knows Liverpool will get Chelsea again.
March 13th, 2009 @ 09:30Things will never be the same alwaz. I prefer seeing Liverpool making it despite the number of permutations which will be there. Of all the permuations I predict the finals will be played between Man U and Liverpool and then Liverpool winning with a goal aggregate of 3 agaist 2.
March 13th, 2009 @ 10:12I hope Bayern win the thing. If not, then Chelsea.
March 13th, 2009 @ 13:02Man u / Barca chealse/liva gunner/munich porto/villa am man u fan, i want man u to beat barca they dn’t have character
March 13th, 2009 @ 13:20Man u is a team to win they are very cautious while playing, they are the only club that can win barca in their recent form
March 13th, 2009 @ 13:34Cmon the gooners, arsenal barca final, mark my words.
March 13th, 2009 @ 14:35S.hood london
i have a believe that arsenal we reach the the uafe champion league final, not just that they we made it by taking the trophy up. i here by say that the final we be arsenal vs liverpool. thanks and god bless you as you believe me. my speech should not sound reputate or dacmatic but the ture.
March 13th, 2009 @ 14:35Arsenal>Porto
March 13th, 2009 @ 14:49Chesea>Barca
Man united>Bayern
Liverpool>Villareal
Well i would Love to see barcelona knocking out any of the english teams.. for me this is the draw
Arsenal >> chelsea
March 13th, 2009 @ 15:04villaReal>> Man.U
Barcelona >> Byern
Liverpool >> Porto
I would say :
Villareal VS Arsenal
Porto VS Manchester United
Liverpool VS Chelsea
Barcelona VS Bayer Munich
March 13th, 2009 @ 15:17regarding the guy who said the gooners will win it….huh…theyre the crappiest team of the whole lot! Platini will do his best to get all english clubs bunched against each other. mind my word
March 13th, 2009 @ 15:54i dunno…but see an underdog winning it this time…porto or villareal
i would like to see
March 13th, 2009 @ 20:11man utd vs barcelona
arsinal vs liverpool
bayern munich vs fc porto
chelsea vs villerial
i don’t see why everyone is so quick to write off arsenal? does anyone remember that they were the last team to beat man u in the league? and they beat them convincingly? they’ve beaten chelsea and drew with liverpool. and with the whole squad back within the next few weeks they’ll be a very competitive force
line ups will go
March 13th, 2009 @ 23:25arsenal – bayern
man u – villareal
liverpool – porto
chelsea – barca
With wat Pete said, gunners only beat united out of luck. 4 gunners dey ar out no matter who dey ar paired wit. U dn’t expect them to carry C.L wit those small boys
March 14th, 2009 @ 00:08Quarter Final:
Bayern Muchen vs Liverpool
Barcelona vs Chealsea
Porto vs Villareal
Arsenal vs Man Utd
Semi Final:
Bayern Muchen vs Barcelona
Villareal vs Man Utd
Final:
Barcelona vs Man Utd
March 14th, 2009 @ 03:35Methinks if Platini has his way as is being suggested then the draw will b rigged to ensure only one English team gets to the final viz:
Quarters ========
Arsenal
v
Chelsea
Semi-Finals =========== Final
Man U =====
v Arsenal/Chelsea
Liverpool v Any English
Man Utd/Liverpool
v
Bayern/Villareal
Bayern v Bayern/Barca
v Barca/Porto
Villareal
Barcelona
March 14th, 2009 @ 04:20v
Porto
Ok that didn’t format right. What I mean is a well rigged permutation can look like this:-
Quarters
========
Arsenal v Chelsea
Man U v Liverpool
Bayern v Villareal
Barcelona v Porto
Semi-Finals
===========
Arsenal/Chelsea v Man U/Liverpool
Bayern/Villareal v Barcelona/Porto
Final
=====
Any English v Bayern/Barcelona
The key think is English teams face each other in semi and Barca and Bayern each get an underdog to give the English teams the stiffest opposition in the final.
But then it might be too obvious…
March 14th, 2009 @ 04:30I would prefer…
Barcelona/Liverpool V Man Utd/Chelsea
V
Arsenal/Villareal V Bayern/Porto
Culminating in a Barcelona v Arsenal final with Thierry Henry ending up on the losing side again…LOL.
March 14th, 2009 @ 04:40For me i can’t imagine the cup this year without barcelona ,they will do it . if you don’t believe ask sr alex firgsun he knows well
March 14th, 2009 @ 15:50Barcelona iz ready 4 any team!!! just bring it!!
March 14th, 2009 @ 18:33Once again I see the english teams dominating europe. Platini will try to draw the english teams together but with all 4 teams in, there is no way an english team will not get in the final. This is how I see it:
March 14th, 2009 @ 21:51QUARTERFINALS
chelsea vs villareal Man utd. vs Barca
Liverpool vs Arsenal Porto vs Bayern
SEMIFINALS
chelsea vs liverpool(once again)
barca vs bayern
FINAL
chelsea vs barca= chelsea wins europe
My pick:
Quarters:
Manchester United vs. Liverpool
Chelsea vs. Villareal
Arsenal vs. Bayern Munchen
Barcelona vs. Porto
Semis:
Barcelona vs. Bayern Munchen
Chelsea vs. Liverpool
Final:
March 14th, 2009 @ 23:11Chelsea vs. Bayern Munchen
I dont think is any team is weak from this lot. I dont care who reaches the semifinals and then the finals. ANY TEAM CAN DO ANYTHING. Any team can be upset. The best example being Liverpool-Real Madrid. Most of us were expecting a very close match even extra time or penalties. But what was the result???????
March 15th, 2009 @ 14:43I am not predicting but my gut feeling is that CHELSEA will run out winners after 3 years of missing it narrowly.
my prediction for the draw is man U Vs Porto, chelsea Vs Bayan munich, arsenal Vs barcelona, Liverpool Vs Villareal. FIFA should try to avoid the sport of ‘politics’.
March 15th, 2009 @ 18:31what ever be the draw i just pray Chelsea will win the cup this year
March 15th, 2009 @ 23:15As an Arsenal fan, we have hit a bit of form with Man U dipping at the moment! Chelsea are strong and so are Liverpool, Its definately going to be either a British side or Barca taking the cup. Would like Bayern, Porto or Villareal next round, Arsenal are better than ant of those sides all day long!
March 15th, 2009 @ 23:47I think the it will look like this:
Manchester U vs Liverpool
March 16th, 2009 @ 00:46Arsenal vs Villareal
Chelsea vs Barcelona
Bayern Munich vs Porto
Yeah i agree with Stew, Arsenal are gonna have their complete squad back in few weeks, and with Man U’s form dipping every week, anything can happen. And yeah Bayern is hot at the moment, but come on, bayern?, it’s all a dream for them, remember they havent played against any tough team yet in this competition(their toughest being ‘boring’ lyon). Of course, I want Arsenal to play Barcelona at any stage of the competition(for the purpose of entertainment) and i tell u what, the result of those two is unpredictable, trust me! The trophy is between Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Arsenal. Not even Man u!!!
March 16th, 2009 @ 00:57you have it all rong you guys underestimate fc porto and villa seriously sporting wwas an embarasment to the superliga do research on fc porto here are my 100% predictions
fc porto v liverpool
March 16th, 2009 @ 07:29chelsea v man u (man u isnt the same anymore weaker broken down)
villareal v arsenal
bayern v barca
semis
fc porto vs chelsea
arsenal v bayern
finals
fc porto v arsenal
i would like to see
arsenal v porto
vilareal v bayen
man u v liverpool
barcelona v chelsea
then semi-finals arsenal v villareal
and liverpool v barcelona
final arsenal v barcelona
March 16th, 2009 @ 13:25fc porto will be in the finals
March 17th, 2009 @ 00:52I would just like to say as a Liverpool fan, don’t count Liverpool fan. This is football you are talking about, form and team strength are irrelevant. It’s about who plays better on the night, so the cup is open to any of the eight teams in the quarters, but I would like to see Liverpool lifting the cup again
March 17th, 2009 @ 03:54sorry about that bad typing on my behalf, Meant to say “don’t count Liverpool out”
March 17th, 2009 @ 03:55i dont really either liverpool for me is one of my favs in the final as a porto fan it will be those 2 teams fightin for the cup like couple years ago
March 17th, 2009 @ 03:57man u vs barcelona
March 17th, 2009 @ 13:22bayen vs liverpool
chelse vs vilareal
arsenal vs porto
United v Liverpool. Revenge.
March 17th, 2009 @ 19:40put it this way who ever gets villareal will be threw to the next round. fc porto will be thru for sure then in the semis they have to play hard and if they do theyll go to finals
March 17th, 2009 @ 23:31only one thing about final is man utd and barca
March 18th, 2009 @ 01:22i thing barca and liverpool to meet in final and the winner is messi
March 18th, 2009 @ 01:27haha lmfao barca people think about ti barca is not what it was no team isss winne will either b porto or liverpool or bayern chelsea man u n baca not this year srry ronaldo n im porkchop so i love ronaldo buh dey aint gunaa win
March 18th, 2009 @ 05:45my predictions……..
Manchester United vs Bayern Munich
March 18th, 2009 @ 07:49Chelsea vs Villareal
Liverpool vs porto
Barcelona vs Arsenal
someone can tell me if M U can play Villa Real , and Porto can play Arsenal before the final …. due to the fact that they played in the same group , and they are not sopouse to meet before the final…?
March 18th, 2009 @ 20:22please , someone answer me that, thank u…!
if we(PORTO) avoid Barca and Liverpool in the quarters …. i m sure we ll be in the final….!!! POOOORTO..>!!
March 18th, 2009 @ 20:33THANK YOU SO MUCH EXACTLY PEDRO IM A PORTO ALL THE WAY IF WE AVOID THOSE 2 WE WILL B THRU N WIN IT ALLL WACTH UR BACK ENGLAND PORTUGALS GUNA BIT BACK:P
March 19th, 2009 @ 01:36up blues,blues for life.No matter any club that chelsea will meet at the quarter final,will surely win and lift the EUFA champion’s league at the end
March 19th, 2009 @ 10:14My quarters are: ARESENAL VS VILLAREAL, CHELSEA VS BAYERN, BARCELONA VS MANCHESTER and PORTO VS LIVERPOOL.
March 19th, 2009 @ 10:54Semifinals may have: ARSENAL VS CHELSEA, BARELONA VS LIVERPOOL.
Finals may then have: ARSENAL VS LIVERPOOL. Its from here that my “brains catch ice”
PORTO….PORTO ….PORTO….. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINERS 2009….!!
March 19th, 2009 @ 13:59START TREMBLING ….AHAHAHH!!!
Barcelona………. Barcelona vs chelsea final …ahahahahh
March 19th, 2009 @ 18:05Man Vs Porto
March 19th, 2009 @ 18:07barca will destroy all. hope we get three english teams in each stage from now coz its high time someone shut them up and messi is superior just superior only one word describes him.
March 19th, 2009 @ 22:14Im a huge Man U Fan but the teams this year are strong i
think the quarters will be
Quarter:
Man U vs Villareal
Bayern vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Porto
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Semi:
Bayern vs Man U
Liverpool vs Barcelona
Final:
Barcelona vs Man U
I like both teams but going for Man U all the way
March 19th, 2009 @ 22:52As a life-long United fan, I think the draw is going to be the following:-)
March 19th, 2009 @ 23:36Quarter Final -
Manchester United Vs Arsenal
Barcelona Vs Liverpool
Chelsea Vs Porto
Bayern Munich Vs Villarreal
Semi Final -
Manchester Vs Barcelona
Chelsea Vs Villarreal
Final –
Manchester Vs Chelsea
UEFA Champions League Winners 08/09
Manchester United
whilst most liverpool fans would be ecstatic to win the CL this year, i’m wondering that if porto can get through and win it, when was the last time the champions of europe was a team that had its suspension from competion overturned? or got through to the semis even?
it could make for an interesting historical point!
March 20th, 2009 @ 02:49Because of the Hiddink factor all other teams will eat dust. Chelsea will win the UCL throphy this time, you can bet on it.
March 20th, 2009 @ 04:58My prediction for the quarter final matches is that;
ManUtd vs. Liverpool
March 20th, 2009 @ 10:17Barcelona vs. Chelsea
Arsenal vs. Bayermunich
Villerael vs. Porto
u guys, this is my prediction:
Arsenal vs Barca
Man Utd vs Porto
Bayern vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Villareal
Then
Arsenal Vs Man Utd
Bayern Vz Liverpool
And
Man Utd Vs Liverpool
Finally
March 20th, 2009 @ 10:25Man Utd win
I would just like to see Chelsea Vs Bayern! ohh What a match
March 20th, 2009 @ 10:44Quater Finals:
Arsenal vs Villareal
Chelsea vs Barcelona
Liverpool vs Porto
Man United vs Bayern Munich
Semi Finals:
Arsenal vs Barcelona
Man United vs Liverpool
Final:
March 20th, 2009 @ 12:56Arsenal vs Liverpool
I want manchester united to play fc Barcelona. Chelsea to play Bayer Muchen, Liverpool to play FC Porto, and Arsenal to host Villereal. I want United to test the strenght of the Catalians Giant
March 20th, 2009 @ 15:01fc porto will take all AGAIN watch fc porto vs man u 3-1 for porto tehn semis fc vs bayner 1-0 then in the finals chelsea vs porto 2-0 for porto
March 20th, 2009 @ 15:27Where have all these Porto dreamers come from?
March 20th, 2009 @ 17:46i know surprising eh we come out of nowhere n scare the living shit out of the english were manu worst nightmare n u all know that manu lovers
March 22nd, 2009 @ 00:16mr condell
March 25th, 2009 @ 20:44why u call porto suporters ” dreamers” … i supose u dont know that M U have no better international curriculum than porto, do you…!?
and M U is 10 times …. yes , 10 times richer than us….
you should be proud…!!!!
i want arsenal to win or
March 26th, 2009 @ 08:37messi i.e. barca’
I will like to mention that at any night the cup is wide s i would not count porto out because they class in lucho gonzaalez(i am an arsenal fan) but i have a hunch that arsenal will get to rome because on their day they can destroy any team in the world and they will meet liverpool or bayern in da final champo and fa cup double dis year
April 5th, 2009 @ 23:05I m a registered man u fan all i know is dat man u will play the final and lift the cup
April 14th, 2009 @ 14:11umm… chelsea alrdy beat liverpool.
so finals is
chelsea v barca
manu v arsenal
barca no doubt is a good team with messi, eto, henry. but if chelsea plays correctly and up with their best, no doub they will advance to finals
finals:
chelsea v manu
winners:
chelsea
unlike last yr chelsea will win against manu cuz that fatshit ronaldo will screw them up, dive and kill himself
April 16th, 2009 @ 13:51Chelsea and Arsenal out Barcelona and Man-U advance to the grand final. Barcelona lift the champion league trophy 08-09
April 17th, 2009 @ 14:33Please wait Man-U, Arsenal,and Chelsea,Barcelona is UEFA champion 80-09,
April 17th, 2009 @ 14:49Semi
Chelsea Beat Barca
Manu Beat Arsnel
Finals
April 24th, 2009 @ 05:27Chelsea Beat Manu
CHELSEA are CHAMPIONS
arsenal beat barcelona man.u beat by bordoex arsenal beat bordoex arsenal is champion
March 30th, 2010 @ 06:51arsenal beat barselona
March 30th, 2010 @ 06:55man.u beat by bordoex
arsenal beat bordoex arsenal
is champion