After the first leg in all the quarter-final matches of the Champions League, it can easily be argued that the contenders separated themselves from the pretenders. With an incredible 18 goals in the first leg, scoring was definitely not at a premium. So here we go with the latest edition of the Posts By Panos Power Poll.
8. FC Shakhtar Donetsk - BIG, BAD BARCELONA TOO MUCH FOR THE UKRAINIANS
Previous Ranking - 7
Updated Odds To Win - 500/1
First Leg - (1-5) - Barcelona
What We Learned - You have to admire Shakhtar's commitment to attacking football even against Barcelona. While Shakhtar wanted to play football against Barcelona they were exposed in the back as Andres Iniesta was able to capitalize on a fortunate deflection to send the Blaugrana on their way to a comfortable first leg victory. Moving forward to the second leg, Shakhtar will be hard pressed to get a result that will see them qualify for the semi-finals but they can save face with a 2-1 victory at home against a Barcelona side that might be resting a few key players.
7. Tottenham Hotspur FC - CROUCH'S LUNGE COSTS SPURS ALL HOPE
Previous Ranking - 5
Updated Odds To Win - 350/1
First Leg - (0-4) - Real Madrid
What We Learned - The general lesson from the first leg is that you cannot go down a man in the first fifteen minutes away from home to Real Madrid. That is just a recipe for disaster against a team with the attacking prowess of the Galaticos. Spurs will come out blazing in the home fixture of the tie, but to score four goals against Jose Mourinho might be too tall a task especially without conceding. I can them winning the leg 2-1 and at the end of the day can look back at their Champions League run with pride.
6. FC Internazionale Milan - GERMANS SCORING AT WILL IN ITALY
Previous Ranking - 6
Updated Odds To Win - 150/1
First Leg - (2-5) - Schalke
What We Learned - After a brutal defensive performance against Schalke at home no less, Inter Milan will need to score four goal in Germany in order to progress to the semi-finals. Even after Stankovic scored one of the goals of the tournament in the second minute of the first leg, Inter were always on the back foot as Schalke attacked Julio Cesar's goal with reckless abandon. After such a poor first leg at home it was tempting to drop Inter Milan to the last spot in the poll, but for some reason I can see them making things interesting in Germany . . . I guess we should never underestimate the heart of the champion even if it is barely beating.
5. Chelsea FC - DISAPPOINTING AT HOME, TORRES A SHELL OF HIS FORMER SELF
Previous Ranking - 4
Updated Odds To Win - 9/1
First Leg - (0-1) - Manchester United
What We Learned - The initial thought was that Chelsea would play like a team possessed during the first leg at home against Manchester United because the Champions League is the only trophy that they had a realistic shot at winning. Wow, were we wrong, as Chelsea played lackadaisical and uninspired football that lacked passion and conviction. From an outsider, it appears as if Chelsea are merely playing out the string eager to start their summer holiday.
4. FC Schalke 04 - GERMANS SHOCK AND AWE IN GERMANY
Previous Ranking - 8
Updated Odds To Win - 16/1
First Leg - (5-2) - Inter Milan
What We Learned - For a team in the bottom half of the German Bundesliga, Schalke dominated their first leg away from home to Inter Milan. The attacking fortitude of Edu, Raul and Farfan was in full display as they exposed the frailties of the Inter backline. Schalke have to be considered the favorite to advance after their performance in Italy and could even surprise the winner of the Chelsea-Manchester United tie moving forward. Now, wouldn't that be something.
3. Manchester United - JOB DONE AWAY FROM HOME FROM THE DEVILS
Previous Ranking - 2
Updated Odds To Win - 4/1
First Leg - (1-0) - Chelsea
What We Learned - Personally, I learned that Ryan Giggs is half-man, half-amazing. Giggs' run into the box after a delightful cross field ball from Michael Carrick was sublime and the ensuing pass to Wayne Rooney for the only goal in the first leg was perfection personified. The Red Devils took care of business away from home against Chelsea grabbing a crucial away goal. Now with the support from Old Trafford behind them, one would be hard pressed to not think that the Devils will advance to the semis.
2. Real Madrid FC - ALL I DO IS WIN . . . THANKS JOSE
Previous Ranking - 3
Updated Odds To Win - 7/2
First Leg - (5-2) - Tottenham Hotspur
What We Learned - It sure does help do be a man up within fifteen minutes of your first leg tie in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Real Madrid were in complete control of their match against Spurs and will hard-pressed to not advance after building what appears to be an insurmountable lead from the first leg. Jose Mourinho is again king of the Champions League and he will have his side prepared for any potential pitfalls in London.
1. FC Barcelona - EL CLASSICO AWAITS IN THE SEMIFINAL
Previous Ranking - 1
Updated Odds To Win - 1/1
First Leg - (5-1) - Shakhtar Donetsk
What We Learned - Even when Barcelona are pinned back . . . conceding a goal to make it 3-1, they bounce back and increase the lead within 60 seconds. This team is arguably the best team in the Champions League, however looking ahead they do face the potential roadblock that is Jose Mourinho and his defensive tactics. Remember that Inter Milan shocked Barcelona at the semifinal stage last season. Ahh, we have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks.
thanks for the great read :)
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