Previewing the Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg Week Two

Coming off a fantastic week of Champions League football that was filled with surprises and great matches, we will once again be treated to four interesting matches this week.

During last week's matchups, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Lyon were all able to advance into the quarterfinals while FC Porto, Fiorentina, and two sides that some predicted would face each other in the final were also eliminated: AC Milan and Real Madrid.

Now this week, the matches that will happen this week are as follows: Chelsea vs. Inter Milan, Sevilla vs. CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona vs. VfB Stuttgart, and Bordeaux vs. Olympiakos.

Just like in the first leg of all four of these matchups, there was no side that took complete control of the matchup.

So with the four matchups this week in the Champions League, here is a preview at each of the four matchups this week, who (or what) to watch out for, and who will be able to advance onto the quarterfinals.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Chelsea vs. Inter Milan

(Result of the First Leg: Inter Milan 2, Chelsea 1)

Preview

After a solid first leg, Chelsea will return to Stamford Bridge with a crucial away goal by Salomon Kalou as they find themselves just needing one score in order to advance.

Since the first leg on Feb. 24, Chelsea lost to Manchester City in the first time that John Terry and Wayne Bridge played against each other since the news of Terry's affair with Bridge's former fiancee broke out in late January, costing Terry his captaincy with the English National Team.

But after that, Chelsea have beaten Stoke City and West Ham as they head into this matchup.

Meanwhile for Inter Milan, they have not been in the best form of late, suffering a draw to Genoa and losing to a Catania side that is struggling with relegation, but they are soley focusing on their matchup with Chelsea.

What To Watch For

How will Chelsea perform in this matchup without Petr Cech? During the first leg, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech went down with calf injury and Henrique Hilario has since taken over in the goal.

But the main person that will be watched in this matchup will be the return of the chosen one, José Mourinho, to Stamford Bridge after leaving Chelsea in September of 2007.

During his three-plus years with Chelsea, Mourinho won two Champions Leagues, two Carling Cups, an FA Cup, and got Chelsea to two Champions League semifinals in his three seasons in charge of Chelsea.

Prediction

This is an extremely close matchup for me to call, but I believe that Chelsea will be able to go through, as Inter have been extremely inconsistent in the Champions League this season and Chelsea of course have the away goal.

Sevilla vs. CSKA Moscow

(Result of First Leg: CSKA Moscow 1, Sevilla 1)

Preview

After getting an early away goal by Álvaro Negredo in the 25th minute in a freezing Russian evening, Sevilla are ahead on aggregate going into the second leg at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

Since the first leg, Sevilla have been 0-2-1 in all competitions, with the one loss being a heartbreaking loss to Real Madrid in which Sevilla were winning 2-0 in the second half.

Meanwhile for CSKA Moscow, this was their first match after a three-month layoff, and they put together a great first match since that layoff thanks to a booming 35-yard drive by Mark Gonzalez to tie the first leg at one.

Since that match, CSKA Moscow lost the Russian Super Cup final 1-0 to Rubin Kazan, and have started the Russian Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Amkar.

What To Watch For

For Sevilla, will they get back to their winning ways? Sevilla currently find themselves in fourth place in La Liga, and have been extremely inconsistent as of late.

Meanwhile for CSKA Moscow, the cold weather in Moscow helped them out tremendously in the first leg, but how will they play against a Sevilla side that has only one ever loss at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in European competition?

Prediction

Ever since the Round of 16 draw in December, I have chosen CSKA Moscow to advance from this matchup.

And despite the fact that Sevilla are playing at home, I am going to predict a 2-2 draw, which will have CSKA Moscow advance on away goals, mainly due to the fact that they will be a fresher side than Sevilla due to the Russian Premier League season being extremely young.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

FC Barcelona vs. VfB Stuttgart

(Result of First Leg: VfB Stuttgart 1, FC Barcelona 1)

Preview

After a 1-1 draw at the Mercades Benz during the first leg, the defending winners of the Champions League, FC Barcelona, will face VfB Stuttgart as Barca look to defend their title.

Since the first leg, Barcelona have won two matches over Malaga and Valencia (the latter of which contained a hat trick by Lionel Messi) and a draw with Almeria that took Barca out of first place in La Liga.

Meanwhile for Stuttgart, they played a great first leg against Barcelona as despite giving up the away goal to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they played a very inspiring match in which they did take an early lead by Cacau early on before Ibrahimovic tied it up.

Since the first leg, Stuttgart have suffered two 2-1 losses to Frankfurt and Schalke, and had a 2-2 draw with Werner Breman.

What To Watch For

For Barcelona, it will be how long will it take to take the lead. Barcelona are of course at home for this leg, and that advantage will be huge if they are to advance.

Meanwhile for Stuttgart, will their play from the first leg move to the Camp Nou? If so, Stuttgart do have a solid chance of advancing.

Prediction

This is a matchup that has had no doubt in my mind since I saw the draw back in December that Barcelona would advance from, and I see nothing stopping them in this matchup as Barca will advance onto the quarterfinals.

Bordeaux vs. Olympiakos

(Result of First Leg: Olympiakos 0, Bordeaux 1)

Preview

After a controversial 1-0 victory at the Karaiskakis Stadium, Bordeaux head home to France with lead on aggregate and away goals, and are still the only side remaining in the Champions League that have not suffered a loss.

Since the first leg, Bordeaux (who are the leaders of Ligue 1) have been 0-2-1—one draw coming against fellow title rival Montpelier, and the other draw came against Monaco over last weekend.

The loss by Bordeaux was a 2-1 loss against AJ Auxerre.

Meanwhile for Olympiakos, they nearly did earn a draw if it weren't for a late goal getting ruled out by Howard Webb, but the Greek side needs to win in order to advance to the quarterfinals.

Since their matchup in Athens during the first leg, Olympiakos have been 1-1-1—the win coming in a 2-0 decision over Atromitos, the loss coming in a 1-0 decision against Iraklis, and the draw coming in a 2-2 match with Giannina this past weekend.

What To Watch For

For Bordeaux, will they be able to keep their streak of not losing in the Champions League this season? For Bordeaux, if they lose, they will be out of the Champions League.

Meanwhile for Olympiakos, they know that their Champions League dreams are hanging on a thread, so will they be able to win? Anything but a win will cost Olympiakos' Champions League dreams to end.

Prediction

Bordeaux will win 3-1 as they are the better side and are extremely capable of beating anyone in the Champions League this season.

Finally, all four of these matchups are extremely exciting, and even though we will see four clubs' dreams of the Champions League title ending, we will see four sides go through in what will surely be an exciting quarterfinal.