Season Review

Another English season draws to a close. Chelsea were crowned deserving champions, while QPR, Burnley and Hull face the disappointment of playing in the Championship next season. Let's look at the key performances that made this season so special.

The Champions

Chelsea record their fourth Premier League title and third under Jose Mourinho. Being honest, they were never really troubled in their victory with the competition dying in various stages of the league season. At the beginning of the season, Chelsea played some nice football to build up a bit of a lead. With Jose the master of defence, the title wrapped up once Mourinho deployed his conservative tactics. The whole Chelsea team did their bit this season. John Terry and Gary Cahill formed a formidable partnership at the back, while the void left by Frank Lampard was quickly forgotten with the signing of Cesc Fabregas. Nemenja Matic was the rock in the Chelsea midfield and played a vital role in Chelsea's success, the extra man in front of the defence repelled so many attacks, as well as launching some of his own.

The Runners up

Manchester City just weren't good enough when it mattered to challenge for the title, and at one stage, looked like it was possible that they were going to finish as low as fourth. City need a massive clear out of all the deadwood in the squad. Yaya Toure hasn't been the same player since the cake-gate scandal of 2014, and neither has Vincent Kompany. With an average age of 29, youth will be the starting point for the manager at City in the summer. While they do need to bring in players, splashing the money will not solve the void. Elaquim Mangala, Fernando are examples of money being spent poorly last summer while Stefen Jovetic and Alvaro Negredo were bought the season before but have sunk into the abyss through injuries and poor form. On loan at Valencia, I doubt Negredo will ever feature in a Manchester City shirt ever again, particularly with the arrival of Wilfried Bony in January. Now, City are in pursuit of Liverpool's Raheem Sterling in order to bring the average age down, among other young English hotshots.

Relegation

In my season preview, I tipped Aston Villa, Sunderland and Crystal Palace to make the drop, and I couldn't be further from the truth, with Palace breaking into the top 10. As for the unlucky contingent of Hull, QPR and Burnley, over the course of 38 games, they were the 3 teams that deserved to be relegated. Hull saw themselves hit 10th position at the end of October, but this took a turn for the worst and culminated in an 18th placed finish with 35 points. For Burnley, they were the favourites for the drop when the season commenced (except mine!) and they fulfilled everyone's prediction. As for QPR, they flirted with the danger zone for too long and were eventually sapped into a battle that they could not win. QPR where heavily reliant on Charlie Austin, who grabbed 18 goals - the fourth best in the league - which shows where the London side would be without their star man. Similarly, Burnley relied on the prowess of Danny Ings who netted 11 times this year. With Ings already sealing a move to Liverpool and Austin looking ever more likely to leave QPR, it could be a struggle to get back into the top tier of domestic football for both sides.

The Golden Boot

With 26 goals, Sergio Aguero leads the way for the first time since his arrival in England. Even with missing the majority of December due to a ligament injury, Aguero was able to help Manchester City secure their 2nd place spot. English protege, Harry Kane, came in behind with 21 goals, which isn't a bad way to introduce yourself to the English nation. A roaring start sent the young Spurs man on his way and he collected a staggering 12 goals in the winter months as his performances help secure notable wins over Chelsea and Arsenal. Diego Costa achieved third place despite only featuring in 26 games. We know Costa is a goal scorer, so when he features for a whole season, it'll be scary to see what the adopted Spaniard can do.

The Race for Europe

Arsenal and Manchester United completed the top 4, leaving Tottenham, Liverpool and Southampton to content with the Europa League. Arsenal finally broke their duck of being unable to break into the top 4, with thanks to world class performances from Alexis Sanchez. I've always said that if Arsene gets his summer signings spot on, then the team from North London could be in for a very special year. United achieved their goals, nothing more but nothing less. After spending £150m in the summer, a fourth spot was the bare minimum in terms of expectations. The wait for Champions League football continues for a another year at White Hart Lane. It will be an interesting summer for Mauricio Pochettino as he aims to clear out the deadwood in the Spurs squad. Liverpool endured a testing spell after selling their superstar for £80m last season and will be glad that this is over. Having already dabbled in the transfer market to buy Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan, James Milner and Joe Gomez, Brendan Rodgers needs to have his signings spot on,

Notable Mentions

I purposely didn't mention Southampton under the previous heading as I want to focus on them now. Having sold key individuals last summer, many tipped them to struggle, with some thinking they will be doing well to survive relegation. Ronald Koeman took over as manager, and his signings have secured a memorable season for the southern side. Sitting inside the top 5 for a large chunk of the season, they surprised many people and fully deserve their season in Europe next year,

Both Swansea and Stoke achieved their highest position in the Premier League, finishing 8th and 9th respectively. Garry Monk is quietly building a strong squad off the back of the sale of Wilfried Bony for £28m. This year, Swansea became the first ever side to record away wins at both Manchester United and Arsenal in the same season. Having represented Swansea in 4 tiers of the English leagues, and also as a manager in the Premier League, Monk's regard for the club cannot be questioned, as he aims to push on for European spots in the next seasons.

A similar story is shaped at Stoke by Mark Hughes. His work at the Potters has largely gone under the radar. Largely inconsistent in the opening stages of the season, they recorded just one win in the month of November and also went on a 3 game losing streak at the end of March. Hughes has been shrewd in the transfer market and has acquired talent through former Barcelona man Bojan Krkic, who delivered performances until he ruptured his cruciate ligament against QPR and ruled him out for the rest of the season. Like Monk, Hughes is building a squad and will hope to maintain performances having sealed another 3 year contract at the start of the calendar year.

It has been a very intriguing year with many talking points occuring. Chelsea rule victorious while QPR get the wooden spoon along with Burnley and Hull. We can only hope for more thrills and spills to this calibre in the incoming season.

Dominant Barcelona Overpower the Old Lady

Luis Enrique's side completes the fabled treble and become the first side to do this twice. Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez netted with Morata equalising between before Neymar secured the victory in injury time. Max Allegri's side put up a brave fight but it was not enough to topple the quality of Barcelona.

It took Barcelona 4 minutes to find their rhythm in this year's final. Lovely intricate play between Neymar and Andres Iniesta allowed Ivan Rakitic to side foot into an empty net. It was definitely not the start Allegri had in mind and a reshuffle beckoned. As predicted, Barcelona had the possession in the opening stages and an early yellow card for Vidal left the Chilean on a tight rope for the rest of the game.

Juventus were being pulled apart by the heart of the Catalonian midfield. The loss of Giorgio Chiellini to injury showed in the early encounters as Juve lacked any leaders the back. With Vidal's early booking, Barca were keen to exploit this with the side utilising their full array of gamesmanship techniques. Allegri showed his faith with Alvaro Morata, and his counter attacking prowess was being used and was getting success out Javier Mascherano. On the counter, Juve were able to break and cause a moment of doubt in the Barca defence. Mascherano looked edgy, but Juve's attacks only culminated in shots easily dealt with.

As half time approached, it was vital that The Old Lady didn't concede another. In the midfield, they weren't able to hold the ball due to the extreme pressure put onto them by a dominant Barca triangle. They may play to the edge of the rules, but some of their passages of play were quite exquistite in the opening half. For the second period, Juve had to regain some of the possession in the middle of the park and, when on the counter, their passes had to find their team mate in order to keep the momentum.

Within the first 5 minutes Luis Enrique's men showed their potency on the counter with a five on three resulting in a fine save from Juve stalwart Gianluigi Buffon. Juve pounced after an intelligent back heel found Stephan Lichsteiner and the Swiss international squared to find Carlos Tevez. Tevez beat the defender before a shot was parried by Ter Stegen and Morata tapped into an empty net. Probably against the run of play, but it was the bit of luck that was needed by the Italian side.

The game descended into an end to end affair with both sides having attempts and one that was wonderful to the neutral. Barcelona restored their lead when Lionel Messi's shot and Buffon's save found the path of Luis Suarez and he finished to send the Catalonian crowd into raptures. Minutes later, Neymar had a goal ruled out by the assistant behind Buffon's goal for hand ball. With Barcelona on top and Juve rattled, a third goal would have effectively killed the game.

As 90 minutes approached, Juventus began throwing the kitchen sink at Barca. Fernando Llorente entered the fray and provided a target for the wide men. As they threw everything forward, Messi, Neymar and Pedro were able to catch the side on the break, and secure their 4th title in 9 years and coveted treble. Juventus fought valiantly but were unable to capitalise for the 5 minutes the game was tied up at 1 each.

For Juventus, they sorely missed Chiellini who guided them through their semi final. For the first goal, while the midfield were at fault, I would have had more confidence if he was on the pitch. For Barcelona, they fully deserved the win. Up front, Messi, Neymar and Suarez wreaked havoc in the Juve defence while the midfield predictably dictated the play. While they still were the victors, defensively Mascherano was exposed by Morata's pace. The defensive performance will not be picked apart by Enrique and his performance analysis team will not worry due to celebrations that will be taking place in Catalunya over the next few days.

Key Performances

While Barca's front trident will receive all the plaudits, Andres Iniesta showed his class as he has done so much in a Barcelona shirt over his career. The linchpin in the centre of midfield was able to invade the space left by their wayward counterparts before finding Ivan Rakitic who finished past the scrambling Gianluigi Buffon. The whole Barcelona midfield deserve praise, but Andres Iniesta looked a class apart throughout this match and the knock-out stage. I was critical of his inclusion in the Team of the Year at the beginning of January, but he will warrant a spot in the ceremony to take place at the beginning of 2016.

I was impressed with the efforts of Gianluigi Buffon. He ultimately kept the Italian side in the contest and a firm paw denied Dani Alves from the edge of the box. Another save prevented Luis Suarez from capitalising on a Barca counter attack. While there were times when the World Cup winner looked nervy in nets, he largely did his job and kept the game on a knife edge. Some will say he was at fault for the Suarez goal, but the Uruguayan's positioning made it impossible for Buffon to parry it away from danger. A solid all round game from the Italian veteran.

Lionel Messi also needs a mention. While he did not get on the scoresheet, his general all round play was exceptional and he was a nuisance for the Juventus defence. Other notable mentions include Neymar and Alvaro Morata who both posed different problems for their respective defences.

Another Champions League campaign has drawn to a close with Barcelona leaving as warranted victors. Luis Enrique emulates one Pep Guardiola by completing the treble in his first season. The events between Enrique and Messi seem to a distant memory, and it's looking more like as the season went on, both sides were rectified and this definitely reflected in some of the performances this year. It's not long to the first qualifying round of next year's competition at the end of the month. With the final in Milan, we can only expect another riveting journey. 

Champions League Final 2015

Certainly for the first time in my life, we have two teams in the Champions League Final vying for a treble. Barcelona are clear favourites, but Allegri's Juventus will be aiming to spoil the party in Catalonia come the 6th June. It promises to be a truly extraordinary and fascinating encounter.

Route to the Final
Finishing second in their group, Juventus conceded just four goals, one less than Barcelona, but only hit the back of the net seven times. Their opposition, Barcelona, netted 15 times, with only 4 teams scoring more. Barcelona defeated Manchester City in the last 16, while Juventus easily disposed of 2013 finalists, Borussia Dortmund with an aggregate score of 5-1.  In the quarter finals, Barcelona faced a tricky PSG side, coming off the back of an aggregate win over Chelsea in the previous round. Away in the first leg, Neymar netted and Suarez struck twice before a Jeremy Mathieu own goal gave PSG a glimmer of hope. A Neymar brace sealed Barca their semi final place. Juventus took a narrow 1-0 lead against Monaco back to Turin courtesy of an Arturo Vidal penalty and a scoreless draw was enough to send them through.

A big test awaited Juvenuts against the reigning European champions, Real Madrid. Juve took a slim 2-1 lead to the Bernabeu through goals from Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata, despite a disappointing performance from the Spanish side. In Madrid, Juve defended gallantly and Madrid old boy, Alvaro Morata netted and sent the Italians to Berlin. Barcelona v Bayern Munich was undoubtedly the glamour tie. Much was expected of Barcelona due to their excellent form and they duly delivered. An astounding 3-0 victory in the Nou Camp left Guardiola's side a mountain to climb. Munich collapsed and conceded 3 goals in the last 15 minutes to effectively seal the deal in this tie. Despite this, they gave it their best crack in Bavaria with fine attacking play, but their defence was their downfall and through to the final Barca went.

A forgone conclusion?
Nobody can argue that the Spanish side will be favourites for the match. They have been quite scintillating to watch at times this season, but Juventus should not be stroked off. They were severely written off in the semi final and triumphed, so it's not a foregone conclusion that they will lose. It is definitely matches like this where, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci will make their money. In the away leg of the semi final, they repelled every cross that was sent into the Juve box with relative ease. Against Barcelona however, they face a team who is always reluctant to cross into the box. With the lack of pace at the back, a deep line will need to be held, especially with a Barca front three that have netted 120 goals between them. The Old Lady can take confidence from their excellent record this season, conceding just 24 goals in the league alone.

The Juventus midfield will need to help the defence and plug the space in the middle of the pitch, to prevent the unpredictable movement of Messi and co dragging the centre-halves out of position. Looking specifically at the middle of the park, Juventus are well equipped in an attacking sense with Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. Defensively, they will be tested. The Chilean showed us what he could do against Real Madrid in the semi final, and he will need to replicate this if Juventus are to stand any kind of chance at leaving Berlin with their third trophy of the season. During the semi final, particularly in the second leg, Pirlo didn't look his orthodox composed self and conceded possession too often. On the other hand, from set pieces there is no one like him and he can open up even the most secure defences.

In an attacking sense, they are not be as well equipped as Barcelona. Saying that, they have useful operators in Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata, who read each other extremely well. Vidal from midfield is also useful in his box to box role while Stephan Lichsteiner and Patrice Evra are widemen capable of delivering a quality cross. On the bench, they have Fernando Llorente to enter the fray and he offers a plan 'B'. Differing to Morata and Tevez, The Basque man is an excellent target man and provide a good platform for crosses. Expect Allegri to turn to him if Juve aren't singing to the correct hymn sheet.

Avoiding an upset.
Barcelona have been exceptional throughout this season and are deservedly fighting for a treble on Saturday. Luis Enrique experienced some difficult situations at the start of the new year but he has got his side back on track, scoring plenty of goals and winning matches in style. To beat Juventus they cannot allow themselves to become complacent. The coaching staff probably would have viewed Juventus as the easier option but a job still needs to be done.

The attacking strength of the Catalan side is something that teams from around the globe marvel at. They need no introductions and the success is largely brought down to this trio. With Juve having an ageing defence, quick passes and flicks will easily beat the defender and leave the Italian club side on the back foot. The roaming attack also has the potential to pull the defenders out of position leaving the midfield or wingers to run onto to through balls.

There will be no prizes for guessing that Barcelona will have the majority of possession, leaving the Juve midfield starved of the ball for portions of the game. A bright start and early goal will help unnerve their opposition who haven't competed in a Champions League final since 2003. For Barcelona, the majority of their team have experienced success in a European competition before, while only Morata, Pirlo, Tevez and Evra have tasted victory in the top club competition before. This is defintitely something which could swing in the Catalonians favour.

On Saturday we will be in for a real gem of a football match. Two teams are vying for the coveted treble and two managers are hoping to add optimum success to their first season in charge. It will not be a walk in the park for Enrique's side and Allegri is likely to have a few tricks up his sleeve. For me, the nail biter of a game will edge towards Barcelona. If the Old Lady are still in with a shout with 70-80 minutes played, anything can happen. I just hope it's a moment of sheer magic rather than a costly mistake that will win the game.

FA Cup Final 2015

Fans will flock down to the home of English football on Saturday, for the conclusion of the FA Cup. The match sees Arsenal aim for their second title in a row, while Aston Villa compete in their first final since 2000 and aim to cap off a rollercoaster of a season with a victory against the holders.

Their journey

For both sides, they received a mixture of comfortable victories as well as near scares. Aston Villa's 3rd round tie started away back on the 4th January with a very late strike squeezing the Birmingham side past the Championship's bottom side, Blackpool. In times of trouble, debutant Carles Gil ended Villa's sequence of 5 scoreless games, before Andreas Weimann doubled their lead and see them through despite a late Bournemouth fight-back. The fifth round tie saw Villa leave it late to secure a passage into the quarter finals against Leicester. The deadlock was broken just before the 70 minute mark. Scott Sinclair doubled their lead just before the end, but there was time for Andrej Kramaric to score a consolation for the visitors.

The elation at the end of the quarter final game was clear to see as they overcome, their fierce rivals, West Brom. Fabian Delph and Sinclair netted to send Villa through to their first final since 2010. Although going a goal up, Liverpool were disappointing and quickly sacrificed the lead 6 minutes later through a Christian Benteke strike. Fabian Delph scored the conclusive goal just before the hour mark and sent Sherwood's Villa through to the final in only his 10th game in charge.

Arsenal's defence of the prestigious trophy started with a rematch of last years final against Hull. Per Mertesacker and Alexis Sanchez disposed of the injury stricken side. A match against Brighton beckoned, and the game probably should have been more comfortable than the score line suggests. Goals from Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil helped Arsenal race into a comfortable 2 goal lead before Tomas Rosicky added the third after Brighton pulled one back. Sam Baldock scored Brighton's second to leave an interesting remaining 15 minutes.

A quickfire double from Olivier Giroud sent Middlesborough out of the cup and Arsenal marched on to a quarter final match against Manchester United. Nacho Monreal opened the scoring against the Manchester side, but their lead was short lived as Wayne Rooney's flying header found a way passed Szczesny in nets. Danny Welbeck pounced on a loose Antonio Valencia back pass to round David de Gea and roll it into the empty net. Reading stood in the Gunners way to another final. The semi final saw Arsenal ride their luck as an extra time Alexis shot squirmed under the body of keeper Adam Federici to send Arsenal through. Reading put up a brave battle, with Federici at the heart of it, but Garath McCleary's equaliser was not enough to cancel out the earlier strike from Sanchez. Another final and a chance to defend their title for Arsenal.

Can Villa Win?

Of course they can! Before Sherwood, under Lambert the Villains looked dead and buried. Survival looked implausible never mind a cup run to the final. Under Sherwood, the pace and strength in Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann has been heavily utilised, bringing great success. Fabian Delph has been a stalwart throughout the cup run, and Benteke's goals have been vital. It is almost as if Sherwood has breathed life and rejuvenated a side that was on the cusp of collapse.

A counter attacking approach will be beneficial as Villa will have to be aware of the pace of Sanchez and the guile of Mesut Ozil. On the break Sinclair is lethal and this was amply demonstrated with the deciding goal against West Brom. Jack Grealish also delivered a performance of the highest quality in the semi final. Benteke can torment any defence on his day. With Szczesny in nets, the Polish international is prone to the odd calamitous error so they will always have a chance with the goal scoring prowess of the Belgian up front. They can only take inspiration from Wigan's cup exploits two seasons ago.

It's in Arsenal's hands...
The holders will be favourites and they will probably deserve this title. Having throttled Villa earlier in the season by five goals, which will give them confidence. This season, Alexis Sanchez has been a terrific purchase, netting 24 goals for the North London side. It's certain that Arsenal will have the majority of the possession on Saturday. Defensively, Arsenal don't need to take risks early on in the game, and if they do, can draw from experiences of last years final, where they sacrificed two early goals to Hull City, but where able to clinch the victory in extra time. On the other hand, the title of 'favourites' can do more harm than good. 'Favourites' means pressure, and we've seen plenty of cup upsets this year.

Who has the most to lose?
Neither team has a lot to lose, but Arsenal will be the team deemed favourites so will be hoping to deliver in this name. Aston Villa have had a very inconsistent season, starting desperately poor and culminating in a 17th placed finish. Having survived relegation, a cup victory for Villa would help make the season a little more positive and give Tim Sherwood the undoubted backing from the supporters. For Arsenal, they have broke their duck of failing to get into the top 3, and a trophy would help them kick on and attract bigger and better names to the Emirates and help them compete for more silverware. It would also allow Arsene Wenger to bow out on a high note, for the second season running, however I think he will stick around for another season yet.

Saturday will be an interesting affair. It will be intriguing to see how Villa will be able to deal with the attacking threat posed by Alexis Sanchez and co, and how they will line up. For me, Arsenal to win 2-1 after extra time. Aston Villa will put up a valiant fight, but Arsene's strike force will have too much for the Sherwood's side. 

The Rise of AFC Bournemouth

On Monday 27th April 2015 goals from Marc Pugh, Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson secured Bournemouth their promotion to the highest level of English football for the first time in their 125 year history. The emotion was clear on the face of 12,000 Bournemouth fans packed into the small stadium as it went into raptures once the final whistle was blown by the referee. The southern England side have come on a long adventure, but they have bigger and better challenges awaiting.

The adventure of Bournemouth and Eddie Howe relates to one of my many Football Manager escapades. At the end of 2008, Howe was appointed manager, taking over a side in financial turmoil and on the brink of liquidation. Howe masterminded the 'Great Escape' and guided them to League 2 promotion, before subsequently signing with Burnley. The former player returned after a few barren years and got them promoted to the Championship, their first time in the second division of the English League since 1990. After solidifying themselves as a Championship side, a comfortable victory over Charlton and a last minute equaliser from Sheffield Wednesday wrapped the title up for the Cherries.

The rest of the article can be read on Eleven.

A Valiant Effort Falls Short for Bayern

A gutsy second half performance from Bayern Munich was not enough to overturn the 3-0 lead that Barcelona had amassed in the Nou Camp. A Neymar brace sent the Catalonian side through but goals from Medhi Benatia, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller sealed the 3-2 victory for the German side.

Similar to the first leg, Bayern adopted a risky 3 man defence at the start of the game when in possession and when the ball was conceded the holding midfielders would drop in to fill the gaps. This was the same formation that got cut open in the opening stages of the first leg but we can excuse Guardiola considering the predicament he was in.

Unlike last Wednesday, Guardiola's gamble paid off inside 10 minutes. A floated corner from Xabi Alonso was met by the head of Benatia and he guided the ball home unmarked. It was very shoddy defending from Barcelona and they put themselves under needless pressure. This lifted the Bavarians and hit the visitors. Bayern were bossing and were comfortably on top in the opening exchanges.

Their dominance only lasted 8 minutes. Completely against the run of play, Barca drained every ounce of optimism out of the very passionate and exuberant Munich vocal support with the equaliser. For the second time this match, Barca exploited Bayern's high line. A through ball from Messi found Suarez who squared it to Neymar and allowed him to roll the ball into an empty net. Shortly after, Messi was adjudged to be offside from a defence splitting pass. Bayern needed to have this 3 man transition nailed and can't give away cheap possession or else they were going to be on the end of a hammering.

Chances were coming at both ends through Lewandowski, Messi and Muller but Barca improved their lead on 28 minutes when goal scorer Benatia mistimed the ball leaving Suarez to race through and once again find his partner in crime who netted for his and Barca's second on the night. Never mind a hill, Guardiola's side had Mount Everest to climb and with the Catalans in imperious form, it was an impossible task.

Barca certainly rode their luck. A superb run from Thiago allowed Lewandowski to ghost into space. When the ball landed at the Pole's feet, 2 foot either side of the keeper and it was a certain goal. Instead, Ter Stegen parried before clawing it off the line. It was a good save, but Lewandowski really should have scored. The forward line for Munich got into excellent positions but were very wasteful tonight.  

Throughout the game, Bayern were decent in attack, fashioning numerous chances but were let down by the finish and suicidal defending at times. The second half began tentatively, as if both sides knew that the tie was over as a contest. With the league wrapped up for Bayern and no cup final to savour, they had simply pride to play for, while Barcelona have a tricky fixture against Atletico Madrid at the weekend. This probably explains the differing approaches made by managers as the game progressed. Both sides had chances, but the tempo barely exceeded a walking pace.

Bayern were rewarded for their superb pressing game inside the Barca half when they dispossessed the opposition in the final third. A shot from Lewandowski hit the net via the post and left Marc Andre Ter Stegen rooted. It was his 6th goal in the competition this year but he could easily have had 6 over the tie. Bayern enjoyed the majority of possession and Barca seemed content to soak up possession through the introuduction of Jeremy Mathieu and attempt to hit the home side on the counter. Would this defensive decision cost Barcelona? 

With 20 minutes to go, a curling shot from Thomas Muller found its was into the back of the net. I felt that Muller had been disappointing tonight as he squandered a fair few glorious chances in the first half. They took the lead on the night, probably the least that Guardiola expected from the second half. Bayern were getting chances but as 80 minutes beckoned, it seemed a little to late for the German Champions.

Munich kept pressing but they were unable to break Barca's defence for the fourth time tonight. The last action of the game was courtesy of Neymar. The Brazilian was on the hunt for his hat trick down the left flank, but instead of rolling it past Manuel Neuer, he played an over hit ball which Messi couldn't turn home. Neymar put in a decent shift, although him and Messi went missing under the dominance from Bayern in the final half.

It was a valiant second half effort from the Bavarians to win the game, but the damage was already inflicted in the first leg. I still maintain that if Lewandowski netted that open goal in the first leg, the game could have been a completely different story. Barca march on and have a treble to compete for. We could see them in Berlin competing to for the final jewel in the crown on what has been a topsy turvy season for the Spanish side.

Magical Messi makes the Difference

Barcelona take a comfortable 3-0 lead to Allianz Arena against an injury stricken Bayern Munich. Two moments of magic from Lionel Messi ensured a decent day at the office for Barcelona and Luis Enrique.

With Bayern starting with a bold 3 man defence, Barcelona made a spritely start to an intriguing game. An uncharacteristic long ball from the back was met by the head of Lionel Messi who flicked on and sent Suarez hurtling towards the Bayern goal. Manuel Neuer showed why he is the best keeper on the planet and managed to block the ball.

In the opening stages, Barca were the brightest and were finding weaknesses in the Munich 3 man defence. Suarez hustled and harried Rafinha and this was signs of things to come. After seeing what was taking place before his eyes, Guardiola reshuffled and returned to a more conventional 4 man defence system.

Despite the pressure from the home side, Bayern squandered a glorious attempt to get a vital away goal against the run of play. Thomas Muller was able to occupy 2 defenders before squaring the ball to find Lewandowski. A scuffed shot was met by sighs of relief from the crowd. The Polish international really should have done better.

Barcelona were getting chances it was a matter of time before they capitalised on one. Alves was once again thwarted by a save from Neuer, who prevented Bayern from being hammered I hasten to add. Nicolas Rizzioli brought to an end what was a highly technical and entertaining half of football.

The second half started and both sides shared possession and chances. For Bayern they needed to get support up to Lewandowski, he was fighting a battle against Pique and Mascherano that he wasn't winning. His frustration was becoming more and more visible as the half went on.

Barcelona had chances through Messi and Neymar but they couldn't find a way past the Catalan defence. As the game went by, Pep was looking to contain his former club and take a goalless draw back to the Allianz. The game was not the spectacle that graced our eyes in the first half, and it would take a goal to spark impotence into the sides.

While Barcelona were still protesting over a possible penalty and Bayern appealing for a second yellow for Neymar, the deadlock was broken and the game sprung into life. Superb work from Dani Alves down the right found Messi on the edge of the box and a shot beat Neuer at his near post. Centre backs, Boateng and Benatia had nullified Messi all night and the moment that they give him space, they concede. Bayern were rattled and this prompted Guardiola to enter Mario Gotze into the fray.

With Bayern still dumbstruck, Messi added a second with a cheeky dink over the man mountain himself, Manuel Neuer after embarrassing Boateng on the edge of the six yard box. The game had certainly passed the Bavarians by, so it was imperative they didn't wave goodbye to the tie.

But Munich weren't able to hold the Catalan side out for the 4 additional minutes. Neymar capitalised on an advantage played by Rizzioli where he raced through and slotted past Neuer. 3-0. Surely Barcelona can’t concede 4 at the Allianz?

At 2-0, Guardiola would be confident of overturning a 2 goal deficit. That last minute goal will have been a punch to the ribs and it will be tough for them to recover. How costly will Lewandowski's miss in the first half be?

For 70 minutes, Bayern held their own. Missing key individuals, they weren't outclassed, but it wasn't the same efficient performance that we were blessed in the previous round. It was the man who Guardiola deemed 'unstoppable' in his pre match presser and this certainly proved him right. Messi showed us why he is one of the best players to ever grace the planet.

Carlos Tevez hands Juventus the Initiative

A desperate performance from Real Madrid ensured that they left Turin having to overturn a 1 goal deficit, while Juventus can be quietly confident about their chances in the Bernabeu.

The game started at a frantic pace with a goalkeeping error from Iker Casillas nearly gifting Arturo Vidal a free shot. Juventus made a positive start with Vidal and Carlos Tevez finding pockets of space between the defence and attack. Alvaro Morata was able to outmuscle Pepe and to get a lobbed attempt on goal from about 25 yards only for the Spanish international to tamely fend it away.

Juve were awarded for their attacking exploits when a pass found Tevez in space on the edge of the box. His shot was palmed away by Casillas only to into the path of his former team mate, Alvaro Morata, and he had the easiest finish of his career. Madrid were still in the changing rooms.

The first 20 minutes belonged to Juventus. They received the majority of possession and dominated the midfield encounter. Their pressure was exceptional and they man marked Cristiano Ronaldo with aplomb. Frustration was building from Ronaldo and co. Tevez and Vidal brought to light Sergio Ramos' incapabilities when he was played out of position.

Juve's vulnerabilities on the flanks were fatally exposed when James Rodriguez was able to beat Patrice Evra and a ball found Ronaldo who ghosted into the edge of the 6 yard area to nod home from point blank range. While the opening 20 minutes belonged to Juve, the confidence began to grow in the final stages of the first half for Real Madrid.

Some brilliant, free flowing football from Real Madrid showed us why they are European Champions. Great build up play from Marcelo and Carvajal allowed Isco to fire the ball along the box and a header from James cannoned off the cross bar to Marcelo who sent it over the ball. This would be the last action of what was an interesting half.

The first ten minutes of the second half was sloppy, but it sparked into life when a scintillating run from Carlos Tevez ended in a penalty when Carvajal bundled the Argentine to the floor. He stepped up to restore Juve's lead and send the Juventus Stadium into raptures. The pendulum had swung back in favour of the Turin side.

As the game grew older, Real were beginning to get more and more edgy. Andrea Barzagli was introduced to help solidify things at the back while, Ancelotti brought on the quarter final winner, Javier Hernandez for some inspiration.

The Mexican looked lively and thrived upon a tired Juve defence but was unable to capitalise. The Old Lady were content to absorb the pressure in the closing stages and try and take a lead to the infamous Santiago Bernabeu. The passion displayed on the pitch from the home side was epitomised through tackles from Vidal and Andrea Pirlo who through their bodies at everything.

Real Madrid had too many passengers tonight and Juventus take a deserved lead to the Bernabeu. They will have every confidence that they can continue their excellent form this year into the return leg while Real will have to think long and hard at how to break a decent Italian defence.

Champions League Semi Finals 2015

With the most prestigious prize in club football up for grabs in just over a months time, there can be no room for error if any of the four teams want a chance at playing on the grand stage in Berlin. Surprise package Juventus face the holders Real Madrid, while the glamour tie sees Pep Guardiola return to the Nou Camp for the first time since his departure.

Juventus face a very difficult tie and one that not many people will fancy them to progress. Expect a similar game to the one when Real faced Atleti, where the visitors set up to try and not concede, while showing minimal impotence on the ball. Ultimately a lapse in concentration handed the game to Real, however Juve have a similar options in defence. Giorgio Chiellini has been a stalwart for the Turin side and Italy for years as has Bonucci, while Angelo Ogbonna is an able replacement when called upon. If the Italian champions want to progress, then they will have to take any chances that fall their way.

The flanks will be where Real find the majority of their success. Patrice Evra is aging and while he can bring good experience to the side, he is prone to switch off in crucial stages, (see Manchester United's quarter final second leg match at Bayern Munich last year for evidence). Similarly Stephan Lichtsteiner loves to bomb forward, but can sometimes be caught out of position because of this. Credit where credit is due, he generally repels any attack when it comes his way. I doubt that Allegri will grant him permission to be offensive against the current champions. This game could be another case of patience for Madrid and one of discipline for The Old Lady.

 

The second tie sees Pep Guardiola return to the stadium in which he made his name as a manager. Barcelona are probably the most in form side in Europe, having won their last four matches and not lost since late February. They possess one of the most frightening attacking trios in Europe, yet Bayern have one of the best managers in the modern era. In the last meeting between the sides, Bayern ran riot with a 7-0 annihilation over two legs in the 2012/2013 semi finals. On paper, this has everything to be a great contest with top class content on show, however I think it will interesting to see how two teams which heavily rely on possession match up against each other.

It is evident that both will get chances, so it will be a case of who will be able to be the most clinical. The midfield battle will be vital and will be the deciding factor in who wins the tie. Andres Iniesta was superb in the second leg of the last round, while former Barca man, Thiago Alcantara is finding form after a long lay off. Busquets and Rakitic will both play vital roles for Barcelona in attempting to break up the Bayern attacks. Likewise, Xabi Alonso will do the same for the Germans. It's undoubtedly the tie of the round and whoever wins this, may be favourites to go on and lift the trophy.

We may not have an exciting round of games in our hands, but they are intriguing nonetheless. For me I think that Juventus can pull off a shock victory, while Pep's hunt for European glory will continue as Barcelona will go through to face the Old Lady in the Berlin.

The Most Wanted Man in Europe

The news that Jurgen Klopp was resigning at the end of the season has shocked everyone and has left Dortmund fans significantly disappointed after he was backed by higher powers after a horrific start to the season.
 

The 47 year old has confirmed that he will take a year out, before pursuing on another adventure, most likely in England, due to the man himself admitting that he won't need to learn the language. It was a massive judgement call by the German manager, and he will now have the decision as to where he will venture in the next year. He has been linked to many English and European jobs in the past and these rumours will only intensify after his recent decision. Here are some sides that could be in with a chance of securing him as their future boss.
 

Napoli

When appointed in 2013, Rafa Benitez was expected to continue the improvements the Neopolitan club made under Walter Mazzari the four years previous. After the sale of Ezequiel Lavezzi in 2012 and Edinson Cavani in 2013, Benitez was expected to invest wisely and improve Napoli's fortunes in the Serie A. He brought talents such as Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon from Real Madrid and Dries Mertens from PSV for a combined total of €60m so far during his tenure as well as numerous other acquisitions. Benitez brought Coppa Italia glory last season as well as the Super Cup in August. Many have predicted that Benitez will be relieved of his duties in the summer if he does not show any improvement on last years 3rd place finish. Currently. they have been unable to topple Juventus at the top, who are running away with the league. Recent developments may have convinced the Neopolitan board to take a punt and attempt to bring Klopp to Naples.

Real Madrid
Although having delivered the long awaited La Decima to the Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti is walking a tight rope onboard the fickle Real Madrid coach. It was reported that winning the Champions League was his saving grace last season, having been disappointing in the league with finishing behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Madristas don't take kindly to a season without silverware, and while they may look at his past exploits and ignore this season, a second season will not be accepted in the Spanish capital. Currently sitting 2 points behind Barcelona in the table and through to the semi finals of the Champions League, Ancelotti is in a healthy position, but so much can happen between now and the end of the season. I'm not sure whether Klopp would want to take on the challenge of managing Real Madrid, after all, winning trophies by playing attractive football is the only way to safe guard your job. Even at that, it's no guarantee that it will be a long term post.

Arsenal

Gooners have been calling for a Wenger replacement for the past few years. Minus the barren years, Wenger has been a terrific servant to Arsenal Football Club and I am almost certain that Klopp will be high on their list of possible successors. Arsenal will definitely need to show the same faith in Klopp that the Dortmund board did during the tough spell at the beginning of the season. If things get tough, and it will, another question would be whether the fans will keep backing the German? It was no secret that the Gunners have pursued Klopp in the past, and it really would not surprise me if the board has made an informal approach for the former Mainz and Dortmund man for the end of next season.

Manchester City
Having one the league for the second time in four years last season, many expected Pellegrini and City to kick on and try achieve some European glory. This was not the case, instead, they were dumped out in the first leg by Barcelona after, in hindsight, it looked as if Pellegrini had got his tactics wrong. City lie in fourth position, disappointing by the high standards set by the board and fans. It seems as if Pellegrini has served his time in Manchester and his time could reach an abrupt end once the season concludes. While Klopp is currently available, rumour has it that Pep Guardiola is the name mentioned at the Etihad. Still at Bayern, Pep will not leave for another season at the very least. Will City take a punt with Klopp or will they wait for Guardiola? I would probably say the latter is the most likely.

Liverpool
Last, but certainly by no means least is Liverpool. While I don't think Liverpool should part with Brendan Rodgers for any reason, it is a must to be included. Klopp would fit perfectly with Liverpool, considering the youth prospects he nurtured in Dortmund. With Liverpool having a decent number of young talent progressing through their ranks and poor results in the league may convince the American owners to part with Brendan Rodgers. Klopp isn't the only one wanted by Kopites, Rafa 'the Gaffa' Benitez is also remembered in Merseyside for his tremendous work with the side in the 2000s. Currently at Napoli, he would also be welcomed back at Anfield.

I can't assume that Klopp will have any difficulties in finding his new job, with guiding Dortmund to 2 league titles and leading them to the 2013 Champions League Final. However whether he will be as successful at his new club as he was in Germany is a completely different matter. He has confirmed that he will have a 'sabbatical' before hopefully returning to management in the summer of 2016.

Chicharito fires Real Madrid into the Semi Finals

Real Madrid pursue a second consecutive Champions League title, while Arda Turan's dubious red card halts Atleti's progress

Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez, will have put his face in the shop window tonight with his very late winner that he scored the goal to send Los Blancos into the last four.

Despite several changes, Real Madrid were able to dominate the opening 20 minutes, but were unable to breach the typically disciplined Simeone side. Atleti did have their share of pressure, with Koke and Griezmann finding holes in behind the defence.

With the half time whistle blowing when the game remained scoreless, it was a game that wasn't very exciting, but fascinating nonetheless. Gamez had a shot saved by Casillas, while Ronaldo scuffed one wide before firing straight at Oblak when he really should have done better. Atleti conceded fouls to break up the game and frustrate Madrid and it was certainly working for the visitors.  

The second half started at a frenetic pace with Hernandez pulling a glorious chance across the face of the goal. The visitors were swinging balls into the box, but Real's defence dealt with them. Ramos found himself unmarked inside the box after a Ronaldo cross, but was unable to steer the ball to either side of Oblak. Likewise, a Koke header was straight at Casillas.

The tie swung in the favour of the Royals when a high foot from Arda Turan earned him a second yellow card. Real were able to make the extra man count, when Ronaldo squared the ball to Chicharito to give Real their first victory over Atleti this season.

Real Madrid's title defence continues as they march into the semi finals at the dispense of their city neighbours.

Man of the Match

I thought both Godin and Miranda had exceptional games, but my man of the match has to go to the match winner, Javier Hernandez. He ran every lost cause and was rightly rewarded with the winning goal.

Barcelona v Paris Saint Germain in 300 words

It was definitely a case of ‘job well done’ for Barcelona as they stroll into the semis through a first half brace from Neymar.

Barcelona dominated the opening stages of the match courtesy of quick passing and disciplined pressing when PSG had the ball in their own half. They were duly rewarded for their efforts with the first goal on the night when captain, Andres Iniesta embarked on a mazy run beating three straggling defenders before releasing Neymar who scored with a high degree of finesse.

Iniesta was pulling all the strings in Catalonia, as if the ball was a magnet at his feet, while the influential Ibrahimovic for PSG was barely mentioned. The second goal came just after the half hour mark, and it was only a matter of time before the third arrived.

In the second half, it was probably to be expected that it would be a non-event, and that is exactly what the first 15 minutes were. A good chance fell to the Parisians through Verratti, but his shot skewed wide.

Javier Pastore never got into the game and the Argentinian was a main factor in why the Parisians were never able to maintain a solid spell of possession. He misplaced 15 passes and a poorly timed pass that would have played Cavani through, typified his and his team’s performance.

For Barcelona, the second half could be described as a ‘professional job’ but they took their foot off the gas and lost all accuracy when Iniesta was replaced at half time. Messi had a chance to overtake Ronaldo in the goal-scoring charts on the stroke of full time but his shot sailed just wide.

Barcelona smothered PSG in midfield and walk into the semi-finals for the 8^th time in the last ten years.

Man of the Match

My man of the match has to be Andres Iniesta. For 45 minutes he patrolled the midfield, orchestrating, and created the opening goal of the night. Notable mentions also have to go to Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets.

FA Cup Semi Final Preview

A momentous occasion for four clubs approaches at the weekend. A trip to Wembley for the FA Cup Semi Final. Featuring Liverpool, Reading, Aston Villa and Arsenal, all sides have had vastly different seasons.

On Saturday, The Gunners from North London will make the short trip across to take on Reading. On of the inform teams in the Premier League, they will be clear favourites to progress to the final. Having won nine out of the last ten league games, Arsenal are eyeing a second place finish above current champions, Manchester City with a 5 point gap being established at the weekend. As for Reading, they have been less than inspiring in the Championship but find themselves 11 points outside the relegation zone and with nothing to play for in the league. This will mean that they can put all their eggs in one basket in the hope of another trip to Wembley come the end of May.

En route to the semi final, Reading disposed of giant killers Bradford in the previous round, while beating teams such as Derby County, Cardiff City and Huddersfield on their way to the final. Most of the teams are placed higher in the league than themselves, indicating that they have played their share of quality opposition. Although the Arsenal match will be the first time they take on a Premier League team, they will take confidence from results gained in other matches. Arsenal faced a trip to Old Trafford in the previous round and where able to come out on top in a tactical encounter. Brighton and Hull were also defeated on their journey.

It's a tie that Arsenal will be expected to win and one that I think they will duly deliver. Another boost for Arsenal is that Jack Wilshere is citing this match as his return to football after another injury lay off. I think Arsenal's form and class will overshadow a gutsy Reading performance as they march onto their second consecutive FA Cup final.

Liverpool and Aston Villa occupy the second semi final that will be played on Sunday. After the sacking of Paul Lambert in the middle of February, newly appointed Tim Sherwood brought on a new style of play, effectively utilising Aston Villa's potent attacking options. He has created a sense of optimism that wasn't at the club in the concluding days of the Lambert era. The sheer joy and jubilation was evident at the final whistle of the quarter final match where Villa defeated West Brom at Villa Park. The club has been going through a testing few years and this trip to Wembley will provide a perfect back drop to banish dire memories of a substandard league campaign.

Similarly Liverpool will be expecting to defeat the Villains on Sunday at Wembley. Having enjoyed an indifferent season with highs and lows, a trip on Steven Gerrard's birthday to the final will certainly be a way to end the season on a high as well as a celebration one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League era as his career in the North West draws to an end. Another performance from Jordan Henderson similar to the one that helped defeat Newcastle United on Monday night.

Mario Balotelli blows hot and cold and Rickie Lambert has never had a chance since he moved from Southampton in the summer. Sterling has been embroiled in contract controversy over the past few weeks and will be likely to start. I would like to see Rodgers field the same attacking options as he did against Newcastle as they were able to forge an abundance of chances, and on another day, Liverpool would have been out of sight by half time.

Sherwood has improved Villa's side since he his appointment, and with the attacking brand of football, his side will definitely pose Liverpool some problems. I still think that Liverpool will have enough to overcome the challenge and progress to their first final since their defeat against Chelsea in 2012.

Both ties will be enthralling encounters, and each underdog will look to Bradford and Middlesbrough for inspiration in defeating a superior side. This is the FA Cup and we have already had our fair share of cup shocks. Who says we won't be discussing another on Monday morning?

Manuel Pellegrini and Manchester City

You would struggle to find anyone in the UK that would have thought Manchester City were trailing Manchester United going into the return derby. Both sides will want the bragging rights, but the game is the most important to Manuel Pellegrini.

Last May, Pellegrini was enjoying life, Capital One Cup in the bag followed by the league title. Many predicted this year to be a two horse race with Chelsea pipping City to the title and it looked like this was the case up until the New Year. Since then, City have lost 4 games, including 3 last month and have picked up just 18 points in the league - that's 8 less than their City rivals.

Rumours are flying about that Pellegrini is on his last legs at the Etihad. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Looking at last season, City should have had the title wrapped up in a present early. They had a far superior squad to Liverpool and Jose didn't seem interested in winning the league. Instead, they faltered and nearly handed the title to their North West rivals. The Premier League win papered over the cracks of a season that could have gone a lot worse.

Champions League is again, a major worry for Manchester City fans. This season was another year where they failed in the last 16 stage to Barcelona. Pellegrini will point to dodgy decisions made by the officials, however his tactical naivety cannot be ignored. In both years, they played in a 4-4-2 formation, suicidal when playing Barcelona who base their game on possession. Barcelona had the extra man in midfield and a comfortable first half, before Pellegrini decided to change, low and behold, City began to grow into the game and had chances. The damage was already done and a positive result in the Nou Camp seemed an impossible task.

The match on Sunday is a must win. A loss could see Liverpool move within 4 points of City, providing they secure maximum points at Newcastle. Manchester United have hit a run of form, with notable victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and Aston Villa. A win may not save Pellegrini's job, but it will go along way to banish nightmares of the poor results they have received over the last couple of months.

 City cannot allow United to dominate the midfield and this means playing 3 in the centre of midfield. United's duo of Carrick and Herrera are excellent at finding the passes in order to unlock defences. City will have to contend with the threat posed my Rooney up front, but more importantly, Fellaini in the hole behind the captain. A player like Yaya Toure or Fernandinho should have the power to deal with this threat, but as teams have found out in the past, you cannot underestimate the threat of Marouane Fellaini. Up front, Aguero is a match winner although has had his injury problems of late while David Silva can thread a ball through the eye of a needle.

Vincent Kompany has not been at his best this season for the blue side of Manchester, yet he is such an influential player. City feel much more secure at the back when he is on the pitch. When on the sidelines, City have to rely on the often eccentric Eliaquim Mangala, whom it seems they have severely overpaid for and Martin Demichelis who has seen better days. Mangala may prove his worth, but at the moment he is a long way off it and City are suffering. With Kompany an injury doubt, this could spell more trouble for City.

Looking onto the summer, City could go on a spending spree, buying players such as Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Jack Wilshere. The media has constantly criticised City for their lack of young, English talent and this option would be an attempt to rectify it. While this is only one of the many transfer rumours in full flight at this time of year, it is all wrong. Buying English talent is a costly business and only recommended if the results are a safe bet. It would be wise for City to look elsewhere and take the criticism on the chin.

I am a fan of Jordan Henderson as he is a proper leader of men and an excellent box to box midfielder, however he, like the others, would command a monumental fee. Jack Wilshere hasn't fulfilled his potential and even at the age of 23, injuries may hamper his progress further. As for Raheem Sterling, he is a hot prospect however City shouldn't spend an obscene amount of money when he is at such a young age.

No matter what happens on Sunday, Pellegrini could find himself looking for a new job in the summer. I would tip Carlo Ancelotti to replace him, as he could find himself unemployed if he doesn't grant Florentino Perez with more silverware. It may not be judgement day for Pellegrini, but the reaper is approaching and could be on his doorstep by 7pm on Sunday evening.

The Time to Shine for the Old Lady

For all their domestic dominance in Serie A, Juventus have been less than impressive in Europe over recent years. Now however, they have received a favourable draw, and could find themselves in their first semi-final since the 2002/2003 season.

Leading the Serie A by fourteen points with ten games to go, I'm sure Massimiliano Allegri is pretty confident that the Scudetto is staying in Turin and has the luxury of concentrating their efforts elsewhere. Having won the last 3 Serie A titles under fan favourite Antonio Conte, the value of domestic silverware is waning and Allegri will be hoping to restore Juventus back to the European Stage.

There is no reason why the Old Lady can reach a semi-final with a quarter final tie against Monaco. Fresh from a riveting win over Arsenal, The principality club will offer stiff opposition, not to be underestimated, as the Gunners found out in the previous round. From the first leg it was evident that the pace they have in Anthony Martial and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco are devastating when playing on the counter attack and the unpredictability that Berbatov brings will ask Juve questions that need to be answered.

The away leg first will suit the Ligue 1 side better meaning that they know what they have to do when in the home leg. For Juventus they will have to combat the pace on the flanks, through Stephan Lichsteiner and Patrice Evra. Defensively, The Turin side are solid, particularly in the league, only conceding 14 goals in 28 games domestically. Not only this season, but over the past years, Juve have had an excellent defence, compared to those of the top European sides.

Similar to Juventus, Monaco also have an exceptional defence. Coach Leonardo Jardim has transformed the defence, particularly with Aymen Abdennour at the heart. The Tunisian was a star performer in the Arsenal tie and constantly put his body on the line for his club. The defence was well organised as Alexis, Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Walcott never faced any one on ones. If Juventus' midfield can isolate Tevez or Morata with a defender, they will have the beating of them. With Juve likely to have most of the ball, they should hope to play the ball to the feet of Tevez and look for Morata to feed off him.

At home, I expect Juventus to record a positive result. In the league they have a near flawless record, blemished by the odd draw. Since October 2010, they have only lost twice, once on penalties in the Super Cup against Napoli in late December and the second in the Coppa Italia tie versus Fiorentina at the beginning of March. This is a phenomenal record, regardless of the quality of teams in the league. Monaco will find it very hard to leave Turin with a draw, never mind a precious victory.

In the away leg, if they get a good result at home, then Juventus can return back to their stereotypically defensive side that epitomised Italian football for many years. It's a risky strategy, but with the defensive prowess of the Old Lady, I wouldn't be surprised if they were able to pull this off. Monaco seemed comfortable sacrificing possession to Arsenal - they had 43% at the Emirates and 30% at home - so expect Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal and co. to dictate the tempo of the play. A victory for Juve would pose a difficult situation for Monaco as they may have to negate their defensive duties in search of a goal. This would suit Juve, particularly through the speed of Tevez, Morata and Lichtsteiner. 

Up front, they also have a bite. Carlos Tevez has proven a useful signing, scoring 16 goals. Alvaro Morata has edged out Fernando Llorente over the last few weeks, as he offers more mobility. Llorente is often used as a go to man whenever they are in great need of a goal. His height and physicality allows the wide men to swing balls into the air, and he often delivers.

The Madrid derby will undoubtedly overshadow this, but I look forward to this just as much. Juventus adopt a 4-3-3 formation instead of the standard 3-5-2/5-3-2 that we were used to seeing during the Conte era. A 4-3-3 will match up against Monaco, who play a similar formation. Lichsteiner loves to get forward on the right, and this could be somewhere which Monaco may be able to exploit.

While Paul Pogba was an icon during previous season, his exploits this year have only added to his value. The young Frenchman is their linchpin and he will be at the centre of any European success in the next few years. Similarly, they have Kingsley Coman, a young attacker, highly rated in the Juve ranks. We know Tevez can unlock any defence as we know, and the defence is solid. It’s written in the stars for Juventus FC.

I would tip Juventus to progress to the semi-finals, as Monaco are a relatively young team, and this could be one step too far for the French side. As for the semis, I’m not convinced they are able to compete at the top level against the European elite. This is a massive opportunity for Juventus and Turin will be bouncing when Les Monegasques visit on the 14^th April.

Champions League Quarter Final Draw 2015

For the second time in three years the Champions League Quarter Final round will be an English free zone. Eight teams make up the four ties with the marquee match being the rematch of last years final, an all Madrid derby. Here, I'll offer you my predictions as to how I think this round will pan out.

Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona

Both teams met against each other in the group stages with each side picking up a victory. PSG have two team of the year centre backs, but Messi and co will be looking to exploit this considering David Luiz is likely to play. The first leg in Paris will suit PSG, as a positive result would mean they have everything to go and defend for in the Nou Camp. For Barcelona they will definitely target Luiz and try to pull him out of position and this shouldn't be too hard considering the wealth of talent at the disposal of the Catalan giants. Both sides play similar 4-3-3 formations with Marco Veratti playing similar role to Sergio Busquests in the middle of the park. I do think the first leg will be a tentative, cagey affair with the game in the group stages fresh in Barca minds and PSG not wanting to concede an away goal. I think PSG will come win at home, leaving a enthralling encounter to be had at the Nou Camp but I do believe Enrique's Barca will come through the tie as their class and panache will be evident in the second leg.

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid
Atleti want to banish those memories of Lisbon 2014 when Real ran riot in extra time to score three unanswered goals and clinch La Decima. For Real, they want to avenge the 4-0 drubbing their opponents dished out last month in February. Atleti know how to beat their City rivals, having only lost to them once in the last seven matches. The Rojiblancos scraped through a tie against German side, Bayer Leverkusen on penalties and will certainly need to play a lot better if they are going to out muscle their city counterparts. As for Los Merengues, a comfortable away win against Schalke was enough to secure a victory in the tie even though they lost in the home leg. Madristas expressed their frustration at the final whistle of the game with the waving of white tissues in the air. Carlo Ancelotti will now be feeling the pressure. It's predictable how Simeone will line up his side, defensive and solid - not looking to concede and looking to punish on the counter. Ronaldo and co. will have the majority of possession but it will be what they do with the ball that determines the outcome of the tie. I will not be surprised if this goes the full distance but do think Atleti will edge out Real and hammer the final nail into the coffin of Carlo Ancelotti.

Porto v Bayern Munich
On paper this match looks incredibly one sided, but having rarely witnessed Porto play, it's difficult to say whether this is true or not. A draw for Porto in the first leg, preferably goalless, would deny Bayern the away goal which could be a deciding factor in the tie. . By the time the tie comes around, Bayern will be able to rest a few key players in domestic fixtures in order to prepare for the game. On the other hand, Porto have everything to play for in the Portuguese league and they trail Benfica who are on top of the pile by four points. The Portuguese side have a few useful operators in their ranks, including Casemiro, the loanee from Madrid, Bruno Martins Indi and Jackson Martinez. Casemiro is a sturdy defensive midfielder with a useful shot on him, but his discipline can let him down sometimes. Up front, Martinez is an experienced striker who knows where the goal is. I am confident in predicting a comfortable Bayern win and passage into their fourth semi final in since 2010.

Juventus v Monaco
Probably noted as a tie that not many will take an interest in, I think Juventus versus Monaco has to be taken seriously. It's a tie that both sides have the potential to win. Juventus have completed domestic domination in Italy, but have not been able to translate their supremacy in Serie A to Europe.  At the start of the season, Monaco were faltering and losing games, now however, Leonardo Jardim has turned them into a defensively solid unit - they have just lost three of their last 23 games in all competitions in regulation time, conceding just nine goals over that spell. Impressive. Juventus are also defensively solid, having kept nineteen clean sheets already this season and haven't conceded since a 2-1 home loss against Fiorentina on 5th March. Monaco have pace in Fererra-Carrasco and Anthony Martial up front, mixed with the guile and charisma of Dimi Berbatov. It will be interesting to see how this progresses against, Chiellini and Bonucci. Paul Pogba has been majestic this season and is certainly the jewel in the Old Lady's crown, but Monaco have a similar type of player in Geoffrey Kondogbia. I'm looking forward to this tactical tie, and think the match winners in Tevez and Pogba will keep the Italian flag flying in this years edition.

For the likes of Monaco and Porto, not many people expected them to get to the quarters and be in with a shout. I don't think we will see any exceedingly one sided ties in this round, and there is the possibility of an upset. Even if Monaco do not progress, they will have reached expectations in the tournament and with a young squad, it won't be the last we hear of them. First leg ties will be played the week commencing the 13th April with the return legs on 22nd April.

A Square Peg in a Round Hole.

It's deadline day, 1st September 2014 and Louis Van Gaal has confirmed the signature of Colombian number 9, Radamel Falcao. With a striking force of Falcao, Van Persie, Di Maria and Wayne Rooney, many thought that United would be up there in the title challenge. The four scored a over 50 goals between them last season, with Falcao netting 11. So why has it all gone wrong for Radamel Falcao?

I will be highly amazed if he is signed for the reported €43m in the summer after the loan deal this season worth £6m. Scoring 4 goals in 19 games for The Red Devils has done nothing to inspire Van Gaal to stump up the money to make his signing permanent. Injuries have also hampered his playing time, having been ruled out of the World Cup having got injured in a match for Monaco. Injury worries are probably why he was only signed on loan - a smart move from Louis Van Gaal.

It is evident that Falcao is a confidence player, and right now his morale is rock bottom. This is not helped by the constant bashing he has received in the media. Falcao needs a 5 yard winner and a run of games in the first team. Anytime he has netted, he has either been benched or picks up an injury. He has also had to adapt to the tactics used by Van Gaal in Manchester. Radamel Falcao excels as the front man in a 4-2-3-1 formation with a playmaker in behind. At United it would be Juan Mata or Wayne Rooney, but LVG has been experimenting with a hybrid 3-5-2/5-3-2 or a 4-1-2-1-2 formation. 

Louis Van Gaal doesn't know his best tactic and starting 11 and this is hampering both Falcao and the rest of the squad. Earlier in the season, the Colombian was played in a front two alongside Van Persie. It is safe to say that he didn't enjoy this and prefers to be a lone wolf up front. Van Persie and Falcao are similar types of players, strong and like a traditional centre forward. Both were running into each others space and frustration was apparent in their body language. Van Gaal is obviously going to prefer the Dutchman, with Falcao seemingly moving on to new pastures in the summer.

The media jumped at the chance to hammer Falcao for being substituted in an U21s match where he was largely ineffective. This is the last thing everyone expected to hear when he completed the loan move back in September. Also, Adnan Januzaj was preferred on Monday night when Manchester United were a goal down to Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter final tie. He pretty much sums up El Tigre's career in Manchester when a 20 year old academy graduate gets the nod over a seasoned striker.

Again, Louis Van Gaal overlooked Falcao for his selection to face Spurs on Sunday, in favour of Rooney and Fellaini with Mata in behind. Unlike the Arsenal result, United delivered an accurate, professional performance and comfortably won 3-0, meaning that Falcao's troubles will not be documented as readily as he was over the past week.

On Sunday however, Van Gaal played a 4-3-3 formation, something which could benefit the Colombian. Mata and Ashley Young were the two wide men and both had decent outings. Ashley Young has the ability to whip in a venomous ball and if Di Maria plays on the right, those pesky inswingers are a nightmare for defences to defend. This could be the attacking lineup that sparks a comeback for Falcao, however it doesn't look like he will be able to displace Wayne Rooney anytime soon.

His pickle also asks another question. Is the role of the 'traditional number 9' dying out? Like Falcao, Fernando Torres never excelled at Chelsea, even though he did at Liverpool, and Andy Carroll has failed to make any impact after a one hit wonder season at Newcastle. While Diego Costa shows similar traits to that of the number 9, he tends to like to drift wider in order to bring the midfield of Fabregas, Willian and Hazard into play.

Giroud is probably the closest we have to another Shearer, however it's insulting to Geordie to compare the Frenchman to him. In the modern era, teams are preferring to adopt a playmaking number 10 in the hole. United has Rooney, Chelsea have Hazard, Arsenal have Ozil and Liverpool have Coutinho. This type of player has become more dominant in the modern day and are more of a focal point than the traditional striker.

In the number of appearances he has had this season, I remember the away game in the FA Cup to Cambridge United. He was heavily criticised after a poor team performance from his side, yet he received substandard service from his midfield, and that is being generous. The battering he took from the media, will have done more damage than good to his morale. I don't think anyone can doubt that he has got a dead eye from goal, and is lethal in front of goal, but he needs Mata, Herrera, Rooney to do their job in the centre of the pitch.

If Radamel Falcao wants to prolong his stay in Manchester, then he will need to come up with the goods sooner rather than later. However, it looks like he is on borrowed time in Old Trafford, and will be travelling back to the French Riviera once the season concludes. I don't think United are suited to him, and there definitely will be plenty of suitors in the summer if he is looking to part from Monaco. 

The Transformation of PSG

A stunning, disciplined performance from 10 man PSG ensured a confident victory over Chelsea in the Champions League last 16. The game was not without its controversial moments, including the red card to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a penalty shout for Diego Costa in the first half. However, the thing I found most commendable was the transformation that has taken place since the New Year.

Before Christmas, rumours of a fractured dressing room in the French capital appeared, with strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani in the thick of it. A disagreement between the pair saw, queries over the future of Cavani at the club and the future of Laurent Blanc as manager. I remember seeing one clip in particular where Ibra was in a 2 on 1 with Cavani against a defender with a simple pass to the side would have allowed Cavani to have an unchallenged shot at goal, instead, he didn't pass and the move broke down. The look of disgust on the Uruguayan's face was unforgettable.

It is worth noting that the Parisians did not lose a game until the Champions League away match against Barcelona in December and the next loss followed suit against Guingamp 4 days later. However numerous draws halted their climb up the Ligue 1 table. During the month of September they recorded just 2 wins and 4 draws, not good by the high standards set at the club. December was another bad month, as they only picked up 8 points out of a possible 18 in all competitions. Worse was yet to come.

The January game against Bastia is probably the lowest point of the season to date. PSG raced into a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes through goals from Lucas Moura and Adrien Rabiot and were entirely commanding in the opening exchanges. There is only one explanation as to why they conceded 4 unanswered goals. Complacency. PSG had by far the superior starting 11 on paper, but gifting them 2 goals gave them the momentum and then it was very hard for the Parisians to get back to the top. 

The Christmas period was particularly difficult as fresh rumours of discontent rumbled in the air. Again Cavani was in the middle of it. Both him and fellow countryman Ezequiel Lavezzi were suspended internally for 2 games after they failed to report back to the training camp in Morocco after a week off. The dressing room was divided with some players jealous at the privileges others got. Players that were out of form seemed undroppable leaving those on the bench irritated and confused. Laurent Blanc had his hands full of many problems in the French capital. 

What happened last night against Chelsea and can Blanc carry this on into the closing stages of the season?

To start with, no one can deny that Chelsea were diabolical, and this would have made it a whole lot easier for Blanc's men even if they were down to 10 men for 90 minutes of the match. Blanc hit the nail on the head with the tactics and was able to take advantage of PSG's unknown superiority at set pieces. It was nothing less than what they deserved.

Looking at the controversial incidents during the match, the challenge from Ibra looked like a leg breaker but it was a 50/50 challenge with both players having a keen intent on going for the ball. It's easy to criticise the referee, but it's occasions like this where they would benefit greatly from the introduction of a television match official or 'TMO'. It is also simple to condemn the despicable Chelsea players from surrounding the ref, but it's commonplace in today's game - not that it makes it acceptable.

Diego Costa was a constant liability during the game and it amazes me as to how he was never sent off, but he had a 'stonewall' penalty appeal refuted as some would say. It was terrific skill from the ex Brazilian but it was quite clear he never had any intention of getting a shot away. There was contact but it needs to be emphasised that not all contact is considered a foul. If it was, then I would go to write about chess or something daft like that. Costa has got a tremendous amount of ability, but his temperament can cost his team.

Looking at PSG themselves, they knew all their roles. Marco Verratti was at his niggly best, Javier Pastore ran himself into the ground and Sirigu produced several fine saves to keep the Parisians in the tie. It was written in the script for David Luiz to score against his former club last night, following suit with Klass-Jan Huntelaar the night before and Danny Welbeck on Monday. As much as we all like to abuse him for his distinct lack of defensive qualities and just being an all round shambolic defender, Luiz does try his best. That statement may seem like a bit of a cop-out, but he showed a tremendous amount of passion, unlike a few others on the pitch and looking back on it, did so through out the World Cup.

PSG put in a professional performance last night, similar to Chelsea's against Barcelona in 2012. The task for Laurent Blanc will be to keep his players singing from the same hymn book and they definitely topple Lyon at the top of Ligue 1. As for the Champions League, it is probably a bit further in the distance yet. Managing a dressing room packed with egos is difficult, but I take confidence from the victory of Stamford Bridge that Blanc is the right man to lead them to glory.

Capital One Cup Final 2015

The first competitive piece of silverware in the New Year is up for grabs on Sunday as Tottenham take on the high flying side of Chelsea.

While the Capital One Cup may not mean much for many people, both Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to for their first silverware of the season. Mourinho has not won a trophy in his second spell as Chelsea manager, and Pochettino will be looking to win Tottenham's first trophy since the 2008 League Cup campaign. Both teams will be quietly confident going into this match and have a lot to prove.

An added incentive is that both sides were knocked out of the FA Cup in the early stages. Chelsea will be looking to win this trophy as a small consolation for being royally dumped out in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Mourinho came under criticism for not offering the appropriate value to the trophy by fielding a second-string side. He will certainly not show Spurs a lack of respect.

Similarly, Spurs were stunned by a 90th minute Schlupp winner for Leicester City in the FA Cup. Like this competition, it was earmarked as one that they had the potential to win and to not make it past the 4th round will be a major disappointment. Other than that, Spurs are having a decent season, particularly after a stuttering start in the league. This trophy would give Daniel Levy and the fans the much needed confidence in their manager.

Route to the Final
Chelsea's 3rd round tie saw Kurt Zouma net on his debut while Oscar scored the winner to secure an unconvincing victory over Bolton Wanderers. As for Spurs, they recovered a goal deficit to win 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest thanks to Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and Robert Soldado. An 81st minute own-goal was enough to break Shrewsbury hearts and send Chelsea through in the fifth round, while Spurs coasted past Brighton by two goals. A stylish performance from Spurs obliterated Newcastle in the quarter finals with Bentaleb, Chadli, Soldado and Kane all registering on the score sheet. Likewise, a confident performance from the Blues as they brushed Derby to the side and moved on to a semi final clash with Liverpool.

In the semi finals, both Chelsea and Tottenham faced scary situations. Spurs had a considerably easier tie on paper, facing Sheffield United but scraped through 3-2 on aggregate. Spurs took a slim 1-0 lead into the second leg after an Andros Townsend penalty inside the last 20 minutes. At Bramall Lane, Spurs looked comfortable and a 1-0 lead, courtesy of Christian Erikson, at halftime was deserved. Things got hairy in the last 15 minutes when 2 Che Adams goals sparked a comeback from United. As he has done so much this season, Erikson saved Spurs' blushes with an 88th minute goal to send the North London side to Wembley.

A tactical master-class from the 'Special One' secured Chelsea's appearance at Wembley. A 1-1 first leg draw at Anfield gave Chelsea the away goal that would prove beneficial if the tie went to extra time. Sterling's second half equaliser cancelled out Eden Hazard's 18th minute penalty. The second leg was an interesting affair. Chelsea edged the possession stats, but there was nothing to separate the sides. Scoreless after 90 minutes saw Liverpool having to score a goal to prevent exiting on away goals but it was Branislav Ivanovic who rose highest to nod in a Willian free kick and send Liverpool packing and ensure Mourinho's men booked a final clash against London rivals Tottenham.

My Prediction
Chelsea will be without Nemanja Matic for the final after his sending off against Burnley at the weekend. Remembering back to the New Years' Day fixture between the sides, Chelsea missed Matic's presence in the middle of the park and went on to lose 5-3 at White Hart Lane. It would be very bizarre if Mourinho was to prepare for this encounter by not using the events that occurred in January. It would be likely for John Obi Mikel to fill this role, with Fabregas alongside him. The threat posed by Harry Kane will need to be neutralised, particularly as he netted two goals that day and has been in great form this season. He can turn a match on it's head in a moment so Terry and co. will need to be aware throughout the game.

As for Spurs, it's obvious that Diego Costa and Eden Hazard will be the threat to watch out for. Hazard has created 8 goals this season, and finishing 11 of his own in all competitions. As for Costa, he has had a terrific debut season at the Bridge, scoring 17 goals to aid Chelsea's cause. Both scored a goal apiece the last time the sides met, so Spurs will know that they need special attention. Newbie Juan Cuadrado is a speed merchant who will pose problems for defenders. It will be an interesting battle between Kyle Walker and Cuadrado, if they play, to see who will come out on top. Although he is not your stereotypical fullback, Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the best right backs in world. He can defend but also whip a mean delivery into the box and is probably one of Chelsea's most underrated players.

This match is difficult to predict as both sides will be gunning for the win. It's easy to side with Chelsea as they have the players and a world class manager, however Spurs possess a youngster in top form. Chelsea will definitely repair the mistakes made in the last encounter. I'm going to sit on the fence and say that the match going to penalties with Chelsea edging out their London opponents. It will be a cracking final.

Manchester City v Barcelona

Barcelona are in Manchester tonight to take on the English Champions and this can only mean one thing, the  Champions League. I thought I would write this to give an insight into what Manchester City have to do to progress in the competition.

1. Vincent Kompany

For all the many millions that the Sheikhs are pumping into the Manchester club, £6m buy Vincent Kompany is the defensive heartbeat at all the success for City. He hasn't been at his formidable best this season, and was out injured around the Christmas period. I wouldn't say that his contribution is underrated as he does get a lot of credit for his actions, but his value is priceless to City and I'm sure Pellegrini is aware of this. Kompany brings a calm head to the defence, particularly when Mangala can be erratic at times. He will need to be at his best to neutralise a potent Catalonian attack.

2. Don't play 2 strikers.

City normally play a 4-4-2 that works pretty well for them. They've won the Premier League with the formation, but I don't see them beating Barcelona with it. We all know that Barcelona like the possession stats, so with only 2 in the centre of midfield, they may get overrun by Barca's 3. Here's hoping that Aguero tracks back, as the defence will need help. While Barca have been content with passing the ball in tiki taka over the years, Luis Enrique has seemed to acquire a more direct approach - not to the extent of hoof ball, but you know what I mean. Because of this, I can sort of see why Pellegrini has selected 2 strikers, although I don't agree with him.

3. Sergio Aguero 

Of course, the man, myth and legend will have a deciding factor on the game. I am unequivocally positive that City will get chances, and this will be the man who you would bet on 9 times out of 10 to finish them. Aguero is likely to play a shadow striker role, but will also need to give a hand in defence. Aguero will be involved in the action one way or another and may prove beneficial to his strike partner, Edin Dzeko, who poses a different threat to the other little Argentine. Both Dzeko and Aguero will cause problems for the defence but will they take them?

4. Wide players.

Pablo Zabeleta and Gael Clichy will be vital tonight in defence. Up against Neymar and Messi, discipline will be key as both and produce magic from nothing. Suarez needs to be thrown into the mix as I could put a mortgage on all three roaming positions. With Neymar often going down when a gentle breeze brushes him, City will need to be careful when it comes to challenging for the ball. Not only will they be facing this terrific trio, Jordi Alba and Dani Alves' overlapping runs are also likely to cause problems. The wingers will need to retreat when Barcelona are on the ball.

5. Sergio Busquets.

The fella is one of Barcelona's unsung heroes. Much against the popular opinion, he can tackle, and is an expert in breaking the play up by winning free kicks as we all know. Not only are is defensive capabilities to be commended, I believe he will pick up where Xavi and Iniesta left off only in a deeper position. He can dictate the tempo of the game and thread an inch perfect pass so will need to be closed down. He will probably drop to deep for Fernando to mark, so Aguero, Nasri, Silva or Dzeko will need to prevent him from weaving his magic. Alongside him is Ivan Ratikic. The Croatian is the legs, and will be able to help out in both attack and defence. Both are dangerous and it would be stupid to disregard one, but Busquets is the one, along with the attack, and end City's dreams.

Precisely 2 minutes to kick off, according to my computer screen, and I cannot wait for the 90 minutes to unfold.