I think it's time to create an official thread of that noble sport as football (somewhere horribly called soccer) is. If you are an enthusiast of football, you love watching matches in your TV, there's a big poster of Jose Mourinho over your bed and your pyjamas is the color of Blaugrana - feel invited. I hope we can do something longdistance here.

***

Today fixtures of 1/16 Champions League have benn drawn. Unfortunately interesting and suprisingly good this year Arsenal has to mannage a battle with current trophy holders. I don't think they are gonna make it, however... they might be one of a very few teams in Europe who in fact have chances. Not big, but still do.

At least someone has to beat Bayern, you just can't win Champions League twice in a row ;)
I'm also looking forward to see FC Barcelona (not a biggest fan) eliminated. Manchester City with a new manager will be very unpleasant rival for Blaugrana. I'm not sure if Milan can beat up Atletico and also unstable Chelsea may have a little problem with Galatasaray. But... as Inter fan there is only one holy thing in football I belive - In Mou we trust.

Best wishes for Borussia Dortmund, because of my nationals and I like the way this team plays. I used to like Bayern Munchen, but I dont accept the way they sacked Heynckess, and I'm not the biggest fan of Guardiola either. Again he leads currently the strongest team in Europe, I would rather try his "greatness" in less comfortable conditions.

Manchester City FC (ENG) v FC Barcelona (ESP)
Olympiacos FC (GRE) v Manchester United FC (ENG)
AC Milan (ITA) v Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Galatasaray AŞ (TUR) v Chelsea FC (ENG)
FC Schalke 04 (GER) v Real Madrid CF (ESP)
FC Zenit (RUS) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Arsenal FC (ENG) v FC Bayern München (GER)

Oh you troll! Go get your own rugby thread!

is that one of the Harry Potter movies?

Quite possibly the only thing in life that really matters.

I'm curious about the FC Zenit.

Why curious? They earned only 6 points in a group phase, theirs promotion is a negative record of the whole Champions League in history

It's funny though cause Arsenal fans didn't want to be matched with Bayern, and Bayern themselves probably thinking the same since Arsenal is the toughest 2nd spot team they could've drawn. Looks like it's a match made in heaven.

It doesn't matter whether they ended up with 6 or 12 points. It's a team I know nothing about. So yes, I'm curious about what they'll do in second phase.

It is probably the weakest club except Olympiacos in that round. They've got Hulk from FC Porto, Tymoshchuk, Axel Witsel and Arshavin. Aaaand Luciano Spaletti on the bench. The rest of the team is rather average, especially in defence.

The only adventage thay may is a cold, winter atmosphere in Petersburg in February, however it's not that far on the east as Kazan, Moscow or other Russian cities with clubs playing in the Champions League. But there is possibility that the first match in Petersburg will be played a little bit earlier, like it used to with the Russian teams.

My predictions (bolded ones will win):

Manchester City FC (ENG) v FC Barcelona (ESP)
AC Milan (ITA) v Club Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) v Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Galatasaray AŞ (TUR) v Chelsea FC (ENG)
FC Schalke 04 (GER) v Real Madrid CF (ESP)
FC Zenit (RUS) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Arsenal FC (ENG) v FC Bayern München (GER)

The only one I can't predict is Olympiacos FC (GRE) v Manchester United FC (ENG). The first team is pleasant surprise and the second team is having an awful season so far with a manager who in all respect sucks at knock-out matches.

I hope Milan with Keisuke Honda will beat Atletico. They are the only hope of Serie A in Europe this season :(

y u soccer

lel


I support Chelsea BTW ;)

Feel free to talk bad about us Yanks. You won't have many of us visiting in here.

Poor United. We are having a terrible season :(

My only hope is that we usually improve a lot after Christmas. Not sure if it will be enough this year though.