The first legs of all the Champions League matches have been completed and it is time to update the Posts By Panos Power Poll. Many of the first legs were tight and nervy affairs with the home teams looking not to concede rather than play for the victory. This usually happens in the first leg, so hopefully the second legs will be open and free-flowing matches with plenty of goals. Regardless, it is the Champions League and you are still going to watch regardless. Onto the Power Poll!
16. FC Copenhagen - WE HAD A GOOD RUN, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
Previous Ranking - 16
Updated Odds To Win - 1000/1
First Leg - 0-2 Chelsea
What We Learned - The simple mistake by Jesper Gronkjaer that led to Chelsea's opening goal was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back and from then on the tie was put out of reach.
15. AS Roma - WE LOSE A GAME, THEN A COACH, THEN A CITY
Previous Ranking - 12
Updated Odds To Win - 80/1
First Leg - 2-3 Shaktar Donetsk
What We Learned - Roma lacked the defensive discipline in the first leg to handle Donetsk, and furthermore a lack of speed on the wings contributed to a horrific evening at the Stadio Olympico.
14. Olympique de Marseille - WE LIVE AND DIE BY THE BRANDAO
Previous Ranking - 15
Updated Odds To Win - 125/1
First Leg - 0-0 Manchester United
What We Learned - Teams need to take advantage of their opportunities is the moral of the tie as Marseille had multiple chances to score against the Red Devils but squandered them all and in all likelihood are out of the competition.
13. Valencia CF - SCORED EARLY, YET LEFT THE DOOR OPEN FOR AN OLD ENEMY
Previous Ranking - 10
Updated Odds To Win - 66/1
First Leg - 1-1 Schalke
What We Learned - Valencia simply lacked the offensive firepower to score the all important winning goal in their home leg against Schalke. Although they scored an early goal, they couldn't pot another one as an old foe, Raul, managed to tie the game for the Germans.
12. Olympique Lyonnais - JUST DON'T HAVE THE FIREPOWER OF PREVIOUS VERSIONS
Previous Ranking - 11
Updated Odds To Win - 125/1
First Leg - 1-1 Real Madrid
What We Learned - Lyon were a striker away from truly scaring Real Madrid in the first leg as they missed countless opportunities with the main culprit being Gomis. Although Gomis did grab a goal to tie the game late, he should of potted at least two in the first half.
11. AC Milan - THE LACK OF A QUALITY MIDFIELD HINDERED THE FIREPOWER
Previous Ranking - 5
Updated Odds To Win - 33/1
First Leg - 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
What We Learned - Like their Serie A counterparts Roma, AC Milan were exposed by a lack of speed on the wings as Spurs were able to use Aaron Lennon to exploit the Milan defense. Furthermore, Ibra always finds a way to disappear in Champions League play, it is just fascinating.
10. FC Internazionale Milan - THE FORMER CHAMPIONS LIMPING TO THE FINISH
Previous Ranking - 8
Updated Odds To Win - 40/1
First Leg - 0-1 Bayern Munich
What We Learned - Revenge is a dish best served by Germans, was the theme of the day as Bayern were able to peg Inter back with a vital 1-0 victory away from home. Inter simply lacked the cohesiveness of last year's team and that is primarily due to the lack of the Special One on the touchline.
9. FC Schalke 04 - RAUL THE GERMAN CONQUERS THE SPANISH
Previous Ranking - 14
Updated Odds To Win - 50/1
First Leg - 1-1 Valencia
What We Learned - Schalke actually had the majority of the chances in this game against Valencia and should have been ahead if not due to the lack of finishing from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. However, they managed to score the tying goal as Raul was able to haunt one of his former nemesis with a typical Raul goal.
8. FC Shakhtar Donetsk - THE MAGIC OF UKRAINIAN BRAZILIANS
Previous Ranking - 13
Updated Odds To Win - 33/1
First Leg - 3-2 Roma
What We Learned - Shakhtar have quietly build themselves an abundance of young Brazilian talent in the outskirts of Ukraine as they were able to unleash all their weapons against a visibly unorganized and disinterested Roma side during the first leg.
7. Tottenham Hotspur FC - SHOCK AND AWE AT THE SAN SIRO
Previous Ranking - 9
Updated Odds To Win - 16/1
First Leg - 1-0 AC Milan
What We Learned - Spurs executed a fantastic gameplan in disposing of AC Milan away from home in the first league using their speed and width to take advantage of a Milan side that was old in the midfield. Now they just have to finish the job in London.
6. Arsenal FC - HEART AND DETERMINATION, BUT A NERVY 2ND LEG AWAITS
Previous Ranking - 7
Updated Odds To Win - 14/1
First Leg - 2-1 Barcelona
What We Learned - Arsenal showed determination and heart in their come from behind victory against all-mighty Barcelona. Even though both goals, in my opinion, were due to poor defensive and goalkeeping play, I was impressed by what Arsenal were able to accomplish against the Catalan giants.
5. Real Madrid CF - ANOTHER TEPID PERFORMANCE FRANCE
Previous Ranking - 3
Updated Odds To Win - 4/1
First Leg - 1-1 Lyon
What We Learned - Real Madrid appear to be allergic to attractive football in the Champions League. I was disappointed in what I saw from them in Lyon and they should consider themselves lucky to be going back to Madrid ahead due to the away goal.
4. FC Bayern Munchen - REVENGE WAS THE THEME OF THE DAY
Previous Ranking - 5
Updated Odds To Win - 10/1
First Leg - 1-0 Inter Milan
What We Learned - Bayern waited for 9 months to extract revenge against Inter Milan for their loss in the Champions League final. Bayern can also thank their young keeper, Thomas Kraft, who saved on more than one occasion a sure Inter goal.
3. Chelsea FC - JOB DONE RIGHT IN DENMARK
Previous Ranking - 4
Updated Odds To Win - 9/2
First Leg - 2-0 FC Copenhagen
What We Learned - This wasn't a true test for Chelsea as Copenhagen were exposed as pretenders rather than contenders. Chelsea will be pushed in the next round and then we will see if Carlo can rally the troops and have them focused on the only trophy they have a realistic shot at winning.
2. FC Barcelona - MESSI STRUGGLES IN ENGLAND
Previous Ranking - 1
Updated Odds To Win - 2/1
First Leg - 1-2 Arsenal
What We Learned - Lionel Messi is simply not built to play in England as he has never scored in all his visits to the birthplace of football. It will be interesting to see how the loss of Victor Valdes will affect Barcelona in the second leg against Arsenal because one save will be needed to be made in order to ensure that the favorites progress to the next round.
1. Manchester United - TYPICAL EUROPEAN EFFICIENCY
Previous Ranking - 2
Updated Odds To Win - 15/2
First Leg - 0-0 Marseille
What We Learned - The Red Devils delivered a typical European performance away from home. They did not concede and were rarely threatened by Marseille. They also looked to counterattack and score an important away goal and came close a couple times. The second leg should see United progress with ease.
10. FC Internazionale Milan - THE FORMER CHAMPIONS LIMPING TO THE FINISH
Previous Ranking - 8
Updated Odds To Win - 40/1
First Leg - 0-1 Bayern Munich
What We Learned - Revenge is a dish best served by Germans, was the theme of the day as Bayern were able to peg Inter back with a vital 1-0 victory away from home. Inter simply lacked the cohesiveness of last year's team and that is primarily due to the lack of the Special One on the touchline.
9. FC Schalke 04 - RAUL THE GERMAN CONQUERS THE SPANISH
Previous Ranking - 14
Updated Odds To Win - 50/1
First Leg - 1-1 Valencia
What We Learned - Schalke actually had the majority of the chances in this game against Valencia and should have been ahead if not due to the lack of finishing from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. However, they managed to score the tying goal as Raul was able to haunt one of his former nemesis with a typical Raul goal.
8. FC Shakhtar Donetsk - THE MAGIC OF UKRAINIAN BRAZILIANS
Previous Ranking - 13
Updated Odds To Win - 33/1
First Leg - 3-2 Roma
What We Learned - Shakhtar have quietly build themselves an abundance of young Brazilian talent in the outskirts of Ukraine as they were able to unleash all their weapons against a visibly unorganized and disinterested Roma side during the first leg.
7. Tottenham Hotspur FC - SHOCK AND AWE AT THE SAN SIRO
Previous Ranking - 9
Updated Odds To Win - 16/1
First Leg - 1-0 AC Milan
What We Learned - Spurs executed a fantastic gameplan in disposing of AC Milan away from home in the first league using their speed and width to take advantage of a Milan side that was old in the midfield. Now they just have to finish the job in London.
6. Arsenal FC - HEART AND DETERMINATION, BUT A NERVY 2ND LEG AWAITS
Previous Ranking - 7
Updated Odds To Win - 14/1
First Leg - 2-1 Barcelona
What We Learned - Arsenal showed determination and heart in their come from behind victory against all-mighty Barcelona. Even though both goals, in my opinion, were due to poor defensive and goalkeeping play, I was impressed by what Arsenal were able to accomplish against the Catalan giants.
5. Real Madrid CF - ANOTHER TEPID PERFORMANCE FRANCE
Previous Ranking - 3
Updated Odds To Win - 4/1
First Leg - 1-1 Lyon
What We Learned - Real Madrid appear to be allergic to attractive football in the Champions League. I was disappointed in what I saw from them in Lyon and they should consider themselves lucky to be going back to Madrid ahead due to the away goal.
4. FC Bayern Munchen - REVENGE WAS THE THEME OF THE DAY
Previous Ranking - 5
Updated Odds To Win - 10/1
First Leg - 1-0 Inter Milan
What We Learned - Bayern waited for 9 months to extract revenge against Inter Milan for their loss in the Champions League final. Bayern can also thank their young keeper, Thomas Kraft, who saved on more than one occasion a sure Inter goal.
3. Chelsea FC - JOB DONE RIGHT IN DENMARK
Previous Ranking - 4
Updated Odds To Win - 9/2
First Leg - 2-0 FC Copenhagen
What We Learned - This wasn't a true test for Chelsea as Copenhagen were exposed as pretenders rather than contenders. Chelsea will be pushed in the next round and then we will see if Carlo can rally the troops and have them focused on the only trophy they have a realistic shot at winning.
2. FC Barcelona - MESSI STRUGGLES IN ENGLAND
Previous Ranking - 1
Updated Odds To Win - 2/1
First Leg - 1-2 Arsenal
What We Learned - Lionel Messi is simply not built to play in England as he has never scored in all his visits to the birthplace of football. It will be interesting to see how the loss of Victor Valdes will affect Barcelona in the second leg against Arsenal because one save will be needed to be made in order to ensure that the favorites progress to the next round.
1. Manchester United - TYPICAL EUROPEAN EFFICIENCY
Previous Ranking - 2
Updated Odds To Win - 15/2
First Leg - 0-0 Marseille
What We Learned - The Red Devils delivered a typical European performance away from home. They did not concede and were rarely threatened by Marseille. They also looked to counterattack and score an important away goal and came close a couple times. The second leg should see United progress with ease.
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