Put Your Money on Madrid

Predictions for UCL ahead of the start of the group stage

Barca will still be comfortably the best passing team on the planet, & are once again faves with the bookies. But do Barca have a plan B if opponents 'park the bus' & they can’t break the defence down with their passing game?

It's dangerous to read too much into one game, but the holders, Inter, lost the Super Cup to Atletico Madrid. Their new manager, Benitez, of course has a very good Euro record (1 Uefa Cup, as well as winner & RU in UCL) though.

What of the British teams’ chances?
Spurs have tough group & will do well to make the knockout stages, while Rangers have it even tougher.
Chelsea will be strong again, but what will they do if their talisman Drogba gets injured?
Man Utd & Arsenal will flatter to deceive, but I can’t see them getting past the quarters.

Which leaves (Real) Madrid. Is it asking too much for even the 'special one' to deliver the big prize in his first season in charge? However, if anyone can coach Madrid to improve their defence it's Mourinho, & they're not lacking in attack with Kaka & Ronaldo now joined by Mesut Ozil. They drew their first game in La Liga (away to Mallorca), but by the time of the knock-out stages Jose will have sorted the team shape & tactics.

It's All Over Now

Liverpool's chances of the Premiership were surely finished by the 2-0 defeat at Boro yesterday. Man U still have to play them & Arsenal, & maybe Man City could pull off a shock in the derby game. But it would take one of the biggest chokes in sporting history for Fergie's team to blow it now. Benitez's rant (about officials supposedly favouring Fergie & Utd) seems to have backfired spectacularly. Apart from the fortunate win over Chelsea, their league form since his outburst has been mediocre. So now, for another season, Liverpool have all their eggs in the Champions League basket. Another team who have lost the plot in the league, with their only chance of silverware in the cup competitions, is Arsenal. Early in the season they beat Everton 3-0, & no-one could imagine they would finish below Everton in the league. But after five consecutive league draws, the Gunners are now only two points ahead of them.
I expect Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool will all hold their fist leg leads & progress to the Champions League QFs. Man U battered Inter in the first half of the 1st leg & Inter did well to get a scoreless draw. Surely United, with so many match winners in Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov etc will join their Premiership counterparts in the next round.But Mourinho has pulled off upsets in the UCL, & at Old Trafford, before...

Six Nations

I had expected the title would be decided by the final round of matches. But now (assuming Ireland defeat the Scots) it will be an Irish, not a Welsh, Grand Slam on the line. It is surely no coincidence that Brian O'Driscoll has rediscovered his best form. He scored a try & drop goal yesterday, & made a great burst for his try in the upset win over the French. Ireland famously have done the Grand Slam only once (1948). France though still have an outside chance of the title after their win over Wales on Friday. Ireland must be favourites, but it could all come down to points difference, & Wales, who have home advantage in the last game against the Irish, can spoil the Irish party..