Wednesdays Soccer – By Chris.
Champions League, second legs
Chelsea - Olympiakos 1.30 - 13.00
D Drogba, M Essien, Malouda and Alex were not
included in the Chelsea starting line up at the
weekend but their absence did not prevent Chelsea
from outclassing West Ham, winning 4-0 at Upton
Park. With all their players fit Chelsea do have an
awesome squad, but we always knew that. F Lampard
was shown the red card against W Ham but his
dismissal will not prevent him from playing in
Europe. Lua Lua did not play for Olympiakos in the
first leg (0-0) and we will not see him tomorrow
either. Galletti, the most influential offensive
player in the Olympiakos team, is also out of the
game. Home win for sure (1.30).
Chelsea 3
Olympiakos 0
Porto - Schalke 04 1.80 - 5.20
They say in Germany that the Schalke manager will
lose his job unless his team advance to the quarter
final. They lost 0-1 in the Bundesliga to Bayern
Munich at the weekend and their domestic season is
falling apart. Schalke were lack lustre against
Bayern. J Jones, their defensive midfielder, will be
back for this match and could be that A Streit will
replace the ineffective Asamoah alongside Kuranyi.
Schalke will rely on their defence tomorrow and try
to hit Porto on the break.
Porto players like Lisandro, Bosingwa and P Emanuel
were rested in their last league game, the derby
with Boavista. The match had 0-0 written all over it
and that is the way it finished. Porto have a fully
fit squad to choose from. Experienced side on this
international level, immensely strong at their own
place and I should think that Porto will reach the
quarter final. They are quite simply the stronger
side (1.80).
Porto 1 Schalke 0
Real Madrid - Roma 1.61 - 6.50
Tricky task for Real. They are the kind of team that
almost always concede a goal and if Roma will find
the net, then Real have to score three goals.
Keeping a clean sheet will not be helped as there
will be no Sergio Ramos in defence. The best Real
player this season, Robinho, will be back tomorrow,
along with Pepe and that is the good news.
Unfortunately along with their defensive ace S Ramos
(suspended tomorrow), three of their Dutch players
are on the injury list. Definitely missing are
Robben, Sneijder and their sharpshooter Van
Nistelrooy. It could be that Real will play with
only one striker, Raul, or more likely, Baptista
will join him up front. Young players like Gago,
Torres and Pepe all from the start. In my opinion
Real will field their weakest side of the season
tomorrow.
More harmony in the Roma squad, only really missing
Cassetti. Juan is fit again and he will play from
the start in defence. Panucci will probably be
preferred to Cicinho and Pizarro will most likely
keep Aquilani on the bench. Totti is back in form
again and he was the best Roma player at the
weekend, at home to Parma (4-0 win). Roma do not
mind playing at the Bernabeu Stadium and my choice
here has to be the outsider (6.50). Looking at the
odds, what can one do? Always worth remembering
that Roma are a terrific counter attacking side.
Real Madrid 1 Roma 2
The Premiership
Liverpool - West Ham 1.45 - 8.00
I expect Liverpool to get their revenge tomorrow
(1.45.) They lost their away game to W Ham 0-1 but
it seems like Liverpool have no problems scoring
goals at the moment. Three against Middlesbrough and
then three vs. Bolton. Everton and Aston Villa are
pushing Liverpool all the way at the moment. The
stakes are high, coming fourth in the Premiership
means playing in the Champions League next season.
In other words every game is like a cup game for
Liverpool right now. The way I see it the Liverpool
players need that kind of pressure. I expect some
kind of rotation and could be that Crouch, Benayoun
and Arbeloa will play from the start this time.
West Ham fell apart in the first half against
Chelsea at the weekend, letting in three goals.
After such an performance tightening up the defence
comes first on the agenda. Expect a cautious W Ham
approach to tomorrow's game. It will not help much.
Home win! (1.45).
Liverpool 4 West Ham 0
Chris.
