Champions League - Round of 16

I personally favor Liverpool. I am certainly a late bloomer in terms of following soccer, pushed into it by a few of my friends in Minneapolis. Funny part is, while I spent nearly 20 years in India, where its much easier to follow soccer than in US, it was here that I started taking interest.

Well, we did have a wonderful set of matches in the Round of 16. Not surprisingly, 4 of the 8 teams qualifying for quarter-finals are from English Premier League. I don't know where to exactly point the finger at for this of-late-all-too-common phenomenon, but probably thats the reason why it is becoming an expected event. People say its the strength, slick passing and now an increased tactical awareness. Whatever it is, its proving to be the Molotov cocktail for the rest of Europe.

Its quite obvious that I'm so totally buoyed by the Kop's performance at Anfield. Real Madrid are legendary in terms of European successes, but over the last 3 (or 4) years, they haven't been able to progress past this stage. Nevertheless, inflicting such a demoralizing loss on RM was no ordinary feat. I was screaming out loud seeing the way the reds pushed RM in the first half hour. I think the last time Liverpool started this well AND finished the task was a few weeks back when they defeated Chelsea 2-0. It was delightful to see Torres and Gerrard tear up the RM's touted defensive line-up. Torres had a score to settle with RM from his Atlético Madrid days and what an occasion he chose! One of my fav moments of the match was early on when he so non-chalantly turned around Cannavaro leaving him all but dead. But the only hero RM had came to its rescue and Casillas turned it over for a corner.

My other favorite has been Barcelona FC. If any non-EPL team has the ability to defeat one of these 4 premier league giants, it is the Catalans. With Eto'o, Henry and Messi going great guns for nearly the entire season so far, they are big favorites to progress to the finals. However they will have to lay down the ghosts they face from time to time, looking like a shadow of their own very best. Messi has proved to be such a catalyst, I hope he can push Barca as far as expected. I really really want Messi to take away the crown from the not-so-deserving C.Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a great talent, no questions about that. But its the arrogance he carries off and on the field hasn't won him as many fans as talent demands. I am hoping for a Man U and Barca show-down and want to see the Catalans tear apart the defending champions. Remember how Ronaldo was crying after missing the penalty in the last year's finals against Chelsea?? I hope it happens again and the world sees how he pales in comparison to Messi.

Bayern München have been blowing away their opponents. What a dominant performance over Sporting Lisbon. Granted, Lisbon aren't the toughest opponent they'll ever face, but to demolish a team like this requires a hunger for more. 12-1. Phew.

Inter Milan disappointed tremendously. They came so close to scoring so many times. A single away goal would have changed things quite a bit, but it turned out to be a reasonably comfortable victory for the holders.

Chelsea have been catalyzed by the return of Didier Drogba to his terrorizing presence up front. Although they had to scrape past Juventus, improving form in the EPL will certainly inspire them to achieve something this year. I just hope that they don't sack their manager again!

Arsenal held their nerve in a rather boring encounter. Lets hope we get to see more of their slick passing game.

It is going to be an interesting Quarter Finals matchup. Lets see who stays and who goes. I wish Liverpool go all the way :)