Nine teams are through from the group stage but 16 other sides can still dream of joining them this week. Here’s a look at the the key deciding matches of today and tomorrow.

Seven places remain to be filled in the 16 December round of 16 draw.

Group winners FC Bayern München, FC Internazionale Milano, Real Madrid CF, Arsenal FC and holders FC Barcelona plus fellow qualifiers SL Benfica, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, APOEL FC and AC Milan are already confirmed in the knockout phase but 16 other sides are still competing to join them. Eight clubs will transfer to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 for finishing third in their sections.

For our US-based readers – you can win signed UEFA Champions League gear and other prizes just by watching this week’s Champions League games, courtesy of Heineken.

Tuesday 6 December

Group E

Chelsea FC v Valencia CF
KRC Genk v Bayer 04 Leverkusen

• Leverkusen are through even if they lose and Chelsea and Valencia draw to join them on nine points; in that scenario the German club would come top. A win against already eliminated Genk would secure first place.
• Whoever prevails at Stamford Bridge progresses with the losing side finishing third. A score draw will be enough for Valencia while a goalless result will take Chelsea through unless Leverkusen lose.

Group F

Olympiacos CF v Arsenal FC
Borussia Dortmund v Olympique de Marseille

• Arsenal have clinched qualification as group winners but any of the other three teams could still end up second, third or fourth.
• Marseille are second so a victory in Germany would be sufficient, or a draw if Olympiacos fail to win.
• Olympiacos must win and hope Marseille do not. If Olympiacos draw they will still advance if Dortmund triumph 2-0 or by a margin of three or four goals. Any other two-goal or a one-goal margin of Dortmund victory would take Marseille through.
• Dortmund need to beat Marseille by four goals or more and hope Olympiacos lose, or by five goals or more should Olympiacos draw.

Group G

APOEL FC v FC Shakhtar Donetsk
FC Porto v FC Zenit St Petersburg

• APOEL are confirmed as the first Cypriot outfit to get past the group stage and will finish top if they overcome eliminated Shakhtar, or if they draw and Zenit fail to win.
• Porto have to win to pip Zenit to the other qualifying berth.

Group H

FC Barcelona v FC BATE Borisov
FC Viktoria Plzeň v AC Milan

• Barcelona will come first and Milan second.
• Third-placed Plzeň are two points ahead of BATE and the Czech club will only be denied a UEFA Europa League berth should they lose to Milan and Borisov win in Barcelona.

Wednesday 7 December

Group A

Manchester City FC v FC Bayern München
Villarreal CF v SSC Napoli

• Bayern have clinched the group and Villarreal will finish fourth.
• Napoli, in second, are a point above City. To overtake the Italian team, City must win against Bayern and hope Villarreal avoid defeat.

Group B

FC Internazionale Milano v PFC CSKA Moskva
LOSC Lille Métropole v Trabzonspor AŞ

• Inter Milan have topped the group yet a single point separates the other three sides, with Trabzonspor a point clear of Lille and CSKA.
• Lille or Trabzonspor will end up second should they win their encounter in France.
• If that match is drawn, CSKA can pip Trabzonspor to the runners-up spot with victory in Milan. If CSKA do not triumph in those circumstances, Trabzonspor would go through on seven points, the joint-lowest tally since it became three for a win.
• CSKA will come fourth if they lose; however, a draw will give them third place unless the other game also finishes level.

Group C

FC Basel 1893 v Manchester United FC
SL Benfica v FC Oţelul Galaţi

• Benfica, level with United and a point ahead of Basel but boasting a superior head-to-head against both clubs, are through. They will seal pole position with a success against Oţelul, who will be fourth regardless of their result.
• The encounter in Switzerland will decide the other qualifying place with Basel requiring a victory to overtake United, who last missed the knockout phase in 2005/06. If Benfica do not win, Basel or United will claim top spot with a victory.

Group D

AFC Ajax v Real Madrid CF
GNK Dinamo Zagreb v Olympique Lyonnais

• Madrid have won the section to make it past the group stage for a record 15th year running. Three points in Amsterdam will make them only the fifth team to register a perfect record in a UEFA Champions League group, and the first since Barcelona in 2002/03. None of the previous four have gone on to lift the trophy.
• With Dinamo finishing fourth, second and third positions are between Ajax and Lyon. Ajax are three points ahead and have a goal difference advantage of seven having drawn both games against Lyon 0-0. Therefore Lyon must win, hope Ajax lose, and overhaul their goal difference.

For our US-based readers – you can win signed Champions League gear and other prizes just by watching this week’s Champions League games, courtesy of Heineken.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The last round of the Champions League group stages sees a number of mouthwatering and do-or-die ties. If you’re going to be betting on football, you should be very careful where you put your money.

For some teams the last 16 and knockout stages await; others will have to make do with the Europa League. Chelsea know their fate is in their hands, whilst Manchester City must hope for a win and a favour at El Madrigal.

Chelsea vs Valencia

Roman Abramovich has held UEFA Champions League triumph as his holy grail since buying Chelsea in June 2003, and the likes of Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti have seen their stints at Stamford Bride cut short, as despite delivering the Premier League they have failed to win Europe’s top club tournament.

Andre Villas Boas is under increasing pressure to deliver in his first season in England, and a shaky month has seen his side fall 10 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City. In Europe, a disappointing draw in Belgium against Genk and a last minute winner for Bayer Leverkusen against The Blues at the BayArena sees the London club needing to win Tuesday’s game or draw 0-0 with Valencia to progress.

Unai Emery’s team have impressed recently in La Liga and on the continent, and a 7-0 win over Genk in their last European outing shows that the side from the Mestalla will be no pushovers. Seasoned at this level, Valencia house a number of players capable of winning the tie in England, none more-so than Roberto Soldado, who backed up a first half hat-trick against the Belgian champions with the winner against Espanyol at the weekend.

Chelsea will need to be at their best to get the result they need and the inclusion of former Valencia attacker Juan Mata in their side will provide added motivation for the visitors; Betfair have the home side as favourites however at odds of 1.79 to get a victory.

Manchester City vs Bayern Munich

Not many teams have outplayed big spending Manchester City this season, but Bayern Munich deserved their 2-0 win over Roberto Mancini’s side at the Allianz Arena back in September. The current Premier League leaders are unbeaten this season domestically, but a draw at home and defeat away to Napoli threatens the club’s Champions League status.

City need to beat Jupp Heynckes’ men on Wednesday and hope that Villarreal can stop Edinson Cavani and Napoli from getting three points in Spain to make the last 32. Despite naturally having one eye on events at El Madrigal, the hosts must focus on beating what is a rounded and dangerous Bavarian visitor.

Former City defender Jerome Boateng will get a frosty reception at the Etihad Stadium, but has solidified the Germans’ rearguard since is summer move. The likes of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez need no introduction, and despite the fact that Bayern are already assured to top the group, the visitors will want to complete their group stage with a win.

City are favourites with the bookies, but so are Napoli; Betfair have City at odds of 1.64 to beat Bayern, but at 3.45 to qualify.

Ajax vs Real Madrid

The current Eredivisie champions have a fine tradition and history in Europe, but their 1-0 triumph over AC Milan in the Champions League final back in 1995 will feel like a lifetime ago for the Amsterdam Arena faithful.

Despite the fact that Ajax are three points and seven goals better off than third placed Group D team Lyon, Frank de Boer’s men are not yet through to the knockout stages. With the French outfit facing pointless and hapless Dinamo Zagreb, and the Dutch side locking horns the form team in Europe, Ajax must be careful not to let the balance swing.

Jose Mourinho’s men have the first El Clasico match of the season against Barcelona next weekend, and the Portuguese coach will want a positive result in Amsterdam to continue momentum going into the game at the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos are the only side with a perfect group stage record this season, have scored the most goals and conceded the least – Ajax beware.

Ajax should qualify despite the calibre of their Wednesday opponents; Betfair have the Dutch side at odds of 3.1 to beat the Spaniards.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Bayern Munich are set to play three post-season friendlies before releasing their players on their summer break. The first of these friendlies is away to Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday, 18th May, who have just started their domestic season.

Bayern are coming off an emotionally exhausting season where they barely managed to qualify for the Champions League, however the commercial value of these friendlies outweighs any other concerns for the Bundesliga club as they will jet around Europe for an extra few games in May. Remember, with the 2012 Euros next summer, the 2011/2012 season is set to start and end earlier in any case, and with Bayern playing the Champions League qualifiers, their summer will be ridiculously short.

At least they have a winter break, eh?

You can watch Zenit v Bayern live on Soccerlens thanks to Daily Motion who’ve secured global live streaming rights for the match. Tune in at 6pm CET time (5pm UK time) to watch it online, and the timing is ideal considering that this friendly will be over just before the Europa League final kicks off between Braga and Porto.

Zenit St Petersburg v Bayern Munich (Live from 6pm CET)

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It has been yet another UEFA Champions League campaign that has been littered with thrills and spills. From the magnificence of Lionel Messi, to the Clasico debacle, the cream of the crop has rose as Barcelona and Manchester United make the final two at this year’s Wembley showpiece.

Everybody has had an opinion on just who would make it through the latter stages. Many gasped in horror in Italy as Tottenham Hotspur knocked out the mighty Milan, as they did in Rome as Shakhtar Donetsk humbled the Giallorossi. It is fair to say, this is the most unpredictable sport in the world but the guys at the Professional Football Players Observatory (PFPO) have done their utmost with their predictions – with a near perfect record.

The PFPO has recently innovated to predict outcomes of the major football competitions. The scenario envisaged for the current UEFA Champions League has proven to be quite accurate. From the final 16 onwards, they have correctly foreseen the outcome of 11 matches out of 14. If Barcelona is victorious come May 28th, they will reach their threshold of 80% correct predictions. However, the gap between the Catalonians and Manchester United is amazingly tight.

The criteria for the predictions is as follows. The strength of the clubs is based on four aspects; the experience accumulated by players in Champions League matches, their quality in terms of participation in recent international matches – weighted according to the level of the national team represented, the teams squad stability and the results obtained in the group stage of this year’s competition. The club with the richest squad has an index of 100 which has unsurprisingly turned out to be Barcelona.

Team Rating (lowest to highest):

• FC Copenhagen – 1
• Schalke – 10
• Marseille – 14
• Lyon – 22
• Valencia – 23
• Milan – 36
• Shakhtar Donetsk – 37
• AS Roma – 41
• Tottenham Hotspur – 44
• Bayern Munich – 56
• Arsenal – 59
• Internazionale – 66
• Real Madrid – 76
• Chelsea – 85
• Manchester United – 98
• Barcelona – 100

From the grading criteria, the vast contrast between Barcelona and Real Madrid is staggering with Blancos being 24 points behind their rivals. Surprisingly Milan were graded below Tottenham but were ultimately put to the sword by Harry Redknapp’s men in the last-16. Semi-finalists Schalke were graded second from bottom despite doing wonders to get to the last four, with Denmark’s Copenhagen ranked bottom with just one point.

Click the link below to access the prediction table along with the outcome of the results:

PFPO Champions League Prediction Table (PDF)

Follow Ross on Twitter: @RossMackiewicz

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In my previous article, I argued that the process by which we decide who the world’s best players are has been grossly distorted.

A combination of mainstream media hype (backed up with its ‘statistics’ – often little more than a ruse to get people gambling) and a nostalgic longing for the return of the great playmaker – a natural human urge towards hierarchy and order expressed on the pitch by those players who, commentators love to remind us, ‘dictate the tempo of the match’ (Spain) or ‘make the difference’ (England) – has reduced the role of the fan to that of consumer.

Abandoning our reason, we channel our passions into the banal tunnels dug by sensationalist pundits salivating over inane comparisons, half-witted ‘match analysis’ and pure marketing hype.

We’re forgetting that the beauty of football lies in the sheer multiplicity of possibilities abounding on the field; the best player does not always run the fastest, score the most or tackle the hardest. They need not even play for the best teams.

Now, with the increasing tendency towards a more ‘total’ form of football, we can appreciate more than ever the sheer variety of players whom we can admire and applaud. Here’s the first part of a list of the best 25:

1. 25. Thomas Muller



A classic German international, Muller’s poise, pace and shooting mean he is comfortable in virtually any attacking position. A fine World Cup on the back of a remarkable breakthrough season at Bayern Munich got him noticed beyond the Bundesliga; Bayern’s struggles this year have kept him out of the international spotlight, but you’d be hard pressed to find a more efficient forward in world football today.

Video: Thomas Muller Best of 2009/2010 at Bayern Munich

2. 24. Robinho



The prodigious Brazilian’s troubled career appears to be settling, at last, in Italy. The forward’s movement and trickery appears, strangely, to flourish more in Serie A than either the English Premier League – where he was considered a flop at Manchester City – or La Liga.

Video: Robinho Highlights

3. 23. Radamel Falcao



The Colombian international is the focal point of a Porto attack which has swept all before it in the Portuguese Liga and the Europa League this season (he is the top scorer in both). The striker’s devastating scoring exploits are beginning to draw comparison with those of Mario Jardel; a player with good movement, excellent finishing, a good deal of power and sound decision-making, Falcao also boasts a frightening ability to score memorable back-heeled goals. Big offers are expected over the summer.

Video: Radamel Falcao Goals

4. 22. Arjen Robben



It has often been said that only niggling injuries has held Robben back from being recognised as one of the best wingers in history. Having played at Real Madrid and positively shone at times for Chelsea, one might be forgiven for thinking the Holland international has gone off the radar a little at Bayern Munich. Nothing could be further from the truth. The dazzling Dutchman is still one of the deadliest wide men in the game.

Video: Robben Still Has It

5. 21. Carlos Tevez



Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes Sir Alex Ferguson has made in recent years was that of the British public at large: namely, thinking that the combative Argentine is little more than a second option for Wayne Rooney. Cleverer and stronger in front of goal than the Englishman, Tevez has since flourished across at Manchester City, but appears to be hankering for a move back to Argentina. The Premiership will be that little weaker without him.

Video: Carlos Tevez 2009/2010 Manchester City Goals

6. 20. Ramires



After a slow start to his Chelsea career, the Brazil international is turning into an instrumental player for the London club. The fact that he seems to always get used as a foil for someone else in midfield (at former club Benfica, he was used to help an extremely attacking 4-4-2 function by combining the role of right-winger with defensive midfield) overlooks his ability to make timely runs into the box to score crucial goals, as well as good technical ability which has seen him stand out against nominally similar players like Michael Essien.

Video: Ramires vs Blackburn (15 Jan 2011)

7. 19. Luka Modric



The Croatian international sometimes gets left in the wake of Gareth Bale’s trailblazing runs or Rafael van der Vaart’s spectacular goals, but he is a fundamental component of the most exciting Spurs side in years. Bursting with flair and ingenuity on the ball, Modric epitomizes the importance of a player who can construct moves from deep, picking put the runs of more advanced forwards. The kind of player who makes things happen without always being noticed. The kind of player who belongs on this list.

Video: Luka Modric Compilation

8. 18. Fabio Coentrao



One of the most exciting prospects in Europe, Coentrao’s career began on the left wing. Manager Jorge Jesus controversially converted him to left-back early last season and since then, the Portugal international has blossomed. His ferocious pace and relentless desire to bomb forward at any opportunity are perfectly balanced by a never-say-die attitude which masks his (improving) technical shortcomings as a defender. With a sweet left foot and an eye for goal too, Coentrao is arguably the most complete full-back in the world.

Video: Fabio Coentrao: Marauding Left-Back

9. 17. Fernando Torres



Though this may seem like a strange time to be sticking Torres anywhere near a list of the best players in the world, greatness doesn’t vanish overnight. It doesn’t even disappear over the course of one season. Rather, what we are seeing with Torres is the combination of a) a gradual decline, which has perhaps come a couple of years earlier than you might expect for a player of his age; b) poor form, which has lasted, loosely, since the end of last season; and c) difficulty adjusting to new technical systems – this is a player who has had to endure the dismal tenure of Roy Hodgson, the shift to Kenny Dalglish and then a move to Chelsea all in one season. Expect him to recover, if gradually.

Video: Fernando Torres 2009/2010 Compilation

10. 16. Gareth Bale



Though the ‘Balemania’ earlier this season has thankfully subsided, the Welshman’s meteoric rise has to be recognized as one of the most exciting developments in English football this season. The PFA Player of the Year’s pace, power and unstoppable left foot have marked him out as one of Europe’s most sought-after players. Could he cut it abroad? Judging by the manner in which he sliced open Inter Milan, you’d have to imagine ‘yes’.

Video: Gareth Bale 2010/2011

11. 15. Sami Khedira



The German international is arguably the unsung hero at Jose Mourinho’s new-look Real Madrid – while Ronaldo hoards the acclaim with goals and Xavi Alonso gets the purists drooling with passes, Khedira’s all-round ability in midfield goes relatively unnoticed. Strong in the tackle, good on the ball and with a remarkable ability to read the game for a relatively young player, the German international is arguably the most important member of Madrid’s midfield. His versatility is particularly important when Mourinho adopts a more cautious, lopsided midfield diamond which relies heavily on a central midfield player being able to combine his role with that of a wide player (see also Ramires, number 20 on this list).

Video: Sami Khedira in 2010

12. 14. Nani



Perhaps it’s the fact that he’s a Portuguese winger who ‘goes down too easily’. Perhaps it’s because his name sounds reads like ‘Nanny’ to the English eye. Perhaps it’s because he isn’t Ronaldo. Who knows why the mercurial Manchester United wide man is not being universally lauded for a series of fine displays which have carried Manchester United towards the Premier League title.

True, the Portugal international does still have the occasional tendency to gallop around like a headless chicken but, for the most part, the ingenious trickery, pace and goal threat are now combined extremely effectively. More productive as well as more creative than Antonio Valencia, who appears to have shunted him to the left flank, Nani’s sheer unpredictability mark him out as a winger in the classic sense of the word.

Video: Nani 2008/2009

13. 13. Dani Alves



True to the spirit of a list which recognises players who are able to perform in more than one position at once, Alves does more than merely conjure images of Cafu. Having displaced Maicon at right-back for th Brazilian national team, the Barcelona man is now widely regarded as the best right-back in the world. His ability to defend the right flank yet appear to spend an entire game in the opponent’s half is a testament to the sheer pace and stamina of the man, whose phenomenal work ethic provides Barca with a vital outlet out wide.

Video: Dani Alves 2009/2010 Highlights

14. 12. Ezequiel Lavezzi



Arguably one of the most under-rated players in European football. Lavezzi’s combination of pace, power and trickery has finally been harnessed by Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri, who allows the Argentinian a floating role coming in from the left flank. The sheer competition for places, combined with his until now uncertain role has kept him out of the national team’s first eleven, but Lavezzi – whose abundant skill is not always matched by great finishing – is the kind of rough diamond (see Riquelme, Veron, Ortega) who inspires the adulation of fans in his home country. Here’s a snippet of what the man can do:

Ezequiel Lavezzi: 2010/2011 Compilation

15. 11. Xavi



Not much needs to be said about the Barcelona and Spain playmaker. Allying superb vision to a sure touch and the battling spirit so typical of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, Xavi is arguably the one player able to distract the attention of pundits away from Lionel Messi to and extent which unfairly detracts from the merits of other members of the side. The mark of a great player.

Video: Best of Xavi Hernandez

And here are the The Top Ten

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Player transfer fees and their larger than life wage bills are a common topic of discussion for a football fan of today. From Wayne Rooney threatening to quit to oil-rich owners going on shopping sprees, the footballers have now become spoilt and they now know that their high demands will be met at their current club or the next.

It is especially easy to get a huge wage offer for those who possess skill and/or experience. Yaya Toure moved from Spain to England with a wage demand that even England’s best Rooney was not getting at the time.

For the smaller clubs, it has become far more difficult to move into the top-flight and pose a threat to the top teams in their own country, let alone go on a Euro trip.

We have taken the liberty to skim out the football clubs out of the ESPN’s 200 best-paying teams in the world and present a list to you of 66 best-paying football teams in the world.

If you’re gifted with football, this is who will show you the money:

The Leagues and Countries: Bundesliga (Germany), EPL (English Premier League, England), La Liga (Spain), Serie A (Italy) & SPL (Scottish Premier League, Scotland).

Also see: Best Paid Footballers By Country

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Germany’s most successful club, Bayern Munich, and adidas have opened a new chapter in their 50-year-long partnership. They have announced the extension of their deal through to 2020.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, CEO of Bayern Munich, said:

“We’re delighted that the decades-long partnership between FC Bayern and adidas, which has always been characterized by mutual trust and respect, will continue for a further period of at least eight years.

There is no better partner than adidas.”

adidas is also a stakeholder of the club, they acquired its shares in 2002 and the money was used to help finance the Allianz Arena.

Rummenigge added that the relations between Bayern and adidas go far beyond a conventional sponsorship arrangement. He said:

“These have been 50 years of trust and it has grown into a partnership between friends.”

Club president, Uli Hoeneß, agreed by saying:

“It’s more than just a business relationship. There is a powerful bond, and friendships have been formed too.

You can always talk to adidas and Herbert Hainer (chairman of the adidas group). That’s my understanding of a true partnership, and that’s what it’s genuinely been in practice.”

Herbert Hainer also expressed his delight in working with Bayern, he said:

“[An association of this length is] unique in football. It is founded on trust and mutual support. I’m delighted and proud we’re adding another chapter to this 50-year success story.”

Source

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Jupp Heynckes’ appointment at Bayern Munich may present a shrewd implementation by Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge but with just a two year contract penned as well as his age of 65 to be considered, is this just another short-term fix by The Bavarians?

Louis van Gaal will be stepping down at the end of the season after an indifferent campaign that has produced the biggest anti-climax after their magnificent exploits last season. They strolled domestically by clinching their 22^nd Bundesliga title and 15^th German Cup, only to be humbled by Internazionale in the Champions League Final. Nevertheless the fact that Bayern got to the final of Europe’s premier competition demonstrated the progression of the team and the astute tactics applied by the coach.

Big things were expected of the club once again but they have dipped severely and are currently languishing outside the Champions League qualification spots – seven points behind Bayer Leverkusen who are ironically under the guidance of Heynckes who will be van Gaal’s successor at the Allianz Arena. His success thus far may very well hinder his future aspirations with his current club looking to automatically book their ticket at Europe’s premier competition at the expense of Die Roten.

Heynckes is one of the finest German coaches of his generation having tasted success in and out of Germany where he won the Champions League with Real Madrid in 1998 in his solitary season at Los Blancos. It was indeed at Bayern where he made his name having won two league titles and domestic cups during his four year stint from 1987-1991.

He returned to the club 18 years later in the spring of 2009 as caretaker following Jurgen Klinsmann’s sacking and guided them into the Champions League, leading to van Gaal’s appointment. Only a few months later Heynckes ended up at the BayArena and has performed a sterling job since his appointment.

There is no disputing the coach’s talent and credentials but at the age of 65 it seems highly unlikely that his appointment will lead to anything more than just a short-term fix with the hierarchies expecting a rebuild next season.

The fact that younger aspirers have been overlooked may demonstrate a reluctance from the club, having appointed Jurgen Klinsmann in 2008. The aforementioned enjoyed a successful two-year period at the club as a player but was unable to replicate his success via the touchline. Bayern tried their luck with a younger man and it ultimately backfired. They obviously feel that experience is key for managing a club of the sheer magnitude of the Munich entity and the risk of taking another chance on someone younger could turn out to be critical – considering the club’s current plight.

Heynckes will be the club’s fifth coach in just four years. Felix Magath’s departure in 2007 ended a successful three-year period that included two Bundesliga titles, two German Cups and a German League Cup. However, a dismal 2006/07 campaign lead to his sacking during the mid-season. That led to the return of Otmar Hitzfeld for a year and a half. He had been Magath’s predecessor where he managed the club for six years during 1998-2004 and won just about anything and everything during a wonderful era for the club.

In truth he was the last coach to really have a prolonged run and it paid dividends. The Bavarians would become the champions of Europe in 2001 and dominate their domestic calendar year after year. His success has never been truly replicated despite van Gaal’s showing last season where he guided them to their first Champions League final in nine years.

Juup Heynckes is inheriting a squad blessed with youthful exuberance and experience but its chemistry has somewhat deteriorated since last spring. Although his current Leverkusen side are occupying the second automatic Champions League spot, his future employers are just two points behind Hannover who occupy third – the final Champions League place that involves the dreaded qualifying round. Bayern will not contemplate the monumental mishap of failing to qualify and possess the dream of contesting the 2012 final which will take place at their Allianz Arena.

The future coach has his work cut out when he steps through those Bavarian doors this summer but his credentials and attributes cannot be discounted. Although this will only be a short-term period for all parties involved, Heynckes will be hoping to make the most of it and replicate some of his earlier success which implemented his name into the folklore of German and European football.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Inter Milan were one goal shy of edging Bayern Munich in Germany when in the 87th minute coach Leanordo looked to the bench for a spark. His solution: newly arrived Japanese left-back Yuto Nagatomo.

The Japan National Team star, currently facing one of the greatest off-pitch challenges of his life with the recent tsunami disaster in his homeland, breathed immediate life into the game and Inter’s crucial 3-2 winner was found just two minutes later.

In a team build-up involving Nagatomo, Cameroonian striker Eto’o dribbled around two defenders in the box before slipping the ball outside for Goran Pandev to expertly bury home.

The recently out-of-form striker’s goal gave Inter its prized third away goal, sending them through to the Champions League quarterfinals on away goals (a 3-3 aggregate scoreline).

Having fallen 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Italy two weeks through a last minute blunder goal, many had vocalized doubt in the club and whispers of the “Mourinho Effect” had begun to spread.

Inter has now silenced their critics and has moved one step closer to what no football club is yet to accomplish: to win the Champion’s League two years in a row.

The last-minute inclusion of Nagatomo, only one of two Japanese players currently in Serie A, roused the Nerrazzuri to defeat Bayern once again. The two clubs last met in last year’s Champions League final, with Inter securing a 2-0 victory through a Diego Miltio brace.

But today there was no Diego Miltio, no club icon in Argetnine Javier Zanetti, nor cup-tied striker Giampaolo Pazzini. The club’s faithful longed to praise the name of a new hero.

He came in the form of a 5 foot 7 inch determined lighting bolt, the first Japanese player to ever don the Internazionale uniform. Having only arrived at the club on-loan in January from newly promoted club Cesena, Nagatomo seems to have won the support of not just the club’s supporters but that of his teammates as well.

Sporting black bands in a sign of solidarity since the Asian nation’s tragedy one week ago, the team rallied behind the high-flying starlet.

Leading Italian paper La Gazetta dello Sporto recently had this to say after the 25-year-old secured his first goal in Blue & Black against Genoa:

“The little samurai became Inzaghi at that instant, spinning to score,” it read. “When he touches the ball, the San Siro comes to life.”

Inter Milan now persists as the only Italian club left in the competition and awaits the quarterfinal draw in one week’s time. Their possible opponents include in-form Barcelona, Chelsea, Real Madrid and a handful of other top clubs.

Written by Mickey Hennessey.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Click here to watch Inter Milan v Bayern Munich Live!

Inter Milan v Bayern Munich
Second Round, UEFA Champions League
San Siro
Wednesday, 23 February
Kickoff: 19:45 GMT, 20:45 CET

Last year’s Champions League finalists meet at the San Siro on Wednesday as Inter Milan and Bayern Munich contest the first leg of their round of 16 tie.

Inter Milan v Bayern Munich Preview

Holders Inter, second in qualifying group A behind Tottenham, miss Diego Milito who has a hamstring injury. Lucio and Wesley Sneijder should play after being rested at the weekend.

Top scorer Mario Gomez (ankle) is a doubt for Bayern but goalkeeper Thomas Kraft is set to start despite coming off with a head injury on Saturday.

Inter Milan manager Leonardo is his usual respectful self:

“This is a completely different moment (compared to last year’s final) and every game is a different story.

This team has its basic structure but every game offers a different challenge. Naturally I’ll start with the fittest, most on-form players I have available. The league is one thing, the Champions League another. We have various options at our disposal, although fewer than we do in the league.

Yes, I watched the final in Madrid. Which side was I supporting? Whatever I answer could be interpreted as insincere. But I was cheering on Inter; I was supporting the Italian team. It was satisfying to see Inter win that match.

We’ve come through an energy-sapping period but we’ve recovered well and go into this Champions League game with massive motivation. What are Bayern Munich’s strengths and weaknesses? Every team has them. Would I settle for a 3-2 win tomorrow? We know how it works in Europe. Unlike in the league, that wouldn’t be the best result…

The Champions League is a competition that brings together lots of great players and great teams with big ambitions; that means there is more tendency for teams to try and play their own game rather than just containing their opponents. The matches are more open. I like the more attacking mentality you find in the Champions League. This team are the reigning champions and they can beat anyone. We’ll fight with all we’ve got: the team is capable of overcoming any difficulty and I take strength from that. We will approach the game as champions should.

Inter and Bayern Munich are two sides with the resources to tackle whatever they come up against and they are evenly matched.”

Bayern manager Louis van Gaal on the other hand, is happy to play the mind games:

“I haven’t seen Inter play differently so far. Everybody who has seen last year’s Champions League final knows how they play. It’s enough to have a look at them every now and then to know nothing has changed.

Even against Cagliari last weekend, they did absolutely nothing going forward. They kept things tight at the back and let all the attacking up to their opponents.

It’s clear to see that many coaches and teams opt to employ defensive tactics these days. I want to offer the fans something else though and try to entertain them by playing attacking football.

Obviously, that’s much more difficult than just focusing on defending, but that’s my football philosophy.

This match is not about revenge for us. We just want to win this game, regardless of last year. The reigning champions are always the favourites, in this case Inter, especially bearing in mind that they play at home.”

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From Soccerlens.com - Football News