This season’s Champions League is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in terms of potential winners and losers. With some big names teetering and some new names challenging, it seems a good time to check out the hits and misses so far.
Hits
RUBIN KAZAN: The current Russian Champions have been a breath of fresh air this year. Combining a resolute defensive stability with the occasional creative foray they have already beaten Barcelona at the Camp Nou and held them to a 0-0 stalemate back in frozen Kazan just last night. Rubin won their first ever League title last year to qualify and now sit joint second with the Spanish giants in Group F, topped by Inter Milan. Unbeaten in four matches going back a month at home and in Europe, the Russian side could yet qualify for the knockout stages.
ARSENAL: Yes, Arsenal. Despite having the leanest squad in the Premiership Top Four, the English club boasts attacking talent so good that they are defying the odds and virtually secured their progression with a 4-1 hammering of AZ Alkmaar. Ok, the opposition isn’t all that but Arsenal’s style of play is a joy to watch in the domestic league and in Europe. They warrant a hit for that alone, but doing it with, in our opinion, a wafer thin squad and questionable defence (the wonderful Vermaelen aside) cements it.
CRISTIANO RONALDO: Despite being injured for the last few weeks he still tops the Champions League scoring charts with four goals, just ahead of Wolfsburg’s brilliantly named Grafite, and since his injury Real Madrid have suffered a dramatic dip in form and results. Losing to AC Milan 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabéu two weeks ago and then only managing a draw in Milan this week, Real are in danger of failing to qualify with Marseille closing fast in Group C. Sporting Fare puts this down to the continuing absence of Ronaldo, whose form pre-injury was the best in Europe by far. With the likes of Rooney, Messi and Gilardino in the competition it is testament to his quality that he remains top scorer.
Misses
RAFAEL BENITEZ: The Liverpool manager, who has proven on more than one occasion that he is capable of pulling his club’s proverbial fat out of the fire, has this time failed to do so. The reasons for this are many and cannot all be placed at his door. Gerrard’s absence, Torres’ injuries and Carragher’s loss of form are not his fault. But the sale of Alonso, the failure to have enough striking options in his squad and the failed signings he has made are definitely his fault. It seems that Rafa has lost the plot in his now overdue five year plan for Liverpool. Lyons’ last gasp equaliser last night, which virtually puts the English club out of the competition, may not be the final nail in the Spaniard’s coffin, but it will have Liverpool’s squabbling board thinking hard about his future. There is still a chance the escapologist could pull the club through – but Sporting Fare won’t be betting on it.
BAYERN MUNICH: This former European giant has not been having a good time of it lately. Third in Group A, four points off second placed Juventus and six off leaders Bordeaux – and with Juventus still to play in Turin – things look bleak for the German side. Yet a look at their squad suggests they should be qualifying from this group with ease. Butt, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Van Bommel, Toni, Klose – all big, big players. It only suggests the team is letting itself down and they are possibly the biggest miss so far in the Champions League.
BARCELONA: Managing only a point against Russian champions and big hits Rubin Kazan is one thing. Well, it’s the only thing really. But, like Bayern Munich, boasting a squad as talented as they do and failing to deliver on Europe’s biggest stage is criminal. We’re sure it’s as big a mystery to Josep Guardiola as it is to us. They are far from out of it and the group is a tight one, led by Inter who only recorded their first win in the competition in over a year this week yet a team of Barcelona’s quality should be gracing the Champions League with goals galore from the likes of Messi, Henry et al. Shape up, boys, it’s not good enough.
Whether or not Holland lift the World Cup for the first time on Sunday, captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst will hang up his boots after a long and illustrious career.
